Thought Matters to offer broad range of perspectives on life’s rhythms

BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE

With The Salvation Army’s Thought Matters Conference fast approaching, spots for in-person attendance are now filled. 

According to conference convenor Major Sandy MacDonald, though all in-person registrations had been taken, online spots were still available up until the conference commencement on 10 October. This year’s event is being held at Eva Burrows College in Melbourne.

The conference presentation schedule features diverse papers, each addressing the topic of ‘Theologies of Work, Play and Rest’.

There is a paper by first-time Thought Matters presenter Lieutenant Sarah Walker that draws parallels and contrasts between faith communities like those within The Salvation Army and Parkrun.

Another paper, by Salvos Stores Chaplain Richard Wiltshire, focuses on reclaiming the concept of logos as a pattern of sacred living.

And there is another paper by The Salvation Army New Zealand’s Major Sue Hay and Lieutenant Tammy Mohi, which presents the concept of wellbeing within Māori culture known as ‘Whiti Te Rā’. Sue and Tammy are two of many New Zealand attendees at the conference.  

Sandy said the conference schedule also allowed for fun activities and for those who attended Parkrun to do so on the Saturday.

She said there was a wide range of presenters, including both officers and staff. She said this year’s conference was very accessible as it offered something for everyone.  

“There’s some very deep, theologically-heavy papers, but there’s also some more lived experience [ones],” she said.  

“Often people pit work versus play or work versus rest. But there’s this important synergy that we’re hoping will come out of the conference. It’s not going to be a conference that bashes all work and says work is terrible. We’re hoping that there’s a bit more of an opening of conversation than just sort of pushing one thing versus another.” 

To find out more about the conference, click here.