5 minutes with Erin ...

Tell us a little about yourself:

The first thing you need to know about me, is that I plan my day around coffee. It used to be custom in Turkey that if a husband did not provide his wife with enough coffee, that was grounds for divorce. Also, I like puns.

I’m the Associate Academic Dean at Morling College, where I lecture in Church History and Old Testament. I’m slowly working towards my PhD on Song of Songs. I’m an indolent poet. I’m married to Will (who provides me with plenty of coffee) and we have a threenager, Atticus, and a newborn, Éowyn.

What's your favourite bible passage & why?

I always feel like my favourite passage should be poetry and from the Old Testament… but I have to say it’s James 2:14-26: Faith and Deeds. It’s not the kind of passage one would normally have at a wedding, but it’s what Will and I chose because it’s how we want to live out our lives. “I will show you my faith by my deeds.”

How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

When I became a Christian it was under a starry sky, so, stargazing will often reignite that same sense of awe and wonder. Studying or preparing a lecture is a way for me to worship: there’s nothing quite like working through a passage, and faithfully trying to come to grips with it, to point me back to Christ. At the moment, with a newborn, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus looks a lot like going for a walk for fresh air, perspective, and prayer.

What would you like the next generation of Christian women to know?

I’ve only got 5 minutes, right?! If I were to choose just one thing it would be: encourage one another.

And if I can get women-in-ministry specific for a minute. A myth has been perpetuated that there is only a certain number of ministry roles for women. Only so many pieces of the pie. Well I say bake another pie. I don’t see women as competing against each other; I see us working together and encouraging each other to create more opportunities.

No matter what you’re called to: encourage one another.

What's one thing that you love about your local church?

A classic extrovert answer: the people.

What did you learn about God at a time in your life you found hard?

One of the hardest things I’ve had to go through is miscarriage. I turned to the Psalms. I turned to Job. I was angry. I was distraught. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to fall pregnant again. I was terrified I’d have to go through miscarriage again. Did God allow this to happen? Does God suffer? Is there such a thing as pointless suffering? I learned that I can’t do theology in a vacuum. For me to try to answer questions about the nature of God; I must experience God in the good, the horrific, and everything in between.

What are you passionate about?

Learning. In short, I wish to spend my life reading the things, writing the things, and teaching the things. Preferably on a boat.

What do you enjoy doing when you rest?

Rest is rather elusive these days… but I like to awkward-car-dance at traffic lights, I love a good nap (the baby’s or mine), and I bend space and time to binge-watch Netflix.