“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” – Psalm 139:13 (ESV)
Join us for a week of thinking deeply about the beginning and ending of life.
Join us for a week of thinking deeply about the beginning and ending of life.
Ticket Price: $70 for individual ticket; $120 for couple tickets
An interactive event targeted towards couples wrestling with infertility, and pastoral leaders wanting to be better equipped to care for those in their churches. We will look at three facts of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and other forms of assisted reproduction, including a segment on adoption and fostering. Tickets are limited in order to provide a comfortable space for attendees.
Nalini Pather is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, UNSW. Among other topics, she teaches human embryology and development. He research focusses on imaging with special interests in age-related applications (from paediatrics to aged-care), women’s health, mental health and wellness, and integration into the workplace. Nalini is married to Glen who is the minister at St Andrew’s Scots Presbyterian Church at Rose Bay. Nalini will provide an overview current and emerging medical technologies relevant to assisted reproductive technology (ART), and highlight the areas that require careful consideration for those with a Christian worldview.
Margie Farrand has worked for the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) for the past 15 years, in the Adoption and Permanent Care field. Located in the Department’s Head Office in Ashfield, Margie is currently looking after the legal work for NSW FACS Local Voluntary adoptions. She also coordinates adoption reporting to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for all adoptions orders made in NSW – both through FACS, accredited adoption service providers, and privately run matters. Margie is the point person for step-parent and relative adoption in NSW and she has previously managed the Intercountry adoption program for NSW. Margie will briefly explore what adoption is; review various adoption and other permanency options; and how the adoption process works in Australia and NSW in particular. She will examine the tension between the grief and loss often already experienced by hopeful adoptive parents, and the child-focussed process of adoption or permanent care (long term fostering). She will bust some “adoption myths”, and look at how adoption today is different from years past, or what social media often suggests. Lastly, she will explore the role of the church, and pastors in particular, in supporting families through an adoption journey.
Audit Cost (no assessments, not credited towards a course): $456
Credit Cost: see our Fees page
A unit targeted towards medical professionals and students, pastoral leaders and theology students wanting a thorough, academic-level look into bioethics. Can be taken as an audit class, or as credit towards a course of study. Topics covered during the intensive include:
Ticket Price: $10 per person
With infertility affecting approximately 1 in 6 couples of childbearing age, and with reproductive technology becoming more mainstream around the world, it’s important for couples who are considering these technologies to be able to assess the ethics from a Christian worldview, and hear about suggestions. Particular reference will be made to donor insemination, egg donation, IVF (in vitro fertilization) and surrogacy.