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TRINITY TODAY 42 FAITH
Expressing Anglican identity O
ver the past 50 years, there has been a decline in the proportion of Australians who report an affiliation with Christianity. Census data released in 2021 showed that the number of people identifying as Christian decreased by more than 1 million compared with 2016 data, though it is still Australia’s most common religion. This sharp drop is disappointing, of course, but not a crisis. Those who have stopped identifying as Christian are mostly people who had only a cultural connection with the church, which they have now lost. For those who want to explore, deepen or reinvigorate their faith within a supported academic setting, whether they identify as Christian or not, I’m thankful they can turn to institutions like the Trinity College Theological School, where diversity is celebrated, and engaged and research-active teachers ensure theological concepts are examined with academic rigour. The variety of perspectives these students and teachers bring reflects the breadth and diversity of our church, and, to me, a commitment to social justice, critical thinking, access and equality. (It is notable that Trinity’s students are split almost 50/50 between women and men, and many women have gone on to be ordained.) This is a true expression of the Anglican faith and should be found in any college or school that identifies as Anglican.