Rev Dr Grace Ji-Sun Kim is a world-renowned scholar and expert in intercultural, feminist, and post-colonial theology. She is visiting Melbourne and will make a presentation on her newly published book, Surviving God: A new vision of God through the eyes of sexual abuse survivors which she co-wrote with Susan M. Shaw.

This is a FREE event and all are welcome. There will also be an opportunity for purchase of the book and book signing and light refreshments afterwards.

Venue: St Peter's Eastern Hill is on the corner of Gisborne and Albert St, and the entrance is from the driveway on Albert St. A short walk from Parliament Train Station and well serviced by trams.

About the book:
Many books have dealt with sexual abuse scandals in the church and the role of pastoral care for survivors. Others have provided liberatory readings of biblical texts to support survivors of sexual violence. Surviving God takes a new approach, centering the voices of sexual abuse survivors while rethinking key Christian beliefs. Starting from experiences of oppression, beliefs that contribute to oppression are challenged, and new, hopeful, and healing beliefs take their place.
Groundbreaking theologians Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Susan M. Shaw, each a survivor herself, demonstrate how traditional ways of thinking about God are highly problematic, contribute to the problems of sexual abuse, and are not reflective of the God of love and justice at the heart of the gospel. These long-held theologies often perpetuate the problem of sexual abuse and fail to promote healing for survivors.
Drawing from their own experiences and the experiences of other survivors, and centering the ways gender intersects with race, sexuality, class, and religion, Kim and Shaw lead us to deep healing and a transformed church that no longer contributes to the devastation of sexual abuse. In these inspiring pages, you will discover new ways of thinking about God that are surprising, challenging, and empowering.

About Rev Dr Grace Ji-Sun Kim
Grace was born in Korea, educated in Canada, and now teaches in the United States. She is an ordained Presbyterian Church (USA) Minister. She is the author or editor of more than 20 books. She write for Baptist News Global, Sojourners, Faith and Leadership, and Wabash Center and have published in TIME, The Huffington Post, Christian Century, US Catholic Magazine, and The Nation. Grace is the host of the Madang podcast. More of her writing and work can be found on her blog site Loving Life and you can follow her on substack: Loving Life.

Grace will also speak at other events during her time in Melbourne including the following -

Saturday 27th July, 9.30am-12.30pm
Venue and host: Manningham Uniting Church
Cost: $20
In the first half of the morning, Grace will share ‘The Theology of Visibility’ and her experiences of being invisible in a male patriarchal world (see also her book, Invisible: Theology and the Experience of Asian American Women). Then she will share experiences from two groups of people in our church and society that are made invisible: People of colour and Victims of Abuse.
Registration here (also on Humanitix).

Sunday 28th July, 3.30pm
Free entry
Venue: Wesley Church, 130 Lonsdale St
"When God became white:When God Became White: Dismantling Whiteness for a More Just Christianity".
Co-hosted by the Wesley Centre and the Victorian Council of Churches.
Registration here (also on Humanitix)