Prof David Tombs
@david-tombs.bsky.social
Academic (he/him) at the University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand. Personal account. CW: sexual abuse issues.
Pinned
Prof David Tombs
@david-tombs.bsky.social
· Dec 18
Read more on my work at my web-site www.david-tombs.com
Looking forward to a trip to York in October, and a chance to share work on 'Exploring a Christology of Safeguarding' in a webinar hosted at Diocese of York.
dioceseofyork.org.uk/event/webina...
dioceseofyork.org.uk/event/webina...
Webinar: Exploring a Christology of Safeguarding | Diocese of York
Speaker: David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago, New Zealand The Webinar led by David Tombs will explore theological approaches to safeguarding through r...
dioceseofyork.org.uk
September 17, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Looking forward to a trip to York in October, and a chance to share work on 'Exploring a Christology of Safeguarding' in a webinar hosted at Diocese of York.
dioceseofyork.org.uk/event/webina...
dioceseofyork.org.uk/event/webina...
Today the library received its copy of the eagerly awaited ‘For Nothing is Hidden’ edited by Will Rose-Moore. So pleased to have a chapter in it on punitive stripping as an abuse. Many thanks to @revdwillrm.bsky.social and the great folk at @scmpress.bsky.social
July 31, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Today the library received its copy of the eagerly awaited ‘For Nothing is Hidden’ edited by Will Rose-Moore. So pleased to have a chapter in it on punitive stripping as an abuse. Many thanks to @revdwillrm.bsky.social and the great folk at @scmpress.bsky.social
So sad to hear about the passing of Jione Havea — a giant figure in Pacific Bible Studies, a brilliant scholar, and a warm and most gracious colleague.
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...
Obituary: In Loving Memory of Rev. Dr Jione Havea - Council for World Mission
www.cwmission.org
April 30, 2026 at 7:14 AM
So sad to hear about the passing of Jione Havea — a giant figure in Pacific Bible Studies, a brilliant scholar, and a warm and most gracious colleague.
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...
www.cwmission.org/news/spotlig...
Looking forward to a chance to contribute a short presentation at this Leading Thinkers in Humanities and Health Sciences event at the Hutton Theatre, Tūhura Otago Museum, 5:30pm Tuesday 24 March. All welcome
@tuhura.bsky.social ra.bsky.social @universityofotago.bsky.social
@tuhura.bsky.social ra.bsky.social @universityofotago.bsky.social
March 16, 2026 at 5:16 AM
Looking forward to a chance to contribute a short presentation at this Leading Thinkers in Humanities and Health Sciences event at the Hutton Theatre, Tūhura Otago Museum, 5:30pm Tuesday 24 March. All welcome
@tuhura.bsky.social ra.bsky.social @universityofotago.bsky.social
@tuhura.bsky.social ra.bsky.social @universityofotago.bsky.social
My piece in today's Otago Daily Times...
www.odt.co.nz/opinion/%E2%...
www.odt.co.nz/opinion/%E2%...
‘Gravedigger Bob’ teaches us about being a faithful follower to the end
The life and death of a dog in a Brazilian cemetery tells a wider story David Tombs writes. Josh Billings, a contemporary of Mark Twain, once said...
https://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/‘gravedigger-bob’-teaches-us-about-being-faithful-follower-end
February 19, 2026 at 5:37 PM
My piece in today's Otago Daily Times...
www.odt.co.nz/opinion/%E2%...
www.odt.co.nz/opinion/%E2%...
Delighted that this article is now available and very grateful to the journal Neotestamentica for publication. The Abstract is publicly available at the Project Muse link below but a Neotestamentica subscription is required for the full article, doi.org/10.1353/neo....
Project MUSE - Punitive Stripping and Forced Nudity in Detention: Reading from Steve Biko to Jesus
doi.org
December 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Delighted that this article is now available and very grateful to the journal Neotestamentica for publication. The Abstract is publicly available at the Project Muse link below but a Neotestamentica subscription is required for the full article, doi.org/10.1353/neo....
This book 'Abuse in the Latin American Church' previously published in English by Routledge is now also available in Spanish (published by PUCP). It includes a chapter by Rocío Figueroa and myself on Sodalicio.
www.fondoeditorial.pucp.edu.pe/categorias/1...
www.fondoeditorial.pucp.edu.pe/categorias/1...
Abusos eclesiales en América Latina. Una crisis en el corazón del catolicismo
El libro se centra en América Latina, la región con mayor número de católicos en el mundo, y muestra cómo los abusos cometidos dentro de la Iglesia Católica forman parte de una problemática global que...
www.fondoeditorial.pucp.edu.pe
December 6, 2025 at 3:46 AM
This book 'Abuse in the Latin American Church' previously published in English by Routledge is now also available in Spanish (published by PUCP). It includes a chapter by Rocío Figueroa and myself on Sodalicio.
www.fondoeditorial.pucp.edu.pe/categorias/1...
www.fondoeditorial.pucp.edu.pe/categorias/1...
‘It is so rare, in fact it never happens, that crimes are so well documented’ Manon Garcia
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
‘These men think they’ve done nothing wrong’: the philosopher who tried to understand Gisèle Pelicot’s rapists
When 50 men went on trial in France, accused of raping a woman who had been drugged by her husband, Manon Garcia was in the courtroom – and in the prosecutors’ closing arguments. How does she make sen...
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
‘It is so rare, in fact it never happens, that crimes are so well documented’ Manon Garcia
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Great day of sharing research coming up in Leeds on 8 October.
shilohproject.blog/religion-vio...
shilohproject.blog/religion-vio...
Religion & Violence – A Day of Events (8 October 2025, University of Leeds)
<!-- wp:paragraph --> The Shiloh Project is featured in a recent profile on research at Leeds! See here. <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> And we now have an itinerary
shilohproject.blog
September 15, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Great day of sharing research coming up in Leeds on 8 October.
shilohproject.blog/religion-vio...
shilohproject.blog/religion-vio...
Am reading the ebook and learning a lot. Highly recommended.
Congratulations to Selina Stone, whose launch event was this evening! A Heavy Yoke is book of the week (with 20% off) at Church House Bookshop until tomorrow: chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/978033...
September 11, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Am reading the ebook and learning a lot. Highly recommended.
This week has been early mornings to co-chair sessions in the 'Gendered and Queer Readings of Scripture' working group at the Global Network of Public Theology, hosted by Fuller, and timed for 4am-6:45am in Aotearoa. I learnt a lot and glad to now sleep.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=moie...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=moie...
Conference of the Global Network of Public Theology 2025
YouTube video by RUPRE
www.youtube.com
September 11, 2025 at 11:09 PM
This week has been early mornings to co-chair sessions in the 'Gendered and Queer Readings of Scripture' working group at the Global Network of Public Theology, hosted by Fuller, and timed for 4am-6:45am in Aotearoa. I learnt a lot and glad to now sleep.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=moie...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=moie...
Prof Halim Rane delivers the 2025 Peace Lecture at University Otago hosted by the Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group with the Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy.
August 11, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Prof Halim Rane delivers the 2025 Peace Lecture at University Otago hosted by the Dunedin Abrahamic Interfaith Group with the Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy.
Wonderful new free film resource on Rape Culture and the Bible now available, linked to forthcoming open access Routledge book edited by Barbara Thiede.
shilohproject.blog/heres-our-ne...
shilohproject.blog/heres-our-ne...
Here’s our new Film! Rape Culture and the Bible: Scholars Reflect
<!-- wp:paragraph --> Today's post is by Barbara Thiede. Barbara is the editor of a forthcoming book with the title Rape Culture and the Bible: Scholars Reflect (Routledge Focus). The
shilohproject.blog
July 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Wonderful new free film resource on Rape Culture and the Bible now available, linked to forthcoming open access Routledge book edited by Barbara Thiede.
shilohproject.blog/heres-our-ne...
shilohproject.blog/heres-our-ne...
Delighted to have this chapter with Emily Colgan ‘Christianity: Accompanying Survivors of Sexual Harm: Responses, Activism, and Resistance to Sexual Harm within Christian Contexts’ published in a fantastic Open Access volume edited by Johanna Stiebert.
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
Christianity | 4 | Accompanying Survivors of Sexual Harm: Responses, A
This chapter begins with a call for churches to resist tokenism and to address abuse in Christian communities seriously and concertedly. From there, it focuses
doi.org
July 27, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Delighted to have this chapter with Emily Colgan ‘Christianity: Accompanying Survivors of Sexual Harm: Responses, Activism, and Resistance to Sexual Harm within Christian Contexts’ published in a fantastic Open Access volume edited by Johanna Stiebert.
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
doi.org/10.4324/9781...
'On July 16, the Association for Truth, Justice and Fair Reparations (AVJR), which consists of former members of all four branches of the SCV family, issued a statement ... urging Pope Leo XIV to ensure that reparations are swift.' cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
Victims of Peru group mark victory, but lament slow pace of justice
Three months after the formal suppression of all branches of a Peru-based lay group, victims are both celebrating some significant victories, while also lamenting the slow pace of ecclesial justice.
cruxnow.com
July 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM
'On July 16, the Association for Truth, Justice and Fair Reparations (AVJR), which consists of former members of all four branches of the SCV family, issued a statement ... urging Pope Leo XIV to ensure that reparations are swift.' cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
Wrapping up a wonderful sequence of conferences in Rome, Regensburg, and Melbourne, with a day to catch up on emails and reading in Victoria State Library. A fabulous space (and great cafe).
July 5, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Wrapping up a wonderful sequence of conferences in Rome, Regensburg, and Melbourne, with a day to catch up on emails and reading in Victoria State Library. A fabulous space (and great cafe).
Sr Nirmala Nazareth speaking at ISC 2025 at Gregorian University.
June 17, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Sr Nirmala Nazareth speaking at ISC 2025 at Gregorian University.
‘There is little research that has been done concerning the issue, but Siabana says it doesn’t mean abuse doesn’t exist on the continent.’ Sister Linah Siabana (by Ngala Killian Chimtom)
cruxnow.com/church-in-af...
cruxnow.com/church-in-af...
Catholic nun in Africa urges Church to address sexual abuse of women religious
In the face of histories of abuse and cover-up by the Church, a Catholic nun in Zambia has challenged Church leaders to stem the tide of abuse against women religious wherever and whenever it happens.
cruxnow.com
May 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
‘There is little research that has been done concerning the issue, but Siabana says it doesn’t mean abuse doesn’t exist on the continent.’ Sister Linah Siabana (by Ngala Killian Chimtom)
cruxnow.com/church-in-af...
cruxnow.com/church-in-af...
'They thanked Pope Francis for “not having looked the other way” in sending the Special Mission and they also thanked Pope Leo XIV for his support of SCV victims' Elise Ann Allen
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
Peru abuse victims applaud Vatican mission, request meeting with Pope
Former members of a now-suppressed, scandal-plagued Peruvian lay group and peasants who claim to have been routinely harassed by them have for the first time issued a joint call for justice, reparatio...
cruxnow.com
May 30, 2025 at 7:50 PM
'They thanked Pope Francis for “not having looked the other way” in sending the Special Mission and they also thanked Pope Leo XIV for his support of SCV victims' Elise Ann Allen
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...
cruxnow.com/church-in-th...