The Joy of learning

By Andrew Humphries

To suggest Joy Han has a thirst for knowledge hardly does her justice.

Since deciding seven years ago to enrol in courses through Pilgrim Theological College, Joy has been a textbook study in success.

That success was recognised in March when the Northcote Uniting Church member was named Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar and also gave a short address at Pilgrim’s graduation ceremony.

It was the perfect culmination to an educational journey with Pilgrim which began seven years ago and coincided with a period of discernment Joy was undertaking.

Theological study had always been an ambition and, with some encouragement from friends, she enrolled in one subject, which she was able to undertake outside her career in information technology.

“Around that time in 2017 there was an initiative called Pilgrim Pathways, which then opened up the possibility of doing some more subjects,” Joy says.

“I enrolled in a Graduate Diploma of Theology and I was able to do that because evening classes were offered as part of it.

“The emergence of Covid-19 also saw an expansion of online courses and that offered me a choice of more subjects to study.”

Not satisfied with completing a Graduate Diploma in Theology, the positive learning environment at Pilgrim meant Joy could set her sights even higher.

“As I was completing the Graduate Diploma I realised how much I had enjoyed it, and wanted to do more study, and that expanded into doing a Master of Theological Studies,” she says.

“I joke that it almost came about by accident, because I didn’t set out to do a Masters, I just built on that one subject which started it all.

“What made it all possible was those online and evening courses, which were perfect for someone like me who had a 9-5 job.”

In her address at the graduation ceremony, Joy paid tribute to the wonderful support from academic staff at Pilgrim.

“Theological education has allowed me to explore my calling with both openness and conviction, where previously I had much passion but limited capacity to discern,” she said.

“Now I know I’m equipped to discuss … how theology actually has everything to do with working life, and indeed all of life.

“I hope more and more people will access the transformative gift of theological education.”

Joy says the quality of teaching offered at Pilgrim was a key reason for her being able to successfully tackle her studies while continuing to work fulltime.

“It challenged me in a good way and opened me up to a broader conversation around the Christian tradition,” she says.

“It was an enthralling experience and a totally new world from what I had experienced in congregational life.

“As someone who graduated with a BA in Sociology and History, I had a real thirst to connect my experience of faith with a lot of social and philosophical questions that came up in my study.

“I knew that there were theological resources out there but it was only through theological study that I was able to deeply engage with them.

“I think so many lay people out there are hungry for that engagement and that’s why it’s so important that those theological subjects and courses are available online and are accessible to them.

“I’m a lay person who has now been equipped and resourced to explore questions around what is my vocation, and gifts, and how I can best share them.

“There is nothing special about me except that I have been able to gain those opportunities through theological study, and I would recommend it to any lay person.”

Associate Professor of New Testament Studies at Pilgrim, Robyn Whitaker, says Joy deserves every accolade for her achievements, exemplified by her Vice-Chancellor’s award and address at the graduation ceremony.

“Both are a huge honour and I can’t remember the last time a Pilgrim student received both,” she says.

“Joy is a great example of a younger, non-candidate student who has put herself through a theology degree out of pure interest and passion.

“She is also a key lay leader in the Uniting Church in Australia.”