AC, through its Australasian Pentecostal Studies Centre (APSC), hosted its inaugural The Future of Worship: Research & Practice conference on 25–26 September 2026.
The two-day gathering brought together 30 scholars, church worship leaders and teams, industry representatives, and AC staff and alumni. It aimed to connect worship research with practice and create dialogue between scholarship, the local church, and the worship industry.
Rev Prof Jacqui Grey delivered the opening keynote. Plenary speakers included Rev Assoc Prof Daniel Thornton, HopeUC Creative Pastor Ps Luke Taylor, Hillsong College Lecturer and AC PhD candidate Ps Adam Dodson, and Steve McPherson of Multitracks, formerly Hillsong Publishing. Research papers were presented by Rev Prof Steven Félix-Jäger, Dr Leng Toh, and Cindy van der Ree. AC staff and alumni also contributed to the programme and event organisation.
Feedback from attendees was strongly positive, with many expressing interest in a future conference. One described the gathering as “unique” among conferences he had attended and said they were honoured to be part of its first year. Another attendee shared that hearing about God’s work alongside research was a powerful and helpful experience.
The inaugural event marks a new opportunity for AC and APSC to bring researchers, worship practitioners, and industry together in conversation.
