Grant

Rev Dr Grant Buchanan

Senior Lecturer in Theology

Biography

In 2002, Grant came to Australia to take a position as Creative Ministries and Small Groups Pastor in an ACC church in Melbourne\'s southeastern suburbs.\ From 2006 he taught biblical, ministry and theological subjects at Harvest Bible College, joining the team full time in 2010 as the Head of Vocational Education Training (VET) studies. In 2015 he took on the role as Dean of Learning and Teaching with the Higher Education Faculty. He is currently Senior Lecturer with the School of Ministry and Theology at AUC, where he continues to teach theology, biblical and ministry subjects, and is the Program Director of the Graduate Certificate of Professional Supervision in the School of Health and Human Sciences.\

Grant completed his PhD in 2021\ at the University of Divinity in Melbourne. His topic explored a pneumatological reading of the New Creation motif in Galatians, and how this impacts\ Christian identity.\ He has also completed a Master of Counselling and a Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision.

Apart from his academic role and teaching, he has worked in school chaplaincy and runs a private counselling and professional supervision business. He is active as an itinerant speaker and runs Leadership Training and Development courses, and is part of the community at Aspire Church, Hampton Park.\

Grant is a member of the Biblical Studies research cluster.

Qualifications

Ph.D. (University of Divinity), The Spirit, New Creation, and Christian Identity in Galatians: Towards a Pneumatological Reading of Galatians – 2021

M.Counselling (Alphacrucis University College) – 2023

MA (Min) (Harvest Bible College) – 2010

Grad Cert Professional Supervision (Aplhacrucis University College) – 2023

Grad Cert (Research Methodologies) (University of Divinity), “Jesus, Moses and ‘Us’: Exploring the Relationship between Covenant, Transformation, and Identity in 2 Corinthians 3–4” – 2013

BTh (Otago University) – 2006

Cert IV TAE (Sarina Russo) – 2013

  • Research Publications

    Books

    • 2023
      • Buchanan, G. (2023). The Spirit, New Creation, and Christian Identity: Towards a Pneumatological Reading of Galatians 3:1–6:17. T&T Clark. | External link

    Book Chapters

    • 2013
      • Buchanan, G. (2013). Shifting Sands and Uncertain Waters: Leadership challenges and potentials in the midst of discontinuous change In Jon Newton (ed.), New Frontiers: Redefining Christian Ministry in 21st Century Contexts (pp. ). Mosaic Press.
      • Ware, VA., Ware, A., Clarke, M. and Buchanan, G. (2013). Why Western Based, Pentecostal mission organizations undertake community development in South East Asia In Clarke, M. (ed.), Handbook of Research on Development and Religion (pp. ). Edward Elgar.

    Journal Articles

    • 2025
      • Buchanan, G. (2025). Professional pastoral supervision: a challenge to pentecostal leaders. Practical Theology,  1–15.
    • 2020
      • Grant Buchanan (2020). Identity and Human Agency in Galatians 5 – 6. Australian Biblical Review, Vol 68, 2020 50-62.
    • 2013
      • Buchanan, G. (2013). L’implication des missionnaires pentecôtistes dans l’aide au développement en Asie du Sud-Est. Social Compass, 60, No. 4 488-502.
  • Scholarship

    Internal and External Grants

    • 2022
      • Academic Conference Funding, $700, Alphacrucis

    Presentations

    • 2023
      • Christ, Crucifixion and the Spirit in Galatians (2023), Paul in his Jewish & Graeco-Roman Context, Sydney, 27 Oct 2023
    • 2022
      • The Importance of a Trinitarian Spirit-Christology for the Pentecostal Church (2022), ANZATS, Sydney, 23 Jun 2022
    • 2021
      • Towards a Pneumatological Reading of Gal 6:14–16 (2021), SBL International, On-Line, 21 Nov 2021
      • The Justice of God and the Church: Theological Ethics in Conversation with the Apostle Paul and Michael Gorman (2021), ANZATS 2021, Online, 05 Jul 2021
      • Zoom for Chaplaincy (2021), Chaplaincy Australia, Melbourne, 14 Apr 2021
    • 2018
      • The Justice of God and the Church: A Conversation with Paul and Michael Gorman (2018), AC Melbourne Research Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 05 Sep 2018
      • Pneumatological Undertones in Galatians 6:14-16 (2018), ANZATS Annual Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 03 Jul 2018
      • Pneumatological Undertones in Galatians 6:14–16 (2018), University of Divinity Post-Grad Research Day, Kew, Australia, 12 Jun 2018

    Professional Memberships


    AAOS (since 2024)

    Fellowship of Biblical Studies (since 2010)

    PACFA (since 2024)

    Society for the Study of Theology (since 2020)

    Society of Biblical Literature (since 2016)


  • Teaching

  • Supervision

    • Current
      • Yoo, H, TBA (Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Honours))
      • Delport, V, Facilitating the progression of women into positions of senior leadership in the Australian Christian Churches: identifiying opportunities and obstacles (DMin thesis)
      • Ngoh, Z, (None)
    • Completed
      • 2025
        • Rizzo, D, Theological foundations for a pneumatology of animals (PhD thesis)
      • 2021
        • Ryan Kerrison, How does C3 atonement theology reflect a pentecostal atonement theology via sermons. (Masters Project/Thesis)
        • Tom Anderson, How can a purely online platform be used to create christian community? (Masters Project/Thesis)
        • Adam Inder, What can contemporary Pentecostal Church Leadership models learn from Paul’s leadership approach expressed in his letter to the Galatians? (Masters Project/Thesis)
      • 2020
        • Jo Wilton, What is the relationship between faith group membership and wellbeing in retirement as reported in the World Values Survey Australia 2018 and informed by the Social Identity Model of Identity Change (SIMIC)? (Masters Project/Thesis)