MA (Hons), MTh, PhD
Lecturer
- 51cg
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- Email Address
- k.cross@abdn.ac.uk
- Office Address
- School/Department
- School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History
Biography
I'm a practical theologian and I work at the intersection of theology, trauma, and lived experience. My research has focused on post-church communities and expressions of faith and belief that are often overlooked. I’ve written on the Sunday Assembly (a "godless congregation") and have co‑edited two volumes on trauma theology, with current projects on church‑leaving Christians, hope, and trauma‑informed pedagogy.
I supervise PhD students whose topics include theologies of trauma, mental health, lived experiences of church, and post-church faith. I regularly teach undergraduate classes in theology on gender and sexuality, trauma and suffering, and division and reconciliation. I also teach for the University's Medical Humanities programme and for the School of Psychology.
Originally from the west coast of Scotland, I now live in Aberdeen with my partner and our two dachshunds. When I’m not at work, I’m likely to be found on a dog walk, reading, spending time with friends, or on a quest for the city’s best coffee (right now it’s at Third Circle in Rosemount!)
Qualifications
- Aurora2024 - Advance HE
Aurora is Advance HE's leadership development initiative for women. It is run as a unique partnership bringing together leadership experts, higher education providers and research institutes to take positive action to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions in the sector.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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- Postgraduate Research Lead, Divinity
- Elected Senate Member for School of Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History
- Sophia Network co-coordinator
- Gifford Lectures Committee member
- University and College Union (UCU) Caseworker
- External Memberships
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- Editor, Journal
- SGSAH Discipline+Catalyst Lead for
- Associate Editor,
- Editorial board, Journal
- Editorial board, SCM Press "Studies in Trauma Theology" Series
- Visiting lecturer and dissertation supervisor,
- D.Min instructor, /
- External examiner, University of Birmingham (previously University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Newbold College)
Latest Publications
Moving from Feminist Trauma Theologies to Masculinities
For Nothing Is Hidden: Masculinities and Trauma in Church and Theology. Rose-Moore, W. (ed.). SCM Press, pp. 25-38, 14 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE]
Theology and Mental Health
Theology in Scotland, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 1-4Contributions to Journals: Editorials- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
Heather Walton, Practical Theology Beyond the Empirical Turn: (London: SCM Press, 2025); 256 pp.: 9780334058991, £25 (pbk)
Theology, vol. 129, no. 2, pp. 138-139Contributions to Journals: Reviews of Books, Films and Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
Dialogical responses to suffering in a traumatised world: An experiment in epistolary theology
Theology in Scotland, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 60-74Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]
Suffering and Evil
Theology in Scotland, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 1-3Contributions to Journals: Editorials- [ONLINE]
Prizes and Awards
- Mental Health Champion, Students' Union and 51cg Excellence Awards 2026
- Most Inspiring, Students' Union and 51cg Excellence Awards 2025
- Research
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Research Areas
Research Specialisms
- Theology
- Religion in Society
- Theology and Religious Studies
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is , published under the licence.
- Teaching
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Courses
- Publications
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Page 3 of 3 Results 21 to 30 of 30
The Sunday Assembly and Theologies of Suffering
Routledge, London. 160 pagesBooks and Reports: BooksThe earthquake that shocked Europe: how Lisbon recovered after 1755 – Recovery podcast series part two
The ConversationContributions to Specialist Publications: Articles- [ONLINE]
Book review: Taking on practical theology: the idolization of context and the hope of community by Courtney T. Goto
Practical Theology, vol. 13, no. 1-2, pp. 174-175Contributions to Journals: Reviews of Books, Films and Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
Feminist Trauma Theologies: Body, Scripture and Church in Critical Perspective
Books and Reports: Anthologies- [ONLINE]
"I Have the Power in My Body to Make People Sin": The Trauma of Purity Culture and the Concept of "Body Theodicy"
Feminist Trauma Theologies: Body, Scripture and Church in Critical Perspective. O'Donnell, K., Cross, K. (eds.). 1 edition. SCM Press, pp. 21-39, 18 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters (Peer-Reviewed)- [ONLINE]
Introduction: Feminist Trauma Theologies
Feminist Trauma Theologies: Body, Scripture and Church in Critical Perspective. O'Donnell, K., Cross, K. (eds.). SCM Press, pp. 12-16Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE]
Courtney T. Goto, Taking on Practical Theology: The Idolization of Context and the Hope of Community
Theology, vol. 122, no. 6, pp. 460-461Contributions to Journals: Reviews of Books, Films and Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
Review:: This Is My Body: a story of sickness and health by Jennie Hogan
Practical Theology, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 455-456Contributions to Journals: Reviews of Books, Films and ArticlesFeminism and Trauma Theologies
Non-textual Forms: Web Publications and Websites- [ONLINE]
The Sunday Assembly in Scotland: Vestiges of Religious Memory and Practise in a Secular Congregation
Practical Theology, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 249-262Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI:
- [OPEN ACCESS]