The Salvation Army Booth College

Sessional Lecturer

With a background in computer science, theology, and higher education, Stephen Garner, works primarily in the area of practical theology. He worked in a variety of commercial and educational contexts, including the University of Auckland, and served as Head of Theology and Academic Dean at Laidlaw College, New Zealand.

Working at the intersection of religious faith and spirituality with technology, media, and ethics, his work seeks to understand and communicate those interactions, and to offer practical and life-giving wisdom for individual and community life. This research is oriented around two core research projects: Theology, Technology and Ethics and Religion, Media, and Popular Culture.

Stephen is an accomplished teacher and research supervisor, having taught courses in systematic theology, theological ethics, Christian spirituality, religion and media, public and contextual theology, and science and religion. He has supervised research students in diverse and interdisciplinary areas including digital theology, theology and disability, theology and education, and various contextual theologies.

He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ), and has served on the NZ Interchurch Bioethics Council, the PCANZ Leadership Subcommittee, the Global Network for Digital Theology, the AAR Human Enhancement and Transhumanism programme unit, and on the board of Bishopdale Theological College.

Areas of Expertise

• Digital Theology
• Theological Ethics
• Practical Theology
• Religion, Media and Popular Culture
• Theological Education
• Public and Context Theology

Selected Publications

Books

• Campbell, Heidi, and Stephen Garner. Networked Theology: Negotiating Faith in Digital Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2016.

Journal Articles

• Garner, Stephen, and Terry Pouono. "The Digital Vā: Teu Le Vā in Online Spaces." Cursor_: Zeitschrift für explorative Theologie (Journal for Explorative Theology). (9 July 2021). https://cursor.pubpub.org/pub/33f0jhi2.
• "Eschatological Companions: Christian Hope in Virtual Worlds." Theology & Sexuality 26, no. 2-3 (2020): 140-57.
• "Digital Theology: A Proposal and the Need for Diverse Voices." Cursor_: Zeitschrift für explorative Theologie (Journal for Explorative Theology). (6 November 2020). https://doi.org/10.21428/fb61f6aa.76c476d1.
• "Co-Creating as Appropriate Technology." Thought Matters: The Journal of The Salvation Army Tri-Territorial Theological Forum 8 (2019): 85-94.
• "Imaging Christ in Digital Worlds: Continuity and Discontinuity in Discipleship." Communication Research Trends 38, no. 4 (2019): 21-30.
• "Contextual and Public Theology: Passing Fads or Theological Imperatives?". Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought & Practice 22, no. 1 (April 2015): 20-28.
• "Morningside for Life!: Contextual Theology Meets Animated Television in Bro'town." Studies in World Christianity 17, no. 2 (2011): 156-74.
• "Hacking with the Divine: A Metaphor for Theology-Technology Engagement." Colloquium 37, no. 2 (November 2005): 181-95.
• "Transhumanism and Christian Social Concern." Journal of Evolution and Technology 14, no. 2 (August 2005): 29-43.
• "Praying with Machines: Religious Dreaming in Cyberspace." Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought & Practice 12, no. 3 (August 2004): 16-22.

Book Chapters

• "Artificial Intelligence and Human Flourishing in the Everyday World: Reflections from Christian Public Theology." In Social and Ethical Considerations of AI in East Asia and Beyond, edited by Levi Checketts and Benedict S. B. Chan, 97-109. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2025.
• "Angels and Robots: The Religious Dimensions of Transhumanist Popular Culture." In A Curious Machine: Wesleyan Reflections on the Posthuman Future, edited by Glen O'Brien and Arseny Armakov, 137-50. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2023.
• "The Dark Knight of the Soul: Batman and Apophatic Spirituality." In Theology and Batman, edited by Matthew Brake and Charles Robertson, 237-50. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2022.
• "Digital Technologies and Theological Education." In Theology as Threshold: Invitations from Aotearoa New Zealand, edited by Jione Havea, Emily Colgan and Nāsili Vaka’uta, 119-33. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2022.
• "Digital Theology and Qualitative Research." In Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Qualitative Research and Theology, edited by Pete Ward and Knut Tveitereid, 231-42. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2022.
• "Historical Background in the Development of Communication, Media, and Religion and the Area’s Key Theoretical Groundings." In Wiley-Blackwell Handbook on Religion and Communication, edited by Yoel Cohen and Paul A. Soukup, 23-38. Hoboken, N.J.: The International Association of Media & Communication Research (IAMCR)/Wiley-Blackwell, 2023.
• "Theology and the New Media." In Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in Digital Media, edited by Heidi Campbell and Ruth Tsuria, 266-81. Abingdon, Oxon; New York: Routledge, 2021.
• "Vernetzte Religion – Glauben in Einer Vernetzten Gesellschaft." In Digitalisierung Aus Theologischer Und Ethischer Perspektive: Konzeptionen – Anfragen – Impulse, edited by Gotlind Ulshöfer, Peter G. Kirchschläger and Markus Huppenbauer, 63-89. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft 2021. (With Heidi Campbell)
• "Sacred Pilgrimage in Playful, Digital Spaces." In Sports and Play in Christian Theology, edited by John Tucker and Philip Halstead, 93-108. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2020.
• "Cultural Exegesis: Missiological Pragmatism or Theological Imperative?". In Beyond Four Walls: Explorations in Being the Church, edited by Michael O'Neil and Peter Elliott, 160-75. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2020.
• "Duties, Consequences or Virtues? Theological Ethics for Social Media." In Theologische Medienethik Im Digitalen Zeitalter (Theological Media Ethics in the Digital Age), edited by Gotlind Ulshöfer and Monika Wilhelm, 187-203. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer-Verlag, 2020.
• "Are You My Neighbor? Theology, Networks, and Encounters with God and Others." In Authority and Leadership: Values, Religion, Media, edited by Miriam Diez Bosch, Paul Soukup, S. J., Josep Lluís Micó Sanz and Daniella Zsupan-Jerome, 111-22. Barcelona: Ramon Llull University, 2017.
• "Jesus Heals? Faith Claims in the Public Square." In Spirituality and Cancer: Christian Encounters, edited by Tim Meadowcroft and Caroline Blyth, 97-114. Auckland: Accent Publications, 2015.
• "Lament in an Age of New Media." In Spiritual Complaint: Theology and Practice of Lament, edited by Miriam J. Bier and Tim Bulkeley, 228-45. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2013.
• Garner, Stephen R. "Christian Theology and Transhumanism: The “Created Co-Creator” and Bioethical Principles." In Religion and Transhumanism : The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement, edited by Calvin R. Mercer and Tracy J. Trothen, 229-44. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 2015.
• "Public Theology through Popular Culture." In The Bible, Justice and Public Theology, edited by David J. Neville, 174-89. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2014.
• "The Hopeful Cyborg." In Transhumanism and Transcendence: Christian Hope in an Age of Technological Enhancement, edited by Ronald Cole-Turner, 87-100. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2011.

Conference Presentations

• "Technology, Human Agency, and Partnership with God? Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Co-Creation." (Co-)Creator, Creativity and the Created - Global Network for Digital Theology Annual Meeting, Spurgeon’s College/Online, 3-5 June 2025.
• "The Picture of Good Health? Photography, Mental Wellness, and Spirituality." Integrating Diverse Voices: Decolonising Mental Health Practices through Theology, Music, and Arts, Kingi Ihaka Research Centre, Auckland, N.Z., 21-22 November 2024.
• Garner, Stephen, and Miriam Fisher. "How Do We Sing in a Virtual Land? Theology, Imagination and Psalms in Digital Spaces." Tuning Our Hearts to the Psalms Conference, Auckland, N.Z., 17-19 July 2024.
• "Addressing the Digital Elephant(S) in the Room: Just How Global Is the Global Digital Theological Community?" After Babel: Digital Theology and Contextualities - Global Network for Digital Theology Annual Meeting, Spurgeon’s College/Online, 13-15 June 2024.
• Dzugan, Melanie, Jacob Boss, Stephen Garner, and Seth Villegas. "Research, Resources, and Practices: An Open Forum on Human Enhancement and Transhumanism." Online June Sessions, American Academic of Religion Annual Meeting, Online, 25-27 June 2024.
• Garner, Stephen. "Graphic Media and Religious Nostalgia." Retro Futuristic Visions Conference, Yoobee College of Creative Innovation, Wellington, NZ, 2023.
• "The Global Network for Digital Theology: New Approaches to Theological Work and Research." Research Colloquium: Digital Theology and the Future of Intercultural Theological Research, University of Bonn, Germany/Online, 19 April 2023.
• "Framing Faith: Exploring Religion through Comics and Graphic Novels." 13th International Society for Media, Religion and Culture Conference, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany, 2-5 August 2023.
• "Robot Discipling? Some Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Christian Education, Worship, and Spiritual Life." Digital Prophets and Prophets of the Digital - Global Network for Digital Theology Annual Meeting, Spurgeon’s College/Online, 1-3 June 2023.
• "Artificial Intelligence and Human Flourishing in the Everyday World: Reflections from Christian Public Theology." Ethical and Social Implications of Artificial Intelligence: East Asia and Beyond, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, 30 March-1 April 2023.
• "Faith and Frame Counts: Locating Religion in Digital Games." Media, Culture, and Society International Academic Conference, Yoobee College of Creative Innovation, Auckland, NZ, 14-16 December 2022.
• "Nurturing the Ghost in the Shell: Human Flourishing in Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction." American Academic of Religion Annual Meeting, Denver, USA, 19-22 November 2022.
• "Public Theology for the Digital Polis." Global Network for Public Theology Consultation, Curitiba, Brazil, 3-6 October 2022.
• "In a Scanner Darkly: Engaging Technology Theologically through Science Fiction." Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Studies Annual Meeting, Sydney, Australia, 3-6 July 2022.
• "Is the Future of Theology Graphic? Comics and Graphic Novels in Theological Perspective." Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Studies Annual Meeting, Sydney, Australia, 3-6 July 2022.
• "The Space between Us: Community and Formation in Isolated Times." Theology and Communications: THEOCOM20, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, USA/Online, 28 July 2020.
• "Digital Theology: A Modest, Inclusive Proposal." American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Diego, USA, 23-26 November 2019.
• "13 Reasons Why: A Theologian Reflects." The Sturt Lectures: A conference for dialogue between Counselling and Theology, Laidlaw College, Christchurch, NZ, 29 September 2017.
• "Upside-Down Angels: Inverting Supernatural Good and Evil in Popular Culture." International Society for Media, Religion and Culture Conference, Canterbury, UK, 4-6 August 2014.
• "Whale Rider or the Passion of the Christ? Lessons from Aotearoa-New Zealand in Teaching Religion and Media with Local and Global Voices." 7th International Conference on Religion, Media and Culture, Toronto, Canada, 9-13 August 2010.
• "Symbols, Swords and Spandex: Religious Authority in Comic Books through the Lens of the ‘Warrior Nun’." 7th International Conference on Religion, Media and Culture, Toronto, Canada, 9-13 August 2010.

Media, presentations, and other contributions

• "AI, Digital Technology, and Theological Education: Building a Solid Foundation." The International Council for Evangelical Theological Education - Technology and Innovation Impact Group, Online, 28 July 2025.
• Garner, Stephen, Juewei Shi, and Meredith Lake. Soul Search (ABC). Podcast audio. Human hope in the age of AI 54 mins 2024. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/soul-search/human-hope-in-the-age-of-ai/104453492.
• "The Hasty Contemplative: The Spirituality of Street Photography." Refresh: Journal of Contemplative Spirituality 25, no. 2 (Summer 2024): 31-37.
• "Artificial Intelligence: Education, Formation and Ministry." Christian Theological & Ministries Education Society Annual Meeting, Online/Laidlaw College, 10 May 2024.
• "Wrestling with Artificial Intelligence." Independent Tertiary Education NZ (ITENZ) Webinar, Online, 30 August 2023.
• Garner, Stephen, Richard Goodwin, and Aaron Hodgson. More Than Theology. Podcast audio. Understanding AI (with Stephen Garner) 34 mins. 2023.
• "From Distanced Church to Returning Church to Hybrid Church." In Revisiting the Distanced Church, edited by Heidi Campbell, 97-104. College Station, TX.: Network for New Media, Religion & Digital Culture Studies/Texas A&M University, 2021.
• "The Distanced Church: Pragmatism, Creativity and Rhythms of Life." In The Distanced Church: Reflections on Doing Church Online, edited by Heidi Campbell, 55-57. College Station, TX.: Network for New Media, Religion & Digital Culture Studies/Texas A&M University, 2020.
• Garner, Stephen, Katherine Schmidt, and Jonas Kurlberg. Global Network for Digital Theology. Podcast audio. Stephen Garner - Hope, Eschatology and Digital Culture 22 mins. 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WwndEGqYMc.
• "Religion, Spirituality, and Comics - a Sampler (Part 1 of 3)." Sacred and Sequential. (9 October 2019). http://www.sacredandsequential.org/2019/10/09/religion-spirituality-and-comics-a-sampler-part-1-of-3/.
• "Religion, Spirituality, and Comics - a Sampler (Part 2 of 3)." Sacred and Sequential. (8 November 2019). http://www.sacredandsequential.org/2019/11/08/religion-spirituality-and-comics-a-sampler-part-2-of-3/.
• "Religion, Spirituality, and Comics - a Sampler (Part 3 of 3)." Sacred and Sequential. (24 December 2019). http://www.sacredandsequential.org/2019/12/24/religion-spirituality-and-comics-a-sampler-part-3-of-3/.
• "Vision: Altered Carbon and Westworld." Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought and Practice 25, no. 1. (18 July 2018).
• "Vision: Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice." Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought & Practice 23, no. 2 (2016): 43-45.
• Malpas, Phillipa, Warren Brookbanks, and Stephen Garner. "Euthanasia: Should It Be Legalized in New Zealand?". Ingenio: The University of Auckland Alumni Magazine, no. Autumn (2013): 10-11.

To contact Stephen please fill out this Enquiry Form