ADM Fellowships
ENGAGING OUR WORLD WITH THE GOSPEL
ADM Fellowships raise up Christian women to engage a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus.
Since appointing our first cohort of ADM Fellows in 2016, the program has provided financial and institutional support for Christian women to complete a major project and pursue avenues for public gospel witness.
Applications for 2026 are now closed. Register below to be notified when 2027 applications open.
Applications
Applications for our Fellowship program are now closed. Applications will re-open in 2026 for our 2027 cohort of ADM Fellowships.
Fellows in the Media
Fellows in Action
Impact
From our Fellows
“The Fellowship was a game-changer for me. It put around me the resources I needed to do my best work, to finish the book, and I think, to grow as a person who has something to say.”
Dr Meredith Lake
2017 ADM Senior Research Fellow
“Bringing Forth Life would not have come into existence without Anglican Deaconess Ministries and their fellowships program. Alongside the practical support and community they provided, having someone external believe in my idea was what really made the book happen.”
Jodie McIver
2021 ADM Fellow
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to have been an ADM Senior Research Fellow. My ministry to both single Christians themselves, and the wider Christian community on this topic is all the richer for it. I’d love to see the Fellowships Program continue to be a blessing to other Christian women involved in various forms of vocational, word-based ministry and theological research.”
Rev. Dr Dani Treweek
2019 ADM Senior Research Fellow
“The ADM Fellowship came at a perfect time in order to propel and equip me to meet the challenges of providing an Asian Australian voice that points to Jesus. Now I feel like I’m getting a seat at the table, and gatekeepers are open to hearing that my work could help them. I’m so thankful for where God has put me now, and ADM played an instrumental role in getting me there.”
Grace Lung 2019
ADM Summer Fellow
Books by ADM Fellows
Imperfect Reflections: The Art of Christian Journaling
2018 Senior Research Fellow Rev. Dr Kirsten Birkett, Christian Focus Publications
Shakespeare, the Reformation and the Interpreting Self
2019 Senior Research Fellow Dr Roberta Kwan, Edinburgh University Press
10 Dead Gals You Should Know: Leaving an Enduring Legacy
2023 Senior Fellow Rachel Ciano (with Ian J Maddock), Christian Focus Publications
Bringing Forth Life: God’s Purposes in Pregnancy and Birth
2021 Fellow Jodie McIver, Youthworks Media
The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church
2019 Senior Research Fellow Rev. Dr Dani Treweek, InterVarsity Press
2017 ADM Senior Research Fellow, Dr Meredith Lake, New South Books
The Spiritual Formation of Evelyn Underhill
2020 ADM Senior Research Fellow Robyn Wrigley-Carr, SPCK Publishing
2020 ADM Summer Fellow Susy Lee, 598press
I am a huge fan of the ADM Fellowships program. It is the most generous and important Christian fellowship program in Australia. The diversity of fellows and topics is inspiring, yet the goal remains the same—to make the wisdom of Christ public in our questioning world.
Rev. Dr John Dickson
ADM Fellowships Program Ambassador
Jean Kvamme Distinguished Chair at Wheaton College, Illinois, where he is also Distinguished Scholar in Public Christianity
The ADM Fellowships Program is an innovative program which seeks to empower, equip and encourage amazing Christian women to contribute to the common good in the ways only they can. I love seeing these women better understand the gift they are to the church and the world, and grow in their unique skills and gifts.
Elizabeth Oldfield
Podcaster, Author and former director Theos
ADM Fellowships are a marvellous opportunity to advance the name of Jesus through the creative and industrious work of the Fellows. The Fellowships have already had a huge impact in unleashing women with extraordinary ideas and gifts.
Rev. Dr Michael P Jensen
Rector of St Mark’s Anglican Church, Darling Point
Through its Fellowships Program, ADM is a national leader in inspiring and resourcing women to attempt great things in dependence upon God, for the good of the church, and of the society we are called to love.
Rev. Michael Paget
Rector of St Barnabas Anglican Church, Broadway
It’s always hard – perhaps particularly for women - to create the conditions in which to research, think and write – whether that’s done inside the university or, as in my case, outside it. Much of this book was written, hotdesking around public libraries, between the preschool drop off and pick up times. After two and a half years of that, I received a generous part-time Fellowship from Anglican Deaconess Ministries, a Christian foundation for women. An absolutely critical intervention, that enabled me to keep going and finish the book, and to do my best writing. So thank you to all at ADM.
Dr Meredith Lake
2017 ADM Senior Research Fellow
Quote taken from her thank you speech at the 2019 NSW Premier’s History Awards
where her book ‘The Bible in Australia: A Cultural History’ won the prestigious Australian History Prize.
I love and support the work of ADM and am particularly thankful for the Fellowships Program. Its very existence affirms the contribution of women in many spheres and shows them doing it with excellence and intelligence. In my pastoral work, I want to encourage women to grow in their faith and talents and to have the opportunity to live purposefully for Christ. This program enables and encourages a seat at the table.
Vanessa Hughes
Assistant Pastor at St Andrew's Anglican Church, Roseville
There’s nowhere else like this organisation, as far as I’m aware, anywhere in the world.
Professor Alison Milbank
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Nottingham and Canon Theologian, Southwell Minster
Spending a week with Anglican Deaconess Ministries was one of the highlights of my whole career. What ADM is doing to empower Christian women for public vocation is unparalleled—truly, I can’t think of another organisation like it.
Katelyn Beaty
ADM Visiting Fellow
Writer, speaker and editor. Acquisitions Editor, Brazos Press.
2026 Fellows
Prof Megan Best
Prof Megan Best
Senior Research Fellow, Mary Andrews College, Australian University of Theology
Fellowship project: Christian resources for the end of this life
Megan Best is a Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Ethics & Society at the University of Notre Dame Australia, where she leads research in bioethics. With a clinical background as a palliative care physician and a PhD from the University of Syndey, her career focus has been on the relief of suffering and care for the vulnerable through high quality research, public advocacy and leadership. Megan is internationally recognised for her research on spirituality in healthcare, ethical policy development, and Christian bioethics. She has published extensively, including authoring books on ethical issues at the beginning of life and palliative care.
Megan will use her ADM Fellowship to develop accessible, research-based resources to help Christians and their carers navigate the end-of-life journey in a way that upholds human dignity. By fostering understanding of normal dying processes and strengthening church communities, the project will produce practical guides for laypeople and an academic textbook for professionals.
“Normal dying is an area which is poorly understood in the community, and the spiritual challenges that arise in the face of one’s imminent death can precipitate a crisis of meaning in the lives of many people. We now face new ethical dilemmas with the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, and not only Christians but also non-believers are challenged with how to make decisions about end-of-life care. Through my Fellowship project, I want to empower Christians to model an approach to our final days that upholds human dignity in the face of illness and physical deterioration. This is a powerful way in which to communicate to our society how highly we are valued in the eyes of God and our hope in a world beyond this one, where God will wipe every tear from our eyes.”
Alanna Glover
Research Fellow, Mary Andrews College, Australian University of Theology
Fellowship project: Christian singing in a world of expressive individualism
Alanna Glover is Creative Director of Emu Music, a ministry dedicated to fostering biblical and transformative congregational singing. She holds degrees in music and theology, including a BTh from Sydney Missionary and Bible College and is completing a MTh from the University of Birmingham. Alanna has served in diverse ministry roles in churches across Australia and internationally and as a Lecturer in Music Ministry at Moore College. A singer, songwriter, and trainer, Alanna is committed to equipping churches worldwide to glorify God through faithful and beautiful music ministry.
Alanna's project will build on her Master’s research to explore how Christians can recover a biblical vision for singing in an age shaped by expressive individualism. She will use her ADM Fellowship to write a book that equips pastors, musicians, and congregations with biblical, theological, and practical resources for cultivating faithful and joyful singing.
“As Christians, we are not merely invited to sing; we are commanded to. When the people of God gather, we lift our voices in praise, teaching, and thanksgiving. Yet many believers underestimate the depth and power of this practice. In a culture marked by isolation, distraction, and self-focus, congregational singing reorients us. It reminds us that we belong to Christ and to one another. Singing is not simply an aesthetic addition to our services but a formative act through which God shapes his people, builds up the church, and is glorified.”
Anna Brotherson
2026 Research Fellow, Mary Andrews College, Australian University of Theology
Fellowship project: A semantic analysis of Biblical Greek tense and voice
Anna Brotherson is a lecturer in New Testament Greek at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. Anna’s current research interests include Greek semantics, translation studies, and storytelling techniques in the Gospels and Acts. She publishes devotional reflections on the Greek New Testament and articles analysing Biblical Greek language on her Substack, In Common. In 2007-2009, Anna studied her MDiv at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, where her research project was an evaluation of the ESV translation of Ecclesiastes. Following this, Anna and her husband served for ten years as OMF missionaries in SE Asia.
Anna will use her ADM Fellowship to continue her research into Biblical Greek tense and voice. She is especially eager to shed some light on the elusive aorist tense (and its aspect); to interrogate popular understanding of the “passive voice”; and to explore how different verb forms contribute to focus and emotion in Greek storytelling.
“Even though the Greek language has been studied for centuries, there are some accepted explanations of Koine Greek verbs which are in desperate need of revision. With a fresh and clear understanding of these forms, readers of the Greek New Testament will see with greater clarity the time sequences, nuance, and emotion conveyed by the original authors, leading to more precise exegesis, increased enjoyment of the Greek language, and a deeper appreciation of the literary features of the different biblical books.”
Rev. Belinda Burn
2026 ADM Research Fellow, Mary Andrews College, Australian University of Theology
Fellowship project: Don't just say sorry: a book about how gospel-shaped apology could enhance the church today
Belinda is an ordained Anglican minister, whose training is in theology, ministry, professional supervision and counselling. Following three decades of experience in parish ministry, Belinda served as the Chaplain for the Safe Ministry Team in the Sydney Anglican Diocese.
For her Fellowship project, Belinda will write a book about interpersonal apology for all Christians, and particularly for church leaders. The book will draw on her pastoral experience and training in theology and counselling. Through engagement with the scriptures, psychological research, and church tradition, it will explore what apology is, how to do it, what stops it from happening, and why it is an essential practice to maintain and build flourishing Christian communities that bear authentic witness to Jesus’ love in a world that needs him.
“I believe that our sceptical and hurting world is looking for authenticity, that many ‘sceptics’ are so for good reason—we have not practiced what we preach. The world sees our scandals, has stepped into our gatherings, and been disappointed, hurt, even abused. But genuine apology is disarming, attractive, and a powerful corrective for those who are sceptical and hurting. ”
Rev. Stephanie Judd
202 ADM Research Fellow, Mary Andrews College, Australian University of Theology
Fellowship project: Five lies women believe, and how Jesus is better.
Rev. Stephanie Judd is a gifted preacher, teacher, writer, and visionary leader. She is an ordained Anglican minister and serves as the Senior Associate Minister at City on a Hill Melbourne. Stephanie has preached at major conferences and gatherings across Australia and New Zealand — including the Annual Bishop’s Conference in Tasmania, and the Ridley Annual Preacher’s Conference. She has also been recognised as an Archdall Preaching Scholar. Stephanie holds a first-class honours degree in theology from Moore Theological College and a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
For her Fellowship project, Stephanie will write, publish, and promote her book which will address five lies women believe and show how Jesus is better, and will record and release a corresponding podcast. Each chapter will unpack the nature and experience of a lie that women commonly believe and address the lie in the light of the truth of Scripture through biblical exegesis, doctrinal reflection, pastoral insight, cultural analysis, and personal story. It will call women to live bold, courageous, and joyous lives for Jesus, propelled by the beauty and truth of the gospel.
“In the opening pages of Scripture, we discover that God isn’t the only preacher. The evil one has darkened the mind of man and woman and proclaimed a lie. Ever since, men and women have lived by lies. In Jesus, however, the believer has been rescued from the dominion of darkness. Now, she is marked by light. She is called to push back the powers of darkness as she lives out her identity in Christ.”
Fellows Alumnae
About the ADM Fellowship Program
ADM Fellowships raise up Christian women to engage a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus, as they serve Christ in the church, the community, and the world.
ADM established its Fellowships Program in 2016 and appointed its first cohort of ADM Fellows in 2017. ADM has so far seen 23 Fellows through its year-long program, with 5 current 2023 Fellows.
The Objectives of the ADM Fellowships Program are to:
Enable the completion of high-quality major projects by Christian women that will give them credibility in their field and set them up for further opportunities to serve Christ and his Church, particularly in engaging a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus;
Train and equip Christian women to share their contributions with wider public audiences, through providing integrated theological and professional development in a supportive Christian environment;
Progress Christian women at the early-mid vocational stage towards sustainable pathways to continue their work, and promote the creation of more pathways for Christian women and girls to serve Christ in the church, the community and the world.
Impact so far
ADM began offering its Fellowships and Senior Fellowships in 2017.
To date, ADM has hosted eight year-long cohorts of Fellows (2017-2024), with the ninth cohort (2025) having begun on 1 February.
Each cohort has had 4-5 Fellows, totalling 35 Fellows to date. (Note, however, that many of our year-long Fellows took up ‘part-time’ Fellowships of 2, 3 or 4 days per week).
ADM has also hosted three cohorts of Summer Fellows (2018, 2019 and 2020), with a total of 11 Summer Fellows.
ADM offers an International Visiting Fellowship each year by invitation, often in connection with the Annual Public Lecture or other major events.
Supporting Christian Women
The Fellowships Program reflects ADM’s commitment to see women serve Christ and his Church by supporting them to undertake high-quality major projects which give them credibility in their area and open up further opportunities for them to contribute to serving God’s people and engaging a sceptical and hurting world with the good news of Jesus.
At present, many Christian women who have a desire to make a significant contribution to the Church and its witness have limited access to support and funding that would allow them the time, space and training to do this. As a result, Christian women at the early-mid career stage can end up needing to leave these projects aside for financial, family and other reasons. Sadly, this can mean the Church too often misses out on the particular contributions women might make to its ministry and mission.
The ADM Fellowships Program was developed to address this need and to expand the capacity of Christian women to serve Christ in the church, the community and the world. In creating the program, we drew on best-practice models of early-mid career Fellowships, which are used extensively in a wide variety of contexts from universities and theological colleges through to government, philanthropic foundations and even banks.