Meet our Staff
At BTI, you will learn from staff who are experienced teachers and educators, researchers, practitioners, health workers and graduates themselves. Many have worked in private practice, for public institutions and for universities in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas.
Biography
Phillip has professional social work experience in care and protection social work, and volunteer experience in refugee resettlement and relief and development. Phillip and his wife Raewyn worked in pastoral roles in Baptist churches for 10 years. Phillip’s academic learning includes a Diploma of Teaching (Canterbury), a Master’s of Theology (Otago), a Master’s of Applied Social Work (Massey), and a PhD in theology (University of Divinity, Australia).
Research
Phillip’s recent publication, A Praxis of Shalom, is a textbook for Counselling and Social work students; it is an outworking of his PhD thesis. In Phillip’s PhD a praxis of shalom is proposed as a response to anti-discriminatory practice approaches. The thesis argues that a movement toward shalom (peace, wholeness, and flourishing in community) is generated when grace is foundational to community and professional practice. When grace deconstructs and reconstructs communities, shalom becomes possible at the borders created by difference. The book is available as a free download from this link. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/409147533_A_praxis_of_shalom_Critical_reflection_for_community_and_professional_practice
In 2023, Phillip completed a collaborative project, writing a textbook for the foundational course Vision and Vocation. The book explores the themes of vocation and purpose through the lens of the Bible’s grand narrative. The text takes an invitational stance towards all people to engage with the content from the perspectives of their own life experiences, worldview, and values. The book is available as a free download from this link.
Phillip’s Master of Theology was a practical theology working with a group of former refugees from Myanmar. The study sought to understand this group’s experience of God through their refugee journey and discerned means of pastoral care that would support this group in their resettlement.
Areas of Expertise
- Integrating theology with professional practice.
- Shalom as an informing framework for professional practice.
- World Christianity and contextual theology.
- Critical reflection for professional practice.
Selected Publications
Larking, P. (2026). A praxis of shalom: Critical reflection for community and professional practice. Christian Education Trust.
Larking, P. (2025). A praxis of shalom for social practice in Aotearoa/New Zealand: An integrative theology using World Christianity and migration theology as resources [Doctoral dissertation, University of Divinity]. University of Divinity Repository. https://repository.divinity.edu.au/home
Larking, P. (2023). Vision and vocation: An exploration of vocational calling in light of the Bible’s grand narrative. Christian Education Trust.
Conference Presentations
Larking, P. (2025, December 3-5). Revolutionary grace: A conceptual portal toward a real utopia [Paper presentation]. Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand, A Sociology of Beauty and Joy Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2025, November 24). Radical grace: A surprising encounter; An event in history [Research presentation]. Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2025, March 26-28). Conceptualising shalom: Hope in the Bible’s grand narrative [Paper presentation]. Laidlaw College, Hope Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2023, November 28-30). Critical consciousness, contextual theology, and theological construction: A case study in social locatedness and research integrity [Paper presentation]. Association of Practical Theology in Oceania Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Meet our Staff
At BTI, you will learn from staff who are experienced teachers and educators, researchers, practitioners, health workers and graduates themselves. Many have worked in private practice, for public institutions and for universities in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas.
Biography
Phillip has professional social work experience in care and protection social work, and volunteer experience in refugee resettlement and relief and development. Phillip and his wife Raewyn worked in pastoral roles in Baptist churches for 10 years. Phillip’s academic learning includes a Diploma of Teaching (Canterbury), a Master’s of Theology (Otago), a Master’s of Applied Social Work (Massey), and a PhD in theology (University of Divinity, Australia).
Research
Phillip’s recent publication, A Praxis of Shalom, is a textbook for Counselling and Social work students; it is an outworking of his PhD thesis. In Phillip’s PhD a praxis of shalom is proposed as a response to anti-discriminatory practice approaches. The thesis argues that a movement toward shalom (peace, wholeness, and flourishing in community) is generated when grace is foundational to community and professional practice. When grace deconstructs and reconstructs communities, shalom becomes possible at the borders created by difference. The book is available as a free download from this link. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/409147533_A_praxis_of_shalom_Critical_reflection_for_community_and_professional_practice
In 2023, Phillip completed a collaborative project, writing a textbook for the foundational course Vision and Vocation. The book explores the themes of vocation and purpose through the lens of the Bible’s grand narrative. The text takes an invitational stance towards all people to engage with the content from the perspectives of their own life experiences, worldview, and values. The book is available as a free download from this link.
Phillip’s Master of Theology was a practical theology working with a group of former refugees from Myanmar. The study sought to understand this group’s experience of God through their refugee journey and discerned means of pastoral care that would support this group in their resettlement.
Areas of Expertise
- Integrating theology with professional practice.
- Shalom as an informing framework for professional practice.
- World Christianity and contextual theology.
- Critical reflection for professional practice.
Selected Publications
Larking, P. (2026). A praxis of shalom: Critical reflection for community and professional practice. Christian Education Trust.
Larking, P. (2025). A praxis of shalom for social practice in Aotearoa/New Zealand: An integrative theology using World Christianity and migration theology as resources [Doctoral dissertation, University of Divinity]. University of Divinity Repository. https://repository.divinity.edu.au/home
Larking, P. (2023). Vision and vocation: An exploration of vocational calling in light of the Bible’s grand narrative. Christian Education Trust.
Conference Presentations
Larking, P. (2025, December 3-5). Revolutionary grace: A conceptual portal toward a real utopia [Paper presentation]. Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand, A Sociology of Beauty and Joy Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2025, November 24). Radical grace: A surprising encounter; An event in history [Research presentation]. Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2025, March 26-28). Conceptualising shalom: Hope in the Bible’s grand narrative [Paper presentation]. Laidlaw College, Hope Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2023, November 28-30). Critical consciousness, contextual theology, and theological construction: A case study in social locatedness and research integrity [Paper presentation]. Association of Practical Theology in Oceania Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Phillip has professional social work experience in care and protection social work, and volunteer experience in refugee resettlement and relief and development. Phillip and his wife Raewyn worked in pastoral roles in Baptist churches for 10 years. Phillip’s academic learning includes a Diploma of Teaching (Canterbury), a Master’s of Theology (Otago), a Master’s of Applied Social Work (Massey), and a PhD in theology (University of Divinity, Australia).
Phillip’s recent publication, A Praxis of Shalom, is a textbook for Counselling and Social work students; it is an outworking of his PhD thesis. In Phillip’s PhD a praxis of shalom is proposed as a response to anti-discriminatory practice approaches. The thesis argues that a movement toward shalom (peace, wholeness, and flourishing in community) is generated when grace is foundational to community and professional practice. When grace deconstructs and reconstructs communities, shalom becomes possible at the borders created by difference. The book is available as a free download from this link. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/409147533_A_praxis_of_shalom_Critical_reflection_for_community_and_professional_practice
In 2023, Phillip completed a collaborative project, writing a textbook for the foundational course Vision and Vocation. The book explores the themes of vocation and purpose through the lens of the Bible’s grand narrative. The text takes an invitational stance towards all people to engage with the content from the perspectives of their own life experiences, worldview, and values. The book is available as a free download from this link.
Phillip’s Master of Theology was a practical theology working with a group of former refugees from Myanmar. The study sought to understand this group’s experience of God through their refugee journey and discerned means of pastoral care that would support this group in their resettlement.
- Integrating theology with professional practice.
- Shalom as an informing framework for professional practice.
- World Christianity and contextual theology.
- Critical reflection for professional practice.
Larking, P. (2026). A praxis of shalom: Critical reflection for community and professional practice. Christian Education Trust.
Larking, P. (2025). A praxis of shalom for social practice in Aotearoa/New Zealand: An integrative theology using World Christianity and migration theology as resources [Doctoral dissertation, University of Divinity]. University of Divinity Repository. https://repository.divinity.edu.au/home
Larking, P. (2023). Vision and vocation: An exploration of vocational calling in light of the Bible’s grand narrative. Christian Education Trust.
Larking, P. (2025, December 3-5). Revolutionary grace: A conceptual portal toward a real utopia [Paper presentation]. Sociological Association of Aotearoa New Zealand, A Sociology of Beauty and Joy Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2025, November 24). Radical grace: A surprising encounter; An event in history [Research presentation]. Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2025, March 26-28). Conceptualising shalom: Hope in the Bible’s grand narrative [Paper presentation]. Laidlaw College, Hope Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
Larking, P. (2023, November 28-30). Critical consciousness, contextual theology, and theological construction: A case study in social locatedness and research integrity [Paper presentation]. Association of Practical Theology in Oceania Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.