Sturt Lectures - Flourishing in a World of Disconnection

Sturt Lectures 2026: Flourishing in a World of Disconnection Sturt Lectures bring theology and professional counselling into honest conversation, exploring what it means to flourish when anxiety, loneliness, and digital overwhelm have become part of everyday life. Hosted by Laidlaw College and named for John and Agnes Sturt, pioneers of holistic counselling and Christian leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand, this series of lectures has long served as a meeting place for theological insight and practical care. This year's theme asks a pressing question: can flourishing be found alone, or only in community? As individual wellness culture pulls one way and relational, communal understandings of healing pull another, our speakers—counsellors, a theologian, and a case study from Te Wānanga Ihorangi—will explore what it takes for faith and flourishing to take root in a fractured, disconnected age. Join us as we integrate theology, counselling, and community for a conversation about what it truly means to flourish—together.