Scientist, Actor, Pastor, Theologian: Steven’s story

Steven Daly has a long-standing relationship with Trinity Theological College in Perth. 

“I’ve been aware of Trinity since its beginning in the late 90’s,” he recalls. “At the time, I was attending occasional seminars and other things that Trinity was hosting.”

As an Anglican minister ordained in the Melbourne Diocese in 2005, Steven has studied at several theological colleges, including Trinity. He has spent the last 12 years serving as the rector of St Barnabas Anglican Church in West Leederville. However, feeling the need for a sabbatical and further study, Steven decided to pursue a master’s thesis at Trinity.

“I’ve had a long association with Trinity in one way or another and was delighted to have the opportunity to study there and be a full-time student again which my wife is very lovingly and patiently supporting me in,” Steve says.

Steven’s association with Trinity has been expansive, from studying at, partaking in, and teaching in the night course as well. 

“I returned to Perth in 2008 and since that time, I’ve attended at least one seminar or conference at Trinity per year; some years it’s been two or three. In addition to that, I’ve been involved in the Trinity at Night program. I’ve attended Trinity at Night units to brush up on things and I’ve also taught some units! For four years, I taught Trinity at Night on the Book of Isaiah.”

“I think they [Trinity at Night] work really well as an introductory course for people who want to go a little bit deeper into God’s Word, into Christian thinking or into Christian history. I think it’s a really valued way in which Trinity builds into the evangelical church community right across all denominations here in Perth,” he adds.

A few faithful friends

Growing up in a non-Christian family, Steven describes himself as an “oil company kid”, growing up with a dad who worked for Shell and as a result, they travelled around a great deal. Lots of travelling equalled lots of new schools and frequently being the ‘new kid’. However God was gracious and placed many Christians in his path at school. 

“By the grace of God both in primary school and also in high school, he gave me a greater than average proportion of Christian and church going friends. I think, in the sink or swim social hierarchies of schools, it’s often the church kids that have kind of an ethos of welcoming in the outsider,” Steven reflects. 

“My siblings and I were all blessed by God to have a disproportionate number of Christian friends, even though we were an unchurched family. That led to various serious discussions about God, Jesus, and the Bible with friends, particularly in my teenage years.”

His personal journey to faith began when he decided to read the Bible for himself, beginning with a New Testament that he’d been given by a member of the Gideons whilst at the University of Western Australia. The truth of the Bible quickly became apparent to him in a convincing and profound way. 

Steven was 24 years old when he surrendered his life to Jesus, and was halfway through a PhD in biochemistry. Upon finishing his PhD, he joined a Christian performing arts group and worked with them for several years. He was also taken on board as a part-time, lay assistant pastor at the church he was attending at the time. For the next few years and into his early 30’s, Steven continued to work in various parachurch ministries as well as undertaking theological studies. Steven did enter back into the world of science for two years but despite his love for science, Steven felt a stronger calling to full-time ministry. 

“As a new Christian who otherwise had been preparing for a career as a research scientist, telling people about Jesus just seemed to be an order of magnitude more exciting than science, although I loved science and I still do,” he shares.

“The most exciting thing that could happen to me as a scientist was talking to one of my co-workers about Jesus; it was the ministry stuff that I was involved in outside of working hours that really excited and energised me.”

Embracing new learning and study

Steven continues to work on his thesis at Trinity and is hoping to have completed it midway through 2024. The working title is ‘The Riddle of the Beloved Disciple’s Anonymity in the Fourth Gospel’ referring to the Gospel of John, and the author’s choice to present himself as a key eyewitness anonymously.

“The staff at Trinity have been enormously helpful. From parish pastoral ministry,  into doing a Masters of Theology thesis, I wildly underestimated how different those worlds were – pastor to theologian. My supervisor, Grant Taylor, and many of the other staff members have been enormously patient, careful, and helpful in terms of helping me to bridge that gap between worlds,” he explains. 

Steven shares that as a man in his mid-fifties, most of the lecturers are younger than him but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they are wise, bright, and knowledgeable. He acknowledges that at times he has found it difficult to be studying again, but the lecturers have been leading him and guiding him along the way, helping him enjoy the experience. 

“I would be delighted to recommend Trinity in both general and specific terms. I’m really enjoying my time there,” Steven concludes.