Introduction
Miriam Jessie Fisher teaches across biblical studies, formation, and postgraduate theology for educators. She has taught in Aotearoa, Australia, and the UK, across state, Christian, and Māori contexts. Her teaching and research integrate arts, poetry, and textiles. She develops programmes for schools, churches, and teacher professionaMirriam Jessiel learning and is passionate about te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and Deaf culture in education.
Quote
“I love exploring how creative practices and the arts can transform learning and spiritual formation, helping students engage deeply with theology and education.”
Something Personal
Miriam Jessie enjoys sewing, stitching, writing, dark chocolate, and second-hand shopping. She and her husband Mike have been married over 25 years and have two sons. She blogs poetry and blessings at miriamjessie.com.
Qualifications
PGCertTh – Laidlaw College
MTh (Distinction) – Laidlaw College
BEd – Massey University
DipTchg – Palmerston North Teachers College
Performers Certificate (Speech & Drama) – Trinity College London
Professional Experience
Lecturer, Schools of Theology and Education, Laidlaw College
Leadership and spirituality retreat facilitator
Teacher educator and programme developer
Journal Essays
Book Chapters
“Where You Go – Women Who Went: Exit Via Exile, Slavery, and Immigration in the Biblical Text .” In Duke, Zahariah, Eastham, Mary and Longhurst, Christopher (eds.), Migration and Practical Theology: Emerging Challenges, Experiences, and Responses Across Oceania, Coventry Press, Australia, 2026.
Fisher, Miriam Jessie (2026). “Proverbs 30 Poem,” in Whitaker, Robyn (ed) A Safe Place? Gender, Violence and Faith. Coventry Press, 2026.
“A Genesis Commentary Poem,” Fisher, Miriam Jessie (2026). in Whitaker, Robyn (ed) A Safe Place? Gender, Violence and Faith. Coventry Press, 2026.
“Revisiting “The Blessing”: Theology, imagination and the arts in digital spaces.” In Kurlberg, Jonas, and Chow, Alexander (eds.), Oxford Handbook of Digital Theology, consultant editor Phillips, Peter M., Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2026. (With Stephen Garner.)
Quality Assured Magazines
Conference Presentations
(2026, August). “Loving the church toward loving the Bible.” [Presenter]. ABIDE Church Leader’s Conference, Auckland.
(2026, July). “Why Wasn’t I Offered Hannah?” [Presenter].The Assn of NZ and Australian Theological Studies: ANZATS Conference, Adelaide, Australia.
(June, 2026). “Imagination, Arts and Theology” [Presenters]. GoNeDigiTal – Global Network for Digital Theology – conference – June 2026 Zurich, and online. (With Stephen Garner.)
2026 “Are Words Always Wisdom?” Keynote speaker. NICE: Educating for Hope Research Symposium: World, Word, Wisdom. Sydney, May 2026.
“Telling My Stories.” Intergenerate Conference. Online, October 2025.
“Refusing to be silent: leaning in to listen, wrestling with words, a colloquy of womanly convictions.” Evangelical Women in Academia: Raising her voice. Melbourne, August 2025.
“Women, Words, Witness and Wisdom – how the women of Scripture offer us new insights and fresh perspectives in RE.” Keynote. NZARETSC[NZ Assn of Religious Education Teachers and School Chaplains] Conference. Ōtautahi, July 2025.
Fisher, Miriam Jessie. “People of Places – exploring maps as pilgrimage and teaching locations” Professional Development day sessions for CECEAA [Christian Early Childhood Assn Aotearoa], regional hui: Auckland, Manawatu, Southland, July, August, September 2025.
Fisher, Miriam Jessie. "Mapping Pilgrimage – stitched cartography as spiritual practice and sacred reading." Public Lecture with Maja Whitaker. Laidlaw College, Ōtautahi, March 2025.
Fisher, Miriam Jessie (2025, January). “Her Words Matter – women, words, Scripture and stitch.” Public Lecture. Festival One, Hartford Farm, Karapiro, January 2025.
2025 “Hear Me Cry: Stories and Poetry from the Women of Scripture.” Plenary speaker. Evangelical Women in Academia: Raising her voice. Melbourne, August 2025.
"Mapping Pilgrimage – stitched cartography as spiritual practice and sacred reading." American Academy of Religion. SanDiego, November 2024.
“How Psalms Become Scaffolds for Longing and Lament” Psalms Conference. Carey Baptist College Aotearoa NZ, July 2024
Fisher, Miriam Jessie and Garner, Stephen. “How do we sing in a virtual land? Theology, Imagination and psalms in digital spaces.” Psalms Conference. Carey Baptist College Aotearoa NZ, July 2024.
2024 "By All Means Touch the Work – towards a tactile textured theology." American Academy of Religion. SanDiego, November 2024.
“Hands, Heads, Hearts: A Korowai of Glory – God, Women, Good-News. Rethinking our Inherited Stories.” Anglican Women’s Study Centre International Hui: Many Hands; He Waka Eke Noa; Tele o lima e mama ai se avenga; Ni levu na liga e mamada na cakacaka; Takanga 'etau fohe, Tatai Hono Marae, Holy Sepulchre Church, Auckland, August 2023.
“The Classroom as Cruciformity.” NZACS National Conference: Tūturu (Keynote), Hillview Christian School, Ōtautahi July 2023.
“Sewing and Gleaning: artistic contemplative practice as invitation.” Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality International Conference: Christian Spirituality for the Modern Seeker, Tabor University, Adelaide, July 2023.
“The Arts as Pedagogical Powerhouses for Culture, Knowledge, and Resistance.” Association of Visual Pedagogies International Conference 2023: Decolonising Visuality: Visibilising Pedagogies, University of Canterbury, Ōtautahi, June 2023.
“Knowing God Through Art.” National Council Hui and Conference (Keynote), Anglican Women’s Studies Centre, Ōtautahi, April 2023.
2023 “Where you go – _women who went – _exit via exile, slavery, and immigration in our sacred text.” Association of Practical Theology Oceania (APTO) Conference 2023: On the Move Migration and Practical Theology, University of Otago, November 2023.
2022 “Sutura Dei – homo sutura: sewing theology into the fabric of life.” BIAPT, British and Irish Association of Practical Theology, 2022 Conference: Flesh and Bone: Embodiment & Practical Theology. Hosted online, July 2022.
2021 “Why should Pakehā Grow in Understanding the Māori World?” Authentic Treaty Partnership in a Faith Based Place: South Island Christian Schools Conference, Ōtautahi/Christchurch, April 2021.
Other
“Nicene Creed: Te Reo Māori, Greek, English.” Exhibited Work: Laidlaw College, Christchurch, ongoing.
“Every Woman’s Words.” Exhibited Work: Laidlaw College, Henderson, September 2026.
2026 “Every Woman’s Words.” Exhibited Work: Laidlaw College, Christchurch, ongoing.
“Every Woman’s Words.” Exhibited work. Plains and Peagsus Churches (x2). Ōtautahi/Christchurch, October 2025.
“Every Woman’s Words.” Exhibited work. Laidlaw Christchurch 50th Jubilee Celebration. Ōtautahi/Christchurch, September 2025.
“A Cloud of Witnesses.” Exhibited works. Evangelical Women in Academia Conference. Ridley College, Melbourne, July 2025.
“Every Woman’s Words.” Exhibited works. Evangelical Women in Academia Conference. Ridley College, Melbourne, July 2025.
“Every Woman’s Words.” Exhibited work. Blockhouse Bay Community Church, July 2025.
“Every Woman’s Words.” Art Exhibition: Ministry of Art: Festival One, Hartford Farm, Karapiro, January 2025.
“A Whakapapa of Faith: stitched works.” Art Works Exhibition. Laidlaw College, Christchurch Campus, Ōtautahi,January 2025 – ongoing.
2025
2024 Invited poet. Canterbury Poets’ Collective. Spring Sessions, October 2024.
“Pocket Wisdom.” Stitched Works Exhibited. At Laidlaw College Christchurch Campus, August – Dec 2023.
2023 “Pocket Wisdom.” Stitched Works Exhibited. At Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality International Conference: Christian Spirituality for the Modern Seeker, Tabor University, Adelaide, July 2023.
“A Whakapapa of Faith: Textile Exhibition.” Art Works Exhibition. St Christopher’s. Avonhead, 15-21 October 2022.
“A Whakapapa of Faith: Textile Exhibition.” Art Works Exhibition. Laidlaw College. Henderson, 11-16 August 2022.
2022 “A Whakapapa of Faith: Textile Exhibition.” Art Works Exhibition. Pūmanawa Gallery Christchurch Arts Centre: Te Matatiki Toi Ora, Ōtautahi, March 2022. review: https://cdn.fld.nz/uploads/sites/artbeat/files/PDF_Editions/2022/AB_Mar22__final_copy_lower_res.pdf“Jesus the divine baby.” Stitched Work. Laidlaw College. Online, December 2021.
2021 “ The inviation to Mary”. Stitched Work. Laidlaw College. Online, Decemeber 2021 https://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/advent-2021/fourth-week-of-advent/Featured poem on the SGM blog: https://www.sgm.org.nz/blog/poem-womb-miriam-jesse-fisher-refresh-sacred-feminine
