PROFILE - VAL WEBB
Val Webb
grew up in Brisbane, Australia, and began her professional life with a Graduate
degree in Microbiology and a research appointment at the University of
Queensland, Australia. After eighteen months in England, Val and her family
moved to Rochester, Minnesota in 1971. There Val developed her interest in
drawing. Her hardcover book of sketches and history -
Rochester Sketchbook
- was published in 1976, and is in its seventh edition. The Twin Cities
Sketchbook - was published in 1977. In 1976, Val opened Val Webb Gallery,
an art gallery featuring works of some eighty overseas and national artists,
including Val's original sketches, prints, books, and hand-painted scarves. The
gallery specialized in investment wildlife art, and provided art education
within the community. It is still in operation under her name, but with new
owners.
The Webbs returned to Brisbane in 1981. Val was appointed Superintendent of Communications and Resources for The Wesley Hospital, a large private hospital in this city of over one million people. As inaugural Superintendent, and one of four Executives under a C.E.O, she established this department for fundraising, public relations, publications and volunteer services. She also served on executives of the Hospital Public Relations Officers Association of Australia and the Australian Institute of Fundraisers. She was elected inaugural Chair of the Commission of Education and Communication in the Uniting Church of Australia's Queensland Synod. This Commission was responsible for theological and lay education, including Seminaries, Schools and Colleges; training and selection of clergy; and communications and publications for the Synod. She served on parallel national committees, and was Chair of the Board for the denomination's journal.
She began Religious Studies part time at the University of Queensland in 1982. In 1988, the Webbs returned to Rochester, MN, and Val obtained her Ph.D. in Systematic Theology/World Religions at Luther Seminary, St. Paul in 1996. She now spends her time teaching and writing. She is adjunct faculty of the University of Minnesota and of Augsburg College, St. Paul, MN. Her most recent books are In Defense of Doubt: an Invitation to Adventure (St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 1995); Why We're Equal: Introducing Feminist Theology (St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 1999); John's Message: Good News for the New Millennium, a study on the Gospel of John commissioned from Val by the World Methodist Council for the millennium (Abingdon Press, 1999); and Florence Nightingale: The Making of a Radical Theologian (St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2002).
Webb, Val. In Defense of Doubt: an Invitation to Adventure. St. Louis, MO; Chalice Press, 1995. Softcover, 168 pages.
_______. “Ministry and Ordination in the Uniting Church in Australia: an Historical, Contextual and Constructive Theological Study.” Ph. D. Diss. Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, 1996. Ann Arbor, MI: UMI Dissertation Services, 1996.
_______. Why We’re Equal: Introducing Feminist Theology. St. Louis: MO: Chalice Press, 1999.
_______. John's Message: Good News for the New Millennium. Commissioned for World Methodist Council’s 2000th year celebration. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1999.
_______. Florence Nightingale: The Making of a Radical Theologian. St. Louis: MO: Chalice Press, 2002.
BOOKS - Art
Webb, Val. Rochester Sketchbook. Rochester: Whiting Press. 1976. 7th ed, 1997. Hardcover.
_______. Twin Cities Sketchbook. Rochester: Whiting Press, 1977. Hardcover.
_______. Rochester Coloring Book. Rochester: Whiting Press. 1977.
Skerman, V. B. D., Skerman, Val (Webb), Winders, L. Abstracts on Microbiological Methods, Conference on Microbial Classification, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada, 1964.
Webb, Val. An Apple a Day. Brisbane: The Wesley Hospital Printing Co. 1984.
_______. Patient Handbook. Brisbane: The Wesley Hospital Printing Co. 1985.
_______. Your Hospital Survival Kit. Brisbane: The Wesley Hospital Printing Co. 1986.
Webb, Val. Divine Triangle. 72,000 word novel. With agent.
Webb, Val. “Simone Weil, Theologian and Mystic - Anorexic Woman.” Daughters of Sarah, 19: 4 (Fall 1993) 36-40.
_______. “Spirituality - a Perpetuation of Dualism for Women?” Daughters of Sarah 21: 4: (Fall 1995) 61-64.
_______. “Pluralism in Inter-Religious Dialogue - Openness to Differences or the Search for Common ground? John Cobb and his Contemporaries.” Colloquium (Australia) 27: 2 (November 1995) 95-108.
_______. “Ordination: the Question we Hesitate to Ask,” Journey (Australia), August 1996, 26-29.
_______. “Is it Permissible to ask why we Ordain at all?” Uniting Church Studies (Australia), 3: 1 (March 1997).
_______. “Response to Christiaan Mostert,” Uniting Church Studies (Australia), 3: 2 (August, 1997)
Webb, Val. The New Community. Brisbane: Uniting Church Press. 1981.
_______. "How Mutual is our Ministry?" Life and Times, 7: 12, 1983.
_______. "An Open Letter to Local Congregations", Life and Times,
October 1983.
_______. "Striving for Excellence or Addicted to
Mediocrity?" Life and Times, May 1984.
_______. "A New Theology for Bolivia" Journey, Easter 1990.
_______. "The Angel Gabriel's Message". Daughters of Sarah 18: 1, Winter 1992.
_______. "Transitions", and "Resurrection". New Psalms: a Literary Journal, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1992.
Webb, Val. Meeting the Challenge of Caring. Brisbane: The Wesley Printing Co. 1986.
_______. "Volunteers: Untapped Resources", Fundraising Australasia, September, 1987.
_______. The Wesley News. Twice yearly to hospital sponsors, Brisbane: 1984-1987.
Thompson, B.E., Kable, J.C., Webb, V.J. "Development of a Staff Training
Programme at The Wesley Hospital", Australian Health Review, 10: 3,
1987.