Welcome to Found in Translation

Academic Theology for Everyday Life

Hello!

My name is Caroline Smiley. I live in Texas with my family (husband + three young children), teach a theological training program and Bible study at my church, Eastside Community Church, and am working (ever so slowly) on a PhD at the University of Aberdeen on Mary in the Gospel of Luke.

I have been on a long journey into the deep things of God and His creation. Some days it feels like I'm lost deep in the belly of the mine, but there are other days I find the most beautiful treasures. The treasures themselves aren't mine; my great privilege is to bring them into the light. So that's where you find yourself--this is the space where I think out loud and share snapshots of what I have found, learned, and beheld in the King's mines.

Put more concretely, there is often a significant language barrier—literal and figurative—between what is discussed and studied in the church and what is discussed and studied in the academy. There are significant questions and beautiful work being done in both spaces but few translators to bridge the gap. With a foot in each world, I aim to translate the best of academic theology and make it applicable to every day life.

Of course, those are rather broad categories! In terms of academic theology, my technical background is Biblical Studies, specifically, the Gospels, and my ministry background is theological education, women’s ministry, and children's ministry. I am a Protestant highly interested in Mary, as well as hermeneutics, narratives, virtue formation, liturgical practices and spiritual formation, and countless other things.

My every day life is a mostly stay at home mom of three young children, learning to balance my school with kids’ school, as well as serving in the church. I like cooking, speak Spanish, serve on our PTA, drive carpools, and eat tacos for most meals. I look for theology that matters in those moments.

Welcome!

Consider subscribing, if this kind of thing interests you. It helps me to know who is listening and how I can best translate for this little corner of the world.

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