Voluntary Work and Affiliations

Overview

September 2022, and during the World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly Dr Theodora Issa was elected a member of the Central Committee of the WCC representing her Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East

February 2020 Dr Theodora Issa SFHEA has been recognised as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy through the Queensland University of Technology Academy of Learning and Teaching.

During the second meeting of the Central Committee (CC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) that was held in Trondheim, Norway during the period 22nd - 28th June 2016, Dr Theodora Issa was elected a member of the Permanent Committee on Collaboration and Consensus (PCCC). 

During the first meeting of the Central Committee (CC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) that was held in Geneva, Switzerland during the period 2nd - 8th July 2014, Dr Theodora Issa was elected a member of the Education and Ecumenical Formation Commission (EEF), the first meeting of which was held in Switzerland in February 2015 until 2022. Please check this URL.

During the sessions of the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) held in Busan, South Korea between the period 30th October - 8th November 2013, Dr Theodora Issa was elected a member of the Central Committee of the WCC, being the first female representative of her Church in the history of WCC. For further details please visit this URL 

Theodora was awarded her Doctor of Philosophy in a graduation ceremony on 9th February 2010.  Theodora's PhD thesis (2009) 'Ethical mindsets, aesthetics and spirituality: a mixed-methods approach analysis of the Australian services sector' is available here. This PhD thesis was awarded the 2010 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Award in the Management and Governance category.  Please check this URL.

Theodora is currently conducting her post-doctoral research. Data has been collected from twelve countries, and manuscript is under preparation for publication with Springer.

In addition, Theodora collaborated with The Management Centre for Human Values (MCHV) of India, through networking established between herself, Professor Chatterjee of Curtin University and Professor Bhatta of MCHV.

Theodora has conducted some translations of historical and spiritual books (on voluntary basis):

• 'Appropriate Testimony and Confirmation of the Mysteries of Incarnation and Redemption' that was authored by Rabban Zakka Iwas in 1959 (Currently the Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrian Orthodox Church) -(June 2005). This translation formed a part of the festschrift that became the official Patriarchal Jubilee document. This document was compiled by the Syrian OrthodoxIndian Community in Chicago, USA on the Silver Jubilee of the installation of H.H. on the See of Antioch. The FESTSCHRIFT is of 550 pages published September, 2005.  Please check this URL

• 'Commandments and Spiritual Guidance to the visitors of the Holy Places in Jerusalem' that was authored by the Thrice Blessed H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Elias III, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, for the period 1917-1932+ .This translation was published as part of the publication on the 75th anniversary of the thrice blessed departure from this earthly life (published February 2007).  Please check this URL

Theodora has a sound commercial intuition backed by significant experience across a range of industries; such as banking, insurance, export and education.

Theodora worked as a volunteer with The Red Cross, World Vision, and Young Women Christian Association.  Currently a volunteer with her community (editor of the weekly bulletin which can be seen here , also one of the webmasters of the Church's website which can be seen here.

Theodora holds a professional work ethics, and has great interest in understanding of ethical mindsets not only in Australia, but globally.

VOLUNTARY AFFILIATIONS

• • 2022 – to date Elected as a member of the Central Committee of the WCC, Switzerland during the 11th Assembly held in Germany.

  • 2022 – Participated in the WCC 11th Assembly held in Germany in August/September 2022 as a member of the delegation of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East. 

  • 2020 – to date – Member of the Advisory Board the Ecumenical Centre for Pilgrims and Biblical Studies.

  • 2016 – April 2023 – Member of the Permanent Committee of Consensus and Collaboration (PCCC) – World Council of Churches (WCC) – Geneva, Switzerland

  • 2014 – 2022 – Member of the Education and Ecumenical Commission – World Council of Churches (WCC) – Geneva, Switzerland

  • 2013 – 2022 – Member of the Central Committee – World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva – Switzerland – Elected during the 10th WCC Assembly held in Busan – South Korea – Oct/Nov2013 at the time I was appointed by the Head of the Church as a delegate at the 10th Assembly.

  • 2013 – Appointed as a delegate on behalf of Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East to the World Council of Churches 10th Assembly, Busan, South Korea.

  • 1995 – to date – One of the Webmasters of the Community website http://soca.cjb.net

  • 1995 – 2017 – One of the editors of the weekly bulletin that is being written, translated, printed, and distributed free to community members in Western Australia, Over East, and overseas.  In addition, this weekly bulletin made its way to the web under the website http://noohro.cjb.net.

  • 1980s – 1995 – Was involved with the Middle East and Near East Councils of Churches in Amman – Jordan (travelled to Cyprus, and Egypt, also attending conferences in Jordan) in addition working with the Ecumenical Centre in Jordan.  Representing the Syrian Orthodox Church at the annual prayers for Women, Unity. 

EARLIER VOLUNTARY AFFILIATIONS 

• The World Vision 

• The Young Women Christian Association 

• The Red Cross 

Voluntary webmaster of http://soca.cjb.net 

Voluntary co-editor of http://noohro.cjb.net 

Theodora works with her family voluntarily in helping with regards to our Syriac/Aramaic language. 

In the article 'Forty years of Syriac computing' https://hugoye.bethmardutho.org/article/hv10n1kiraz George Kiraz wrote: 

In mid 1995, the first Church-based web site appeared as a family effort by the Issas of Australia. Corepiscopos Boutros Touma, his son Touma Issa and daughter Theodora Issa put together a web site on the Syrian Orthodox Church. Due to a lack of a proper web server, Touma Issa hosted the site on his personal Windows 3.1 desktop using special software called Windows httpd that allowed the computer to serve web pages. He had to keep the desktop turned on 24/7. The URL was on the Murdock University network (http://chempc25.murdoch.edu), then moved after two years to a proper web server on the University network (wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~t-issa/syr/syr.htm). In 2005, the site was moved out of the university to a free geocities web server (http://soca.cjb.net and http://syriac.cjb.net).