Christian theology and the learning church

While a good deal of the Department’s research is broadly focused on Christian Theology, there is a particular focus in a number of research projects on the churches generally, and specifically in the region.

The Centre for the Learning Church, directed by Mike Higton, provides a focus for much of this research activity. Members of staff and their work in this area include:

• Michael DeLashmutt is studying the nature and shape of ministry formation in the South West through his, ‘Exploring Formation for Ministry in a Learning Church’ research project. He is also embarking on a Nuffield Foundation funded research project, 'The Church and Climate Change' which will analyse environmental volunteerism amongst Anglicans.
• Louise Lawrence’s project, Texts of Land, Sea and Hope was sponsored by the South West Ministry Training Course, and has generated resources and training events throughout the region.
• Morwenna Ludlow works on the early Church fathers, especially Gregory of Nyssa and the Cappadocians, and her research is concerned to connect this crucial period of early Christian theology with contemporary theological reflection and education, as in her early work on universalism and Karl Rahner and her most recent work on reconceiving the notion of Christ as Word.
• Mike Higton, Tim Gorringe, and Esther Reed all research and publish in areas of systematic theology, notably in Tim Gorringe’s work on Karl Barth and Mike Higton’s work on Hans Frei and Rowan Williams.

Overlapping themes

Just as the research in Biblical Studies shows a strong interest in the contemporary interpretation of the Bible, and so overlaps with the concerns of the Centre for the Learning Church (as shown in joint projects such as those by Louise Lawrence and Cherryl Hunt) so our work on contemporary theology also considers the present reception of past Christian theology and the notion of ‘tradition’ in Christianity. These themes are particularly evident in Morwenna Ludlow’s work on postmodern readings of the fathers and Mike Higton’s work on contemporary responses to early Christian exegesis. While a good deal of the Department’s research is broadly focused on Christian Theology, there is a particular focus in a number of research projects on the churches generally, and specifically in the region.