OLIVER DAVIES CURRICULUM VITAE 2011
A. ACADEMIC POSTS
2004 - Professor of Christian Doctrine, King’s College London.
1993-2004: Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Lampeter; Senior Lecturer, 1995; Reader, 1997.
1989-1993: Honorary Lecturer and part-time Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Bangor.
1982-84: Lektor für englische Sprache und Literatur, University of Cologne, (Lecturer in English Language and Literature).
1979-82: Part-time tutor in German language and literature for Merton and Balliol College, Oxford.
B. QUALIFICATIONS
HIGHER EDUCATION
1985-86: Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Wales, Bangor.
1979-86: D.Phil. Wolfson College, Oxford: 'Paul Celan: Innovator and Traditionalist'
1975-79: B.A. Merton College, Oxford: Modern Languages (German and Russian). Second Class (Andrew Levens Prize for Oral Russian, 1977; Distinction in Finals for Oral Russian)
C. VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2006-7: McCarthy Visiting Professorship, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
2003, Jan-May: Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia
2002, Feb-April: Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia
1999, Jan-March: Clare Hall, Cambridge
1998, Jan-March: Regent’s Park College, Oxford (Fellow of the Centre for Christianity and Culture at Regent’s Park College, continuing from 1998 as Visiting Fellow).
D. PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
2006: CUP Nomination The Creativity of God shortlisted for American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence (Academic Theology)
2003: Nomination for Teaching Excellence by the Jefferson Scholars Association, University of Virginia
2000: Catholic Press Association of North America Award for ‘Celtic Spirituality’ (Hardback Spirituality).
E. RESEARCH GRANTS
2006-8: AHRC Collaborative Award for Postgraduate Training (with University of Oxford) in ‘Theology and Culture’ (£9,997.20)
2003-6: British Academy International Academic Links (£6,600 over 3 years)
2002: AHRB Research Leave Grant, (£15,000)
1998: University of Wales Development Grant (£2,000 for establishing Centre for the Study of Religion in Celtic Societies).
1992: Welsh Arts Council Literary Award for (£4,500 for the writing of a historical study of spirituality in Wales).
1979-82: Senior State Scholarship.
F. RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
2008: Specialist Advisor for Theology in the UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise.
2006-9: Member (Theology and Religious Studies) of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Peer Review Panel Eight (meeting four times a year, responsible for ranking all UK Government research applications in the areas of Philosophy, Religious Studies, Law).
2007-8 PhD Specialist Group, University of London.
2004-6: Member of Peer Review College (pool of reviewers), AHRC.
As Head of Department (2006-9), I held overall responsibility for developing an integrated departmental research strategy and research profile for the 2008 RAE, including both Theology and Religious Studies.
As President of the Society for the Study of Theology (2007-8), I represented the interests of theologians in the UK in national discussions on matters affecting the discipline, chiefly to do with the Research Assessment Exercise.
G. RESEARCH LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
DIRECTION OF PAST RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
1. ‘Transformation Theology’, leading to a co-authored publication with Paul Janz, (Professor of Philosophical Theology, KCL) and Clemens Sedmak (F. D. Maurice, Professor of Moral Theology, KCL) Transformation Theology: Church in the World, London: T&T Clark, 2007. As colleagues we met on a regular, informal basis over a two year period, presenting our work on three occasions the Research Institute in Systematic Theology seminar at King’s.
2. ‘Athens and Jerusalem’, supported by the British Academy International Networks scheme (£6,600, 2003-6), with Charles Mathewes (UVA), together with Paul Janz (KCL), Leora Batnitzky (Princeton University) and a number of leading Jewish and Christian scholars from Britain and the United States. I arranged two meetings in the USA and final colloquium at King’s. This led to the publication of several articles.
3. ‘Incarnation and Negative Theology’, supported by university funds (1999-2000), leading to my chapter ‘Soundings: towards a Theological Poetics of Silence’, in O. Davies and D. Turner, eds., Silence and the Word: Negative Theology and Incarnation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, pp. 201-22. Contributors included Bernard McGinn (Naomi Shenstone Donnelly Professor of Historical Theology, University of Chicago), David Ford (Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge) and Archbishop Rowan Williams. Denys Turner, co-editor and co-coordinator, was Norris Hulse Professor of Philosophical Theology, University of Cambridge, now Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology, Yale University.
4. From 1997-8, I served as British co-ordinator of the first stage of an EU Tempus-Tacis programme, with Linköping, Sweden, and the Herzen Pedagogical Institute in St Petersburg, to assist in setting up Theology and Religious Studies as a discipline in Higher Education in the former Soviet Union. One of my tasks as overall co-ordinator for the bid for second stage funding (one million Euro) was establishing networks for researching into the appropriate models for the discipline in a Russian context through comparison with the history and traditions of the academic study of religion in a number of EU states.
DIRECTION OF PRESENT RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
1. ‘The Logic of Sacrifice: a Political Theory of Solidarity’, in development with Leora Batnitzky and Paul Janz, funded by endowment.
2. ‘Theology in Act: Towards a New Catholic Theology of Social Action’, in development with Stephan van Erp (Nijmegen), Eric Borgman and Lieven Boeve, with departmental funding.
3. ‘Consensus and Identity', with George Gawlinski (Senior Partner, ‘Planning Together Associates).
H. RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
I have also taken part in a number of international research collaborations (under the direction of others):
1. Oxford - Bonn seminar on Bible and Theology 2004-7 (a collaboration between the Theology Faculties at the universities of Bonn and Oxford, with invited guests), with publication of individual papers.
2. Scriptural Reasoning Research Group 2002-6 (a collaboration in the area of ‘abrahamic scriptural theology’ between the universities of Virginia and Cambridge), leading to my chapter ‘Cosmic Speech and the Liturgy of Silence’ in Randi Rashkover and C.C.Pecknold, eds., Liturgy, Time and the Politics of Redemption, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2006, pp. 215-26.
3. ‘Christianisme et Identité Nationale: une Certaine Idée de l'Europe’, Colloque de Klingenthal, Conseil Pontificale de la Culture, 1994, leading to my chapter 'Mystique chrétienne et culture européenne', in Christianisme et Identité Nationale: une Certaine Idée de l'Europe, Paris: Beauchesne, pp. 61-9.
I. DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
Since entering employment at King’s College London in 2004, I have brought 9 students to completion of their doctoral work as first supervisor. I am currently supervising seven doctoral candidates.
J. EXTERNAL ASSESSOR FOR PROMOTIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2010-11: External Assessor for Research Fellowship Competition, St John’s College Cambridge.
2009-10: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, University of St Andrews.
2008-10: External Assessor for promotions at Heythrop College, University of London.
2007-8: External Assessor for tenure, Yale Divinity School.
2006-7: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, Princeton University, USA.
2005-6: Specialist Reviewer for Centenary Fellowship Competition, Selwyn College, Cambridge;
External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, Duke University, USA;
External Assessor for promotion to Personal Chair, University of Bristol;
External Assessor for promotion to Personal Chair, University of Wales, Bangor;
External Assessor for promotion to Personal Chair, University of London;
External Assessor for promotion to Senior Lectureship, Exeter University.
2004-5: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Peterhouse, Cambridge;
Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Churchill College, Cambridge; Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
2002: External assessor for tenure-track appointment in Medieval Studies at the Divinity School, University of Chicago.
2000: ‘Manager’ for the Junior Fellowship Election at Trinity College, Cambridge.
1999: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship, Girton College, Cambridge.
K. EXTERNAL EXAMINERSHIPS
Taught Degree Schemes
BA Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2005-7); BA and MA Theology, University of Nottingham (2002-5); MA in the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion, Birkbeck, University of London (2001-2); BA Theology, MA in Christianity and Culture, University of Bristol (2000-3); MA in Systematic Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2000-4); BA Theology, University of Birmingham (1999-2003); MPhil (taught) in Theology and Religious Studies, Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge (1999-2001)
Research Degrees
Cambridge (2009, 2006 and 2005), London (internal, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005²), Oxford (2007), Nottingham (2007 and 2003), Bristol (2006), Edinburgh (2005 and 1999), Birmingham (2002 and 2000), Manchester (1998).
L. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
From 2006-9 I was Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London. During this period I developed the Department’s profile as the chief academic resourced in London for the academic study of ‘religious traditions in the modern world’, involving also partnership wherever possible with religious communities. To this end we launched a cluster of eight new MAs in a Theology and Ministry programme involving partnership with Churches in London, and especially with St Mellitus College, linked with St Paul’s Cathedral. This continued our collaboration with the Department of Education and Professional Studies at King’s, and the success of our joint DMin. We also launched a new MA in Jewish Studies from 2010, in partnership with Leo Baeck College and London School of Jewish Studies. In 2008 we incorporated Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Studies and created further posts, including one in International Conflict Regulation (with specialisation in Northern Ireland and Lebanon). With the development of our ‘abrahamic’ profile in view, we launched a new undergraduate course in ‘Challenges of Modernity’ in 2006, which proved very popular amongst students of many different backgrounds. This marked a pedagogical break with the past in combining both social scientific scholars of religion and theologians within the three abrahamic traditions, through a focus on the social problematics of religion (i.e. dress, leisure, sexuality, law). In 2007 we appointed to a new position in contemporary Islamic Thought, again combining both social science and ‘theological’ conceptualities. In 2008 the Department was successful in attracting funding for a Chair in Chinese Religions (with a focus on Confucian-Christian dialogue).
Other administrative duties include:
2004-6: Management Committee of St David’s Children Society, Wales, UK
2000-1: Subject Specialist Reviewer (Theology) for the Quality Assurance Agency.
2001- : Trustee of the Spalding Trust
2000- : Trustee of the Eckhart Society
M. GUEST LECTURES (named lectures in bold)
2011: ‘The Science of Consensual Change’, Renmin University of China, Beijing; Beijing Normal University.
‘Introduction to Transformation Theology’, Theological Chapter of the City of London and City of Westminster Dioceses.
‘Theological Anthropology’, Anthropos, Catholic University of Leuven.
2010: ‘Phenomenology and Religion; a Critical Dialogue’, Oxford Forum for the Study of Religions, Oxford University.
2009: ‘Credit and Creed: a Transformation Theology Response to the Banking Crisis’, Yale Divinity School, Yale University.
‘Transforming Theology’, Cardinal Hume Lectures, Heythrop College, University of London.
‘Theology of Aid: Speaking across Boundaries’, Words in Action Conference, Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life.
2008: ‘Transformation Theology: a New Catholic Theology for Europe’, Theology for the Twenty First Century Symposium, Catholic University of Leuven.
‘La teologia fondamentale e la Parola’, Faculty of Theology Annual Study Day, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (in Italian).
‘Freedom, Sacrifice and the Act’, Systematic Theology Seminar, and Institute for Imagination, Theology and the Arts, University of St Andrews.
2007: Presidential Address, Society for the Study of Theology.
‘The Interrupted Body’. Joseph McCarthy Lecture, Gregorian University, Rome.
‘World, Revelation and Human Rights’. Real Challenges to Contemporary Theology, Expert Study Day, Heyendaal Institute and The Netherlands School of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion, University of Nijmegen.
‘Doctrine and World’. Scottish Journal of Theology Lectures, Aberdeen
Staff and Graduate Theology Seminar, University of Durham.
2006: ‘Theology and the Semiotics of Violence’, The Aquinas Lecture, University of Bristol.
2005: ‘Violence in Bloomsbury. A Theological Response’. Keynote address at University of London and University of Oxford Theology Study Day.
‘Letter on Spirit’, Geist und Buchstabe - Spirit and Letter Colloquium, Oxford University and Bonn University (Bible and Theology series).
University of Gloucestershire, Responses to ‘The Creativity of God’ at Postgraduate and Staff Reading Seminar.
‘Spiritual Information: Knowing the Unknowable about God and the Universe’, Trinity College Cambridge (Templeton Foundation)
‘Divine Silence and Human Rights’. The Aquinas Lecture, Blackfriars, Oxford (also given as ‘Horizon Lecture’, Birkbeck College, University of London).
‘Das Bekenntnis zum Monotheismus in einer pluralistischen Gesellschaft’. Symposium on “Der Monotheismus als theologisches und politisches Problem”. Theologisches Seminar, Elstal, Berlin (given in German).
2004: ‘Sacred Cosmology and Dante’s Smile’, Dante Lecture Series: Dante and the Human Body, UCD.
2003: ‘Silences of the Cross’. A plenary address at the annual conference of the SST.
‘On Reading Mystical Texts’, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
‘God, Language and Laughter in Dante’s Divine Commedy’, Dante and Theology Conference, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
2002: ‘Divine Creativity, Eucharist and the Word’, Divinity School, University of Chicago.
‘Compassionate Metaphysics and Metaphysics of Compassion’, Colloquium on ‘Metaphysics and Otherness’ at Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
‘Soundings: Towards a Theological Poetics of Silence’, ‘Apophasis and Incarnation’ Colloquium, University of Birmingham
‘A Catholic Response to Radical Orthodoxy’, Heythrop College, University of London ‘Rhetoric of the Gift: Inspiration, Pneumatology and Poetic Craft in Medieval Wales’, Exeter Symposium VI, The Medieval Mystical Tradition in England, Ireland and Wales.
‘Meister Eckhart, Emmanuel Levinas and the Language of Being’, Eckhart Society Conference, Plater College, Oxford.
1998: ‘Theology and Poetics’, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.
‘Revelation and Pragmatic Linguistic Theory’, Modern Doctrine Seminar, University of Oxford.
N. EDITORSHIPS
JOURNALS: 2006-10: Editorial Board of ‘Real Challenges to Contemporary Theology’ (University of Nijmegen).
1988-92: Co-editor of ‘Logos: the Welsh Theological Review’.
BOOK SERIES: 2007-: General Editor with Paul Janz and Clemens Sedmak of ‘Transformation Theology’ (T&T Clark).
1994-2000: General Editor with Gavin Flood of ‘Religion, Culture and Society’ (University of Wales Press, Cardiff).
1991-1994: General Editor of ‘The Spirituality of the Fathers’ (New City, London and New York).
2004 - Professor of Christian Doctrine, King’s College London.
1993-2004: Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Lampeter; Senior Lecturer, 1995; Reader, 1997.
1989-1993: Honorary Lecturer and part-time Lecturer, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales, Bangor.
1982-84: Lektor für englische Sprache und Literatur, University of Cologne, (Lecturer in English Language and Literature).
1979-82: Part-time tutor in German language and literature for Merton and Balliol College, Oxford.
B. QUALIFICATIONS
HIGHER EDUCATION
1985-86: Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Wales, Bangor.
1979-86: D.Phil. Wolfson College, Oxford: 'Paul Celan: Innovator and Traditionalist'
1975-79: B.A. Merton College, Oxford: Modern Languages (German and Russian). Second Class (Andrew Levens Prize for Oral Russian, 1977; Distinction in Finals for Oral Russian)
C. VISITING PROFESSORSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2006-7: McCarthy Visiting Professorship, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome.
2003, Jan-May: Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia
2002, Feb-April: Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia
1999, Jan-March: Clare Hall, Cambridge
1998, Jan-March: Regent’s Park College, Oxford (Fellow of the Centre for Christianity and Culture at Regent’s Park College, continuing from 1998 as Visiting Fellow).
D. PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
2006: CUP Nomination The Creativity of God shortlisted for American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence (Academic Theology)
2003: Nomination for Teaching Excellence by the Jefferson Scholars Association, University of Virginia
2000: Catholic Press Association of North America Award for ‘Celtic Spirituality’ (Hardback Spirituality).
E. RESEARCH GRANTS
2006-8: AHRC Collaborative Award for Postgraduate Training (with University of Oxford) in ‘Theology and Culture’ (£9,997.20)
2003-6: British Academy International Academic Links (£6,600 over 3 years)
2002: AHRB Research Leave Grant, (£15,000)
1998: University of Wales Development Grant (£2,000 for establishing Centre for the Study of Religion in Celtic Societies).
1992: Welsh Arts Council Literary Award for (£4,500 for the writing of a historical study of spirituality in Wales).
1979-82: Senior State Scholarship.
F. RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
2008: Specialist Advisor for Theology in the UK-wide Research Assessment Exercise.
2006-9: Member (Theology and Religious Studies) of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Peer Review Panel Eight (meeting four times a year, responsible for ranking all UK Government research applications in the areas of Philosophy, Religious Studies, Law).
2007-8 PhD Specialist Group, University of London.
2004-6: Member of Peer Review College (pool of reviewers), AHRC.
As Head of Department (2006-9), I held overall responsibility for developing an integrated departmental research strategy and research profile for the 2008 RAE, including both Theology and Religious Studies.
As President of the Society for the Study of Theology (2007-8), I represented the interests of theologians in the UK in national discussions on matters affecting the discipline, chiefly to do with the Research Assessment Exercise.
G. RESEARCH LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
DIRECTION OF PAST RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
1. ‘Transformation Theology’, leading to a co-authored publication with Paul Janz, (Professor of Philosophical Theology, KCL) and Clemens Sedmak (F. D. Maurice, Professor of Moral Theology, KCL) Transformation Theology: Church in the World, London: T&T Clark, 2007. As colleagues we met on a regular, informal basis over a two year period, presenting our work on three occasions the Research Institute in Systematic Theology seminar at King’s.
2. ‘Athens and Jerusalem’, supported by the British Academy International Networks scheme (£6,600, 2003-6), with Charles Mathewes (UVA), together with Paul Janz (KCL), Leora Batnitzky (Princeton University) and a number of leading Jewish and Christian scholars from Britain and the United States. I arranged two meetings in the USA and final colloquium at King’s. This led to the publication of several articles.
3. ‘Incarnation and Negative Theology’, supported by university funds (1999-2000), leading to my chapter ‘Soundings: towards a Theological Poetics of Silence’, in O. Davies and D. Turner, eds., Silence and the Word: Negative Theology and Incarnation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, pp. 201-22. Contributors included Bernard McGinn (Naomi Shenstone Donnelly Professor of Historical Theology, University of Chicago), David Ford (Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge) and Archbishop Rowan Williams. Denys Turner, co-editor and co-coordinator, was Norris Hulse Professor of Philosophical Theology, University of Cambridge, now Horace Tracy Pitkin Professor of Historical Theology, Yale University.
4. From 1997-8, I served as British co-ordinator of the first stage of an EU Tempus-Tacis programme, with Linköping, Sweden, and the Herzen Pedagogical Institute in St Petersburg, to assist in setting up Theology and Religious Studies as a discipline in Higher Education in the former Soviet Union. One of my tasks as overall co-ordinator for the bid for second stage funding (one million Euro) was establishing networks for researching into the appropriate models for the discipline in a Russian context through comparison with the history and traditions of the academic study of religion in a number of EU states.
DIRECTION OF PRESENT RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
1. ‘The Logic of Sacrifice: a Political Theory of Solidarity’, in development with Leora Batnitzky and Paul Janz, funded by endowment.
2. ‘Theology in Act: Towards a New Catholic Theology of Social Action’, in development with Stephan van Erp (Nijmegen), Eric Borgman and Lieven Boeve, with departmental funding.
3. ‘Consensus and Identity', with George Gawlinski (Senior Partner, ‘Planning Together Associates).
H. RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS
I have also taken part in a number of international research collaborations (under the direction of others):
1. Oxford - Bonn seminar on Bible and Theology 2004-7 (a collaboration between the Theology Faculties at the universities of Bonn and Oxford, with invited guests), with publication of individual papers.
2. Scriptural Reasoning Research Group 2002-6 (a collaboration in the area of ‘abrahamic scriptural theology’ between the universities of Virginia and Cambridge), leading to my chapter ‘Cosmic Speech and the Liturgy of Silence’ in Randi Rashkover and C.C.Pecknold, eds., Liturgy, Time and the Politics of Redemption, Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 2006, pp. 215-26.
3. ‘Christianisme et Identité Nationale: une Certaine Idée de l'Europe’, Colloque de Klingenthal, Conseil Pontificale de la Culture, 1994, leading to my chapter 'Mystique chrétienne et culture européenne', in Christianisme et Identité Nationale: une Certaine Idée de l'Europe, Paris: Beauchesne, pp. 61-9.
I. DOCTORAL SUPERVISION
Since entering employment at King’s College London in 2004, I have brought 9 students to completion of their doctoral work as first supervisor. I am currently supervising seven doctoral candidates.
J. EXTERNAL ASSESSOR FOR PROMOTIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2010-11: External Assessor for Research Fellowship Competition, St John’s College Cambridge.
2009-10: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, University of St Andrews.
2008-10: External Assessor for promotions at Heythrop College, University of London.
2007-8: External Assessor for tenure, Yale Divinity School.
2006-7: External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, Princeton University, USA.
2005-6: Specialist Reviewer for Centenary Fellowship Competition, Selwyn College, Cambridge;
External Assessor for promotion to Full Professorship, Duke University, USA;
External Assessor for promotion to Personal Chair, University of Bristol;
External Assessor for promotion to Personal Chair, University of Wales, Bangor;
External Assessor for promotion to Personal Chair, University of London;
External Assessor for promotion to Senior Lectureship, Exeter University.
2004-5: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Peterhouse, Cambridge;
Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Churchill College, Cambridge; Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship Election, Clare Hall, Cambridge.
2002: External assessor for tenure-track appointment in Medieval Studies at the Divinity School, University of Chicago.
2000: ‘Manager’ for the Junior Fellowship Election at Trinity College, Cambridge.
1999: Specialist Reviewer for Junior Research Fellowship, Girton College, Cambridge.
K. EXTERNAL EXAMINERSHIPS
Taught Degree Schemes
BA Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2005-7); BA and MA Theology, University of Nottingham (2002-5); MA in the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion, Birkbeck, University of London (2001-2); BA Theology, MA in Christianity and Culture, University of Bristol (2000-3); MA in Systematic Theology, Heythrop College, University of London (2000-4); BA Theology, University of Birmingham (1999-2003); MPhil (taught) in Theology and Religious Studies, Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge (1999-2001)
Research Degrees
Cambridge (2009, 2006 and 2005), London (internal, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005²), Oxford (2007), Nottingham (2007 and 2003), Bristol (2006), Edinburgh (2005 and 1999), Birmingham (2002 and 2000), Manchester (1998).
L. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
From 2006-9 I was Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King’s College London. During this period I developed the Department’s profile as the chief academic resourced in London for the academic study of ‘religious traditions in the modern world’, involving also partnership wherever possible with religious communities. To this end we launched a cluster of eight new MAs in a Theology and Ministry programme involving partnership with Churches in London, and especially with St Mellitus College, linked with St Paul’s Cathedral. This continued our collaboration with the Department of Education and Professional Studies at King’s, and the success of our joint DMin. We also launched a new MA in Jewish Studies from 2010, in partnership with Leo Baeck College and London School of Jewish Studies. In 2008 we incorporated Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Studies and created further posts, including one in International Conflict Regulation (with specialisation in Northern Ireland and Lebanon). With the development of our ‘abrahamic’ profile in view, we launched a new undergraduate course in ‘Challenges of Modernity’ in 2006, which proved very popular amongst students of many different backgrounds. This marked a pedagogical break with the past in combining both social scientific scholars of religion and theologians within the three abrahamic traditions, through a focus on the social problematics of religion (i.e. dress, leisure, sexuality, law). In 2007 we appointed to a new position in contemporary Islamic Thought, again combining both social science and ‘theological’ conceptualities. In 2008 the Department was successful in attracting funding for a Chair in Chinese Religions (with a focus on Confucian-Christian dialogue).
Other administrative duties include:
2004-6: Management Committee of St David’s Children Society, Wales, UK
2000-1: Subject Specialist Reviewer (Theology) for the Quality Assurance Agency.
2001- : Trustee of the Spalding Trust
2000- : Trustee of the Eckhart Society
M. GUEST LECTURES (named lectures in bold)
2011: ‘The Science of Consensual Change’, Renmin University of China, Beijing; Beijing Normal University.
‘Introduction to Transformation Theology’, Theological Chapter of the City of London and City of Westminster Dioceses.
‘Theological Anthropology’, Anthropos, Catholic University of Leuven.
2010: ‘Phenomenology and Religion; a Critical Dialogue’, Oxford Forum for the Study of Religions, Oxford University.
2009: ‘Credit and Creed: a Transformation Theology Response to the Banking Crisis’, Yale Divinity School, Yale University.
‘Transforming Theology’, Cardinal Hume Lectures, Heythrop College, University of London.
‘Theology of Aid: Speaking across Boundaries’, Words in Action Conference, Heythrop Institute for Religion, Ethics and Public Life.
2008: ‘Transformation Theology: a New Catholic Theology for Europe’, Theology for the Twenty First Century Symposium, Catholic University of Leuven.
‘La teologia fondamentale e la Parola’, Faculty of Theology Annual Study Day, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (in Italian).
‘Freedom, Sacrifice and the Act’, Systematic Theology Seminar, and Institute for Imagination, Theology and the Arts, University of St Andrews.
2007: Presidential Address, Society for the Study of Theology.
‘The Interrupted Body’. Joseph McCarthy Lecture, Gregorian University, Rome.
‘World, Revelation and Human Rights’. Real Challenges to Contemporary Theology, Expert Study Day, Heyendaal Institute and The Netherlands School of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion, University of Nijmegen.
‘Doctrine and World’. Scottish Journal of Theology Lectures, Aberdeen
Staff and Graduate Theology Seminar, University of Durham.
2006: ‘Theology and the Semiotics of Violence’, The Aquinas Lecture, University of Bristol.
2005: ‘Violence in Bloomsbury. A Theological Response’. Keynote address at University of London and University of Oxford Theology Study Day.
‘Letter on Spirit’, Geist und Buchstabe - Spirit and Letter Colloquium, Oxford University and Bonn University (Bible and Theology series).
University of Gloucestershire, Responses to ‘The Creativity of God’ at Postgraduate and Staff Reading Seminar.
‘Spiritual Information: Knowing the Unknowable about God and the Universe’, Trinity College Cambridge (Templeton Foundation)
‘Divine Silence and Human Rights’. The Aquinas Lecture, Blackfriars, Oxford (also given as ‘Horizon Lecture’, Birkbeck College, University of London).
‘Das Bekenntnis zum Monotheismus in einer pluralistischen Gesellschaft’. Symposium on “Der Monotheismus als theologisches und politisches Problem”. Theologisches Seminar, Elstal, Berlin (given in German).
2004: ‘Sacred Cosmology and Dante’s Smile’, Dante Lecture Series: Dante and the Human Body, UCD.
2003: ‘Silences of the Cross’. A plenary address at the annual conference of the SST.
‘On Reading Mystical Texts’, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
‘God, Language and Laughter in Dante’s Divine Commedy’, Dante and Theology Conference, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
2002: ‘Divine Creativity, Eucharist and the Word’, Divinity School, University of Chicago.
‘Compassionate Metaphysics and Metaphysics of Compassion’, Colloquium on ‘Metaphysics and Otherness’ at Dept. of Religion, University of Virginia.
‘Soundings: Towards a Theological Poetics of Silence’, ‘Apophasis and Incarnation’ Colloquium, University of Birmingham
‘A Catholic Response to Radical Orthodoxy’, Heythrop College, University of London ‘Rhetoric of the Gift: Inspiration, Pneumatology and Poetic Craft in Medieval Wales’, Exeter Symposium VI, The Medieval Mystical Tradition in England, Ireland and Wales.
‘Meister Eckhart, Emmanuel Levinas and the Language of Being’, Eckhart Society Conference, Plater College, Oxford.
1998: ‘Theology and Poetics’, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.
‘Revelation and Pragmatic Linguistic Theory’, Modern Doctrine Seminar, University of Oxford.
N. EDITORSHIPS
JOURNALS: 2006-10: Editorial Board of ‘Real Challenges to Contemporary Theology’ (University of Nijmegen).
1988-92: Co-editor of ‘Logos: the Welsh Theological Review’.
BOOK SERIES: 2007-: General Editor with Paul Janz and Clemens Sedmak of ‘Transformation Theology’ (T&T Clark).
1994-2000: General Editor with Gavin Flood of ‘Religion, Culture and Society’ (University of Wales Press, Cardiff).
1991-1994: General Editor of ‘The Spirituality of the Fathers’ (New City, London and New York).