andygoodliff: Theology Live 2022

January 29, 2022

Theology Live 2022

Theology Live is a one day for British Baptists engaged in postgraduate theology. This was our fifth event. What is encouraging is that each year we find new people who are doing theological research to invite. From the nine speakers this year, 3 are doing a postgraduate degree, and 7 were speaking at Theology Live for the first time. It was good to have 3 papers engaged with how we read the Bible — Anthony Clarke spoke on the commitments in our hermeneutics, Edward Pillar on 1 Cor 15 and the missing women, and Amanda Higgins on how the language of perfection shapes how read the letter to the Hebrews. Three other papers focused on ministry and church — Lisa Kerry's paper explored whether we should of ministers as professions in conversation with her nursing background, Ruth Gouldbourne reflected on where we are with women in ministry 25 years on from her significant Whitley Lecture Reinventing the Wheel, on the same topic, and Ali Boulton invited us to see how a regular pamper night which included footwashing can be seen as church. Steve Holmes' paper was a work of Baptist history in the 17th century and an argument to revise the commonly held view that the General Baptists were Arminian. Emma Nash's paper looked a how resurrection can be a form of protest in the light of loss, grief and pain. Finally Paul Fiddes addressed us with a look at philosopher and novelist Iris Murdoch and how she understood the person and God and the contribution this might make to our doing theology.

A day, like previous days, of great diversity, deep thinking and encouragement that within our Baptist Union, there are those amongst us helping us reflect on what it means to be Christians in the church and the world.

Theology Live will return in 2023. All papers can be viewed here.