The Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics
1. Hope for Creation
A three-year project on environmental theology and ethics in partnership with the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge. The project will issue in academic and popular publications, events, and an international and inter-faith conference for policy-influencers scheduled for September 2011. It is funded by the generous support of The Templeton Foundation, The Kirby Laing Foundation, and a private trust.
Project Director: Dr. Robert White, Professor of Geophysics, Cambridge University, and Associate Director, Faraday Institute
Project staff:
Dr Jonathan Chaplin, KLICE Director
Colin Bell, Faraday Institute: Researcher and Administrator (since April 2010)
Dr. Clare Redfern, Faraday Institute: Research and Media support (since April 2010)
Dr. Hilary Marlow, Faraday Institute/KLICE (until September 2009)
Dr. Jonathan Moo, Faraday Institute/KLICE (until June 2010)
Colin Bell has an extensive background in science and computing, a MA in theology from London School of Theology, in which he worked on the question of how to apply theology to contemporary society, particularly in ethical and environmental issues. He serves as conference administrator, and provides research assistance for the project. He is also a regular lay preacher.
Clare Redfern, a qualified doctor, currently works on media-related issues for the Faraday Institute and is attached to the project part-time. She is active in church-based environmental campaigns.
Hilary Marlow was a postdoctoral researcher on the project until September 2009. Her doctoral thesis has been published by Oxford University Press as Biblical Prophets and Contemporary Environmental Ethics (2009). While on the project she completed a Grove Booklet on The Earth is the Lord’s: A Biblical Response to Environmental Issues, and three book chapters on OT environmental ethics. In October 2009 she took up a lecturership in the Divinity Faculty, Cambridge University.Jonathan Moo, was postdoctoral researcher on the project until May 2010. He also served as Affiliated Lecture in New Testament at the Cambridge University Divinity Faculty. He has published articles on NT environmental theology in two leading journals of NT studies, and presented papers on eschatology and creation care at a Faraday Institute Writer’s Workshop on ‘The Root Causes of Unsustainability,’ at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, and at Oak Hill College. He will take up a teaching position in New Testament at Whitworth College, Seattle in summer 2010.
2. God and Government
A two-year project on political theology in partnership with the London-based public theology think-tank Theos, funded by two private trusts.
The first phase has been completed with the publication of God and Government, addressing the theology of government. The book is written by specialists but aimed at political practitioners and anyone interested in a Christian perspective on British politics. Co-edited by Nick Spencer and Jonathan Chaplin, it was published by SPCK in October 2009. Contributors include: Bishop N. T. Wright, Clifford Longly, Philip Booth, Nigel Wright, Julian Rivers, Andrew Bradstock, Nicholas Townsend, David McIlroy. Archbishop Rowan Williams writes a Preface.
The second phase was launched at a parliamentary event on 10 February 2010 at which Bishop Tom Wright gave a spirited lecture on the theme of the book, 'God and Government'. The Director of KLICE responded. Other events in various settings are being planned. A complimentary copy of the book has been distributed to several hundred MPs and Peers known to have interest in Christian political thought.
For an extensive review article on the book, click here.
Project team: Nick Spencer (Theos) and Jonathan Chaplin (KLICE).
3. Christianity and British Political Parties
A two-year project in collaboration with and funded by the Bible Society. The project aims to feed some fresh Christian political thinking into the three main British political parties via the channels of the Christian groups in each party, which are partners in the project: Christian Socialist Movement; Conservative Christian Fellowship; Liberal Democrat Christian Forum.
The first phase involves the production of three popular publications assessing the Christian contribution to the parties’ traditions and proposing how Christian thought might contribute critically to the development of the parties’ thinking and policy. This phase will be completed by summer 2010. The three writers are Stephen Backhouse (Liberal Democrats), Paul Bickley (Labour), and Joshua Hordern (Conservative). Jonathan Chaplin will edit the publications.
The second phase involves the dissemination of these publications via party conference sessions (beginning with the conference season in 2010), other events, and further print or web-based resources.
Project director: David Landrum, Senior Parliamentary Officer, Bible Society
Advisor/Editor: Jonathan Chaplin
1. Director's commentaries on the Coalition and the Conservative Party
2. Summer 2010 Newsletter
3. Latest issues of Ethics in Brief
4. Director's commentary on McFarlane v Relate case
5. KLICE contributes to 'Studies in Christian Ethics' issue
6. Director's article on role of institutions, in 'The Other Journal'
7. Review article on God and Government
8. Director's Guardian postings
