Current and Planned Events

Book Launch on 8 March 2023.

Past Events

Public lecture from Prof David Tombs (23 January 2023)

Prof David Tombs, Director of Centre for Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago delivered a public lecture titled “The Strippings of Jesus: Asking the Right Questions” based on his book The Crucifixion of Jesus: Torture, Sexual Abuse, and the Scandal of the Cross(2023). View the flyer for the event.

The future of European religion-state regimes: a normative inquiry, with special reference to the UK, Germany, Hungary, and Ukraine

A DAAD-workshop at the Centre for Faith in Public Life, Wesley House, Cambridge
21-22 November, 2022 (programme of the conference)

This includes these two public events:

Monday 21 November 5.00-6.30pm, Wesley House
Is the Liberal State Secular? – A public lecture by Professor Cécile Laborde, Oxford University. Register HERE

Tuesday 22nd November 3.30-5.00pm, Wesley House
Should the Church of England be Disestablished? A round-table on Beyond Establishment: Resetting Church-State Relations in England (SCM 2022). With author Dr Jonathan Chaplin (Fellow, Wesley House), followed by responses from three panellists, and open discussion. The panellists are Dr Helen Dawes (Westcott House, Cambridge), Dr Richard Davis (Wesley House), and Dr Abdullah Sahin (University of Warwick). Register HERE

To view for the flyer for these events CLICK HERE

The Spirit that Crosses Borders (3rd to 5th June 2022)

Full details of this series of events and registration information are available here.

The Centre for Faith in Public Life at Wesley House is hosting a series of events at Pentecost exploring faith questions arising in the context of migration. Our contributors bring to bear experience of migration in the Pacific, in Europe and in Central America.

Thursday 2 June 7.30pm- 9pm (UK)
Climate Displacement Seminar with The Revd Dr Sef Carroll (Zoom)
Friday 3 June 8.15am- 2pm (UK)
Installation – Dark Water, Burning World – at Wesley House Chapel, Cambridge
Saturday 4 June 2pm- 3pm (UK)
Public Lecture by Bishop Minerva Carcaño – at Wesley Methodist Church, Cambridge and on Zoom
Sunday 5 June 10am-11am (UK)
Bishop Minerva Carcaño will be providing the University Sermon at Great St Mary’s Church, Cambridge.

ART, CONFLICT & REMEMBERING: THE MURALS OF THE BOGSIDE ARTISTS (30 January – 20 February 2022)

The Bogside exhibition was in Cambridge, 30 January – 20 February 2022. More details here: https://www.bogsideartistsexhibition.org/exhibition

Leading like a Methodist in Public Life (15 October 2021)

This panel brought together an international panel of theologians and church practitioners working at  the interface of church life and public life. From the perspectives of public theology and church ministry for social justice and peace the panel explored what leadership in public life is called to and where the church can contribute to the common good for all through principled leadership. With:

  • The Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal, City of Sanctuary network (Sheffield, UK)
  • The Revd Dr Susan Henry-Crowe, The United Methodist Church General Board of Church & Society (Washington DC, USA)
  • Prof Simangaliso Kumalo, University of KwaZulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg, S. Africa)
  • Rachel Lampard, The Methodist Church of Great Britain (GB)
  • Dr Richard A. Davis, Wesley House (GB)

Video Recording: https://vimeo.com/635276596

For the World – Living Faithfully in Contemporary Cultures (7-9 July 2021)

Across three days we heard global voices on public theology for the new normal, Methodist perspectives on climate change, and the relationship between Christianity and democracy.

1. Public Theology for a New Normal – Global Perspectives (7 July 2021)

Our speakers provides perspectives on what public theology can offer public life as we talk about a new normal. Panelists:

  • Mike McCurry, Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington DC, USA)
  • Sef Carroll, World Council of Churches (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • Dion Forster, Stellenbosch University (Stellenbosch, South Africa)

Video Recording: https://vimeo.com/573005891

2. Global Methodist Perspectives on Climate Change (8 July 2021)

What can Methodists contribute to the issue of climate change from both theological and activist points of view as we approach the COP 26 meeting in Glasgow? Panelists:

  • Mollie Pugmire, Methodist Church in Britain (London, England)
  • Mark Davies, Oklahoma City University (Oklahoma City, USA)
  • Maaraidzo Mutambara, Africa University (Mutare, Zimbabwe)
  • James Bhagwhan, Pacific Conference of Churches (Suva, Fiji)

Video Recording: https://vimeo.com/573005891

3. Constitutional Democracy – A Global Christian Imperative

A lecture by Dr Jonathan Chaplin, a Associate Fellow at Theos and a member of the Divinity Faculty of the University of Cambridge and author Faith in Democracy (SCM 2021).

 Against claims that Christians can live under any political regime and global threats to democracy, the lecture argued that a form of ‘constitutional democracy’ is imperative for Christians everywhere, even if different contexts require different expressions of it and routes to it.

Video Recording: https://vimeo.com/573939792