The paper is written in response to a document recently published by the Latimer Trust, by a group of writers concerned that a legal framework should be provided to protect those within the Church of England who do not accept the ministry of women bishops. Susannah Cornwall argues that the authors of that document assume a model of theological anthropology which does not take adequate account of the existence of physical intersex conditions.

She says,

"The fact that maleness and femaleness in The Church, Women Bishops and Provision are considered so self-evident that they do not require definition suggests that the authors do not consider human sex something which can be doubted. However, the existence of intersex, and the uncertainty it raises in some respects about polarized, either-or accounts of human maleness and femaleness, means that anthropologies grounded in fixed, polar models of human sex are anthropologies only of some humans. In order to be comprehensive, theological anthropologies should take account of all the evidence available. Not taking account of intersex, then, might lead to problems for arguments grounded in anthropologies of clear, fixed, polarized maleness and femaleness."

This research took place as part of the Intersex, Identity and Disability project at the Lincoln Theological Institute, University of Manchester. "Intersex and Ontology: A Response to The Church, Women Bishops and Provision"  may be downloaded as a PDF file, free of charge, from the project's resources page.

For more information about the project, please e-mail susannah.cornwall@manchester.ac.uk

To find out more about this aspect of the project, or to be added to the mailing list to receive updates, please e-mail susannah.cornwall@manchester.ac.uk

Other areas of the project continue. Dr Cornwall has now begun to conduct one-to-one interviews with people in Britain who identify as intersex and Christian in order to find out more about the interactions between their intersex condition and their faith identity. If you or anyone else you know might be interested in taking part in this area of research, either with a face-to-face interview or by filling in a questionnaire, please see the advertisement for research participants for more details - or simply contact Susannah Cornwall in confidence at the e-mail address above.

 

In the second of its conferences on civil society, the Lincoln Theological Institute is pleased to announce the conference, “Patriotism?”.

How might national loyalty, identity and cohesion be understood in a religiously plural and culturally differentiated ‘nation’? The conference aims to achieve greater clarity over whether or not the revivification of Patriotism is warranted, and in what ways a revitalised Patriotism may differ from past Patriotisms.  The present state of Britain’s relationship with the European Union, a proposed referendum on Scottish Independence, and the celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June 2012 make Patriotism a highly relevant topic.

Full details about the conference, including how to register, may be found at the conference’s webpage.

The Lincoln Theological Institute is pleased to announce the international conference, “Big Society—Bigger Nature?”

The promotion of the theme of the “Big Society” continues to provoke much comment, including contributions from theologians. However, the question of the relationship between the “Big Society” and Nature (the wider environment, the range of human associations, and the nature of the human animal) has not so far been raised in any depth. This day conference addresses this lack and thereby contributes to a critical discussion of the potentials and weaknesses of contemporary civil society.

Full details about the conference, including how to register, may be found at the conference’s website.

Using material developed during the LTI project for a younger audience was a challenging and rewarding experience, and a huge success: throughout the day students debated, listened, and took on role-plays reflecting the different ways that the future is imagined in the context of climate change according to social background, faith, and identities.

For a full report from the day, click here

Stefan Skrimshire (LTI Honorary research fellow) was recently invited to speak at an Interfaith Forum on Sustainability for religious leaders and policy makers at Lambeth Palace. Jointly organised by Shrinking the Footprint (The Church of England national environmental campaign) and the London School of Jewish Studies, attendees and visitors included the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Lord Marland, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Energy & Climate Change.   

Stefan's presentation, using a short clip from the LTI film, Beyond the Tipping Point?, was on the subject of “the theological bases of environmental stewardship”. The talk reflected on the language of apocalypse, time and eschatology in relation to climate change tipping points and what these meant for environmental stewardship.

A short film and written report from the event are coming soon from Shrinking the Footprint.

'Relations between Church and State Today'

Tuesday 1st March 2011 at 6 pm, The Whitworth Hall, Oxford Road, The University of Manchester

The School of Arts, Histories and Cultures is honoured to welcome the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, to The University of Manchester.

 For more information click here...

This is a systematic reconstruction and critique of Hitler's use and abuse of theological concepts, and demonstration of their fundamental importance for the rise of National Socialism.

"Hitler's Theology" investigates the use of theological motifs in Adolf Hitler's public speeches and writings, and offers an answer to the question of why Hitler and his theo-political ideology were so attractive and successful presenting an alternative to the discontents of modernity. The book gives a systematic reconstruction of Hitler's use of theological concepts like providence, belief or the almighty God.

This fascinating study concludes by contextualizing Hitler's theology in terms of a wider theory of modernity and in particular by analyzing the churches' struggle with modernity.

3-21 February 2011

For more information click here...

[O]ur aim with the Big Society is to build a culture where we don’t just look to government to solve all our big problems. Where people are empowered and feel encouraged to take control of their local communities and neighbourhoods. And where we foster a new culture of social responsibility – not by legislation but by example and collaboration.[1]                                                                               Baroness Warsi

The “big society” opposes the “big state” and stresses voluntarism and localism. It is the big idea that supports self-help, mutuality and local accountability. It takes heart from the voluntary activities already being undertakes by a range of faith groups.

 So far, the question of the relationship between the “Big Society” and a wider Nature has not been raised. This day conference addresses this lack though the consideration of critical questions such as:

• How does the Big Society acknowledge its dependence on a wider Nature?
• How does the Big Society encourage resistance to the anti-ecological practices of the modern state?
•  Are we free, as humans, to volunteer Nature as a participant in the Big Society?
• What is the relationship between the Big Society, civil society and economic markets?
• Does Citizenship trump participation in the Big Society?
• Is the Big Society a Good Society?

[1]http://www.sayeedawarsi.com/2010/09/baroness-warsi-speaks-to-the-bishops-of-the-church-of-england/  [accessed 14 October 2010]

LATEST NEWS: Read a review from the UK Church Times here. 

'In this ground-breaking book, Scott makes a vital contribution to a necessary exodus out of enslaving modes of thinking about nature.' ---Sigurd Bergmann, Trondheim University, Norway.

'This book is a brilliant challenge to standard modes of theo-political discourse, one sure to stimulate new ways of imagining the contemporary human situation.' ---Lisa Sowle Cahill, Boston College, USA.

Registration is now open

The language of the conference will be English, and the conference will take place in the centre of Berlin at the Katholische Akademie.

The registration form can be downloaded by clicking here, and the official programme for the conference can be downloaded by clicking here. The conference fee is €60 which includes lunch from Thursday to Saturday. Accommodation can also be booked at the conference venue through the registration form, however spaces are limited so do register soon.

Beyond the tipping point?

Once launched, the film will be freely available as a DVD screening pack for community groups, schools and universities engaged in this topic.  

Visit the new website, where you can find out more about how to request a film, and watch the trailer: www.beyondthetippingpoint.com