Foreword

Summary

Theology in the universities of England and Scotland, and to a lesser extent those in Wales and Northern Ireland, has traditionally been dominated by Anglicans or Presbyterians of the established and national churches. Until the mid-twentieth century, theology was predominantly a clerical enterprise allied to a particular kind of confessionalism. One of the most striking developments during the post-war period has been the loosening of this hold on the discipline. Some long-established chairs tied to cathedral canonries were laicized and Roman Catholic and non-conformist academics were appointed to university departments. The first non-Anglicans were appointed at Durham University in the 1940s and, in 1978, Nicholas Lash became the first Roman Catholic since the Reformation to be appointed to a chair of divinity in Oxford or Cambridge. Of course, these developments have broadened the discipline of academic theology in many ways. Unlike faculties in Germany, which are divided into Protestant and Catholic, those in the UK are now more broadly confessional and multi-denominational. The growing predominance of lay theologians has allowed Roman Catholic women, and Anglican women prior to women's ordination to the priesthood, to become leading university theologians.

At the same time, some would argue that the post-war period has seen theology lose its ecclesial identity and its dogmatic and confessional heart. In short, it has become just another academic discipline, often barely distinguishable from philosophy, history, classics or sociology, rather than a distinctively traditioned mode of enquiry that nourishes the confessing life of the churches. This is an important concern, but it is nevertheless significant that public universities in the UK continue to sustain confessional departments of theology which make a significant contribution to the churches. Whilst the number of ordained university theologians has fallen in recent decades, there remains a good number who continue to connect their research and teaching to sacramental and pastoral ministry. Lay theologians in the academy make an outstanding contribution to their churches’ doctrinal committees, teaching ministry and training. There are, of course, gains and losses in the changing landscape of theology in the university.