Online interfaith webinar - Social Responsibility

Jewish Studies. On 11th March, Centre of Jewish Studies Honorary Research Fellow Rabbi Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz participated with Canon Sarah Snyder in an online interfaith webinar for Northeastern University (USA), on the path to and experience of interfaith activism.

Theology & Greater Manchester Live Well

Social responsibility. Eve Parker recently delivered a theology paper at the Greater Manchester Faith and Belief Summit, which brought together community groups and faith representatives from across the region to reflect on the Greater Manchester Live Well Strategy. Her presentation explored how theological ideas of belonging, justice and solidarity can help shape communities where people feel safe, supported, and valued. The summit, attended by leaders from across Greater Manchester including Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, focused on strengthening community wellbeing and addressing challenges such as racism, xenophobia, and social exclusion. Discussions highlighted the important role religious and community organisations play in building more inclusive and supportive neighbourhoods.

Career Spotlight: Youth and Community Worker

For students. If you enjoy supporting others and making a positive impact, a role as a youth and community worker could be a great fit. In this job, you’ll design activities, build relationships with young people and local groups, and help individuals and communities develop skills and confidence. Your RELT degree helps you develop these skills through analysing ethical and social issues, engaging with diverse perspectives, and communicating complex ideas clearly, all of which are essential for connecting with different communities. Check out the Prospects page for more detailed information on this role and book a careers appointment to discuss your career ideas further.

Longlisted, ISSR's book prize

Science and Judaism. Congratulations to Daniel Langton whose book, Darwin in the Jewish Imagination: Jews' Engagement with Evolutionary Theory (Oxford University Press, 2025), has been longlisted for the International Society for Science and Religion's 2026 book prize.

Yerushah lecture - University of Cambridge

Jewish Studies. On 11th March, Centre of Jewish Studies Honorary Research Fellow Rabbi Dr Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz and Soferet Dr Jen Taylor Friedman delivered the Faculty of Divinity’s annual Yerushah lecture at Cambridge University, exploring how women in Orthodox and egalitarian Jewish contexts have negotiated access to training, authority, and mastery. Further information.

Alumni Activities

Student news. Mariel Havard Griffiths, who graduated in Philosophy and Religion last summer, is now working as a tutor in Community Outreach at an Arts and Culture centre which is part of Bangor University. Mariel facilitates and leads various arts projects such as Dance for Parkinson’s movement sessions, art projects in a children’s clinic in a local hospital, and creative sessions for young people who are experiencing grief. Mariel writes: "It is very interesting and rewarding, but a bit emotionally tiring as you can imagine! But I’m enjoying it very much, and it has been great to get to experience working with a variety of people!"

Faiths in Charity - Food Drives and Iftar Dinner

Student event. Food drives for Greater Manchester are running food banks on 10th and 17th March 10am-5pm in the Student Union and an interfaith Iftar dinner on the 10th from 5.15pm in Academy 3. Tickets free. If you'd like to attend or help out at the food drives email Neva at diversitydialogues. Click here for Iftar booking link.

Lifelong Learning, Limmud Talks

Jewish studies. Honorary research fellow Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz gave two lectures at Netherlands Limmoed in Amsterdam, on 'Orthodox women rabbis' and 'Women in the Book of Judith' on 8th March. Limmoed is an annual Jewish learning event (social responsibility) featuring a variety of lectures, workshops, and cultural activities in the Amsterdam region. Further information. In December, Lindsey also gave 5 lectures and participated in a panel at UK Limmud in Birmingham.

New Publication

Biblical Studies. Sarah Parkhouse has published 'Perpetua in the Amphitheater: Spatial Power, Colonial Archaeology, and Christian History', Journal of Early Christian Studies 34.1 (2026): 19-44. This paper won the SBL Diamond Award for Integrative Studies 2023. Further information.

Online Exhibition

Digital humanities. As part of Centre for Biblical Studies’ CIDRAL-funded programme of events entitled Encountering Biblical Bodies the exhibition has today launched in the glass corridor in Samuel Alexander as well as online, with audio commentary from staff, students, and friends. Check it out here. Remember to sign up for the research cafe conversation on March 16th here (in-person only).

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical studies. 23rd March: Professor Katherine Southwood (University of Oxford), "Arranged Marriage and Migration in the Hebrew Bible: Rehumanising Women’s Stories through Narrative Imagination", 3-5pm, University Place 5.209 and Teams. For further information and/or Teams link, please email Lynne Potts.

Going Beyond Belief Highlights

Public resource.  Is Assisted Suicide Permissible? Michael Hoelzl takes readers through moral, religious, legal, and philosophical dilemmas of decision making on his Beyond Belief pages on Assisted Dying and Decision Making. Drawing on a real-life case taken from the Beyond Belief radio episode on assisted dying, these pages raise questions about autonomy, faith, and issues regarding time-pressured decision making. They challenge readers to think critically about who gets to decide when life ends - and why.

Art History Lecture

Art History. On 9th February, Siobhán Jolley chaired the Pilkington Lecture 2026 by Susanna Avery Quash of the National Gallery speaking on the topic ‘In Search of Women at the National Gallery'. Further information.