Conference Paper, Rome

Jewish-Christian relations. On 11 October 2023, HRF Ion Popa presented a paper at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, during the conference “New Documents from the Pontificate of Pope Pius XII and their Meaning for Jewish-Christian Relations” co-organized by, amongst others, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Yad Vashem International Institute for Holocaust Research. Title of presentation: “Shades and Shadows: Vatican Diplomacy and the Holocaust in Romania.” More details here.

Church Service

Christian theology. On 13 December, Peter Scott gave the homily at the Catholic Chaplaincy's Christmas Carol Service at the Church of the Holy Name on Oxford Road. Photo by Lev Eakins.

New Publication

Dead Sea Scrolls. George Brooke has coedited a theme issue of Dead Sea Discoveries entitled Materiality and Textuality in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Essays in Honour of Eibert J.C. Tigchelaar. He co-authored the Introduction, Dead Sea Discoveries 30/3 (2023): 179-187. Further information.

Teaching

Trip to Cathedral. The World Christianities students had a trip to Manchester Cathedral in December, where they met with Canon Missioner, Grace Thomas, to have a guided tour, and were joined by Dr Dominic Budhi-Thornton, who completed his PhD at the University of Manchester in 2022, on the subject of the public theology of Manchester Cathedral. Dom and Grace joined the students and course unit director Dr Eve Parker, to hold a seminar in the refectory where they discussed amongst other topics the cathedrals ministry on anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights, and the ways in which Christianity is translated and lived out in the context of the UK as well as in other parts of the world.

New Publication

Jewish and Christian studies. HRF Ion Popa has published an article in a special issue of Revue D'Histoire de la Shoah dedicated to Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust: Ion Popa, “The Vatican and the Myth of Judeo-Bolshevism. The Impact of the Holy See’s anti-Communism on Jews and the Holocaust,” Revue d'Histoire de la Shoah, vol. 218, no. 2 (October 2023), pp. 271-298. More info (including the original English and the French translation of the article) here.

PhD Success

Biblical Studies. Hearty congratulations to Anna Budhi-Thornton who passed their PhD viva. The thesis is titled "Jesus the Model Man?: A Comparison of Ancient Masculinities and the Jesus of the Johannine Passion Narrative". Anna's supervisors were Peter Oakes and Holly Morse and the examiners were Todd Klutz and Chris Greenough. Find out more about Anna's work here.

New Publication

Science and religion. Michael Hoelzl has published “Time is up. Decision Making and the problem of time” in: Andrej Zwitter, Takuo Dome (eds.) Meta-Science Towards a Science of Meaning and Complex Solutions (Groningen: Groningen University Press, 2023) pp. 71-88. Further information.

Podcast, Sherman Lecture in Jewish Studies 2023

Judaism and Climate Change. Prof Hava Tirosh-Samuelson (Arizona State University) gave this year's Community lecture, co-hosted by the Centre for Jewish Studies and the Jewish Rep Council, on "Judaism and Climate Change: Religious Responses to the Eco-Crisis." Mon 27 Nov 2023. Watch again.

Ehrhardt Seminar, Biblical Studies

 

Biblical Studies. On 14th December, Kelsie Rodenbiker (University of Glasgow) will present "Looking for Gold in Mud: Ancient Ecclesiastical Perceptions of Pseudepigraphy" 4–5.30pm. Stephen Joseph Studio 1.1 and Zoom. Please contact lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk if you are interested in joining. 

Religion & Theology Research Seminar

 

Religion & Theology. On 7th December, Wren Radford and Alex Samely will be in conversation on the topic of "Reading". Stephen Joseph 1.1 and on Zoom, 4–5.30pm. For access, please email Wren Radford or Scott Midson.

PhD Examination

Religion and Theology. HRF Peter Nockles acted as external examiner for a University of Leicester PhD thesis on 'William Wilberforce and his religious networks'.

PhD Success

Religion and Theology. Patricia Morris has defended her doctoral thesis: "Douglas John Hall , Seyyed Nasr Hossein, God: Creation and Humanity: A Comparative Perspective". The thesis was supervised by Todd Klutz, Scott Midson and Kamran Karimullah and was examined by Ian Netton (University of Exeter) and Dr Andrew Boakye.

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PhD Success

Religion and Theology. Seoyoung Kim passed her PhD viva on 6th October. The thesis was titled: “Towards a Christian Ecofeminist Theology of Water”. Seoyoung was supervised by Peter Scott, Scott Midson, and Wren Radford.

Ehrhardt Seminar Trip to Chester

 

Biblical Studies. George Brooke kindly invited members of the Ehrhardt Seminar to Chester on Saturday 18th November to visit the Cathedral library exhibition on kingship, followed by lunch and a short walk around the bible landmarks of Chester.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical Studies. Daniel Atkins, Northwest Nazarene University Abraham and the Divine Purpose in Romans. 30th November 4–5.30pm. Zoom only. Please contact lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk if you are interested in joining. 

Call for Papers, Gospel of Mary Retold and Received

Biblical studies and reception. We invite scholars, artists, and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines to participate in this one-day symposium exploring the creative reception of the Gospel of Mary. This event will bring together research and practice from across disciplines including biblical studies, performance, storytelling, and art history, fostering dialogue and collaboration. We invite short papers of 15-20 minutes that explore the relationship between the ancient text of the Gospel of Mary and its creative reception. We welcome proposals for papers and presentations in innovative formats. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to: Visualising ancient stories / Feminist approaches to ancient texts / Dynamic modes of storytelling / The relationship between art and written text / Female-centred narratives / The relationship between canonical and extracanonical texts in reception. This event is part of a broader research project exploring feminist storytelling, the Gospel of Mary and Jo Blake’s The Witness, and a portion of the event will focus on this work in particular. In the evening, participants will have the opportunity to watch a performance of the work. The symposium will be held in person at the University of Manchester and online on 16th May 2024. Please submit proposals by Saturday 16th December 2023 to siobhan.jolley@manchester.ac.uk and sarah.parkhouse@manchester.ac.uk. You should include an abstract of no more than 250 words, a brief biography, and contact information.

Book Launch

Biblical Studies. Meg Warner is delighted, on behalf of Northern College and the Luther King Centre for Theology and Ministry, to extend an invitation to attend the launch of her two new books, Effective Stories: Genesis Through the Lens of Resilience, and Genesis: A Past for a People in Need of a Future, together with Christopher Southgate’s new collection of poetry, Losing Ithaca. The launch will be held at Luther King House (Brighton Grove, Manchester M14 5JP) at 7.00 pm (for 7.30 pm) on Tuesday 28 November. Refreshments will be provided and there will be an opportunity for questions and conversation about all three books. Please RSVP this link.

International Research Award

Biblical Studies. Congratulations to Research Fellow Sarah Parkhouse who has won the SBL A. R. Pete Diamond Award for Integrative Scholarship for her paper entitled, “Perpetua: Which Amphitheatre, and Why Does it Matter?” The Diamond Award supports scholars who are within ten years of the PhD and demonstrate innovative approaches in biblical studies that advance methodological work at the intersection of historical criticism, critical theory, and cultural studies. Further details.

Sherman Community Lecture 2023

Annual lecture in Jewish Studies. Prof Hava Tirosh-Samuelson (Arizona State University) will give this year's lecture, co-hosted with the Jewish Rep Council, on "Judaism and Climate Change: Religious Responses to the Eco-Crisis." Mon 27 Nov at 8pm UK (Winter) time, online. For an abstract and Zoom details nearer the time, see further information.

The Wellington Scholarship

Postgraduate funding opportunity. The University of Manchester’s oldest scholarship was established to commemorate the 1851 visit by Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington. It supports fees for study in any area of Religions and Theology. Applicants must demonstrate ability in using New Testament Greek or Hellenistic Greek (e.g. Septuagint). The Wellington Scholarship holder is at the heart of the activities of the Centre for Biblical Studies, organising research seminars and interacting regularly with leading scholars in the field. The scholarship covers UK tuition fees or £4,712 per annum towards international student tuition fees for three years, and there is one available. To apply, you must submit your online application for a place on the PhD Religions and Theology programme as well as an essay, dissertation or other paper demonstrating ability in using New Testament Greek or Hellenistic Greek, with a note that this is an entry for the Wellington Scholarship. You should send this by email to both the departmental Postgraduate Research Director, Dr Michael Hoelzl and the Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis, Peter Oakes. Applications will be ranked on academic track-record, the quality of the research proposal and the submitted essay, dissertation or other paper. The initial closing date is 5pm GMT, 2 February 2024. Applications may also be made after the closing date and will be considered if no award has yet been made. For enquiries, please contact Professor Peter Oakes. Further information here.

Alumni success

Archivist at John Rylands Library. Tereza Ward, originally from the Czech Republic, studied for her BA, MA and PhD in our Department; her doctoral thesis was on ‘Social and Religious Jewish Non-conformity: Representations of the Anglo-Jewish Experience in the Oral Testimony Archive of the Manchester Jewish Museum.’ Following studies for an MA in Archives and Records Management at Liverpool University she has returned to Manchester having been appointed as curator for the Christian Brethren Archive at our John Rylands Library. This is the world’s largest collection of manuscript materials, printed books and periodicals relating to a movement originating in the 1820s that saw itself returning to a tradition of worship as practised in the New Testament, before the creation of formal churches and denominations. Christian Brethrenism, with its elaborate scheme of interpreting biblical prophecy known as Dispensationalism, made a fundamental contribution to the development of Christian Zionism, especially in North America. Further information.

International Conference, AAR

Japanese religions. Erica Baffelli will be part of a roundtable organized by the Society for the Study of Japanese Religions to discuss Ian Reader and George Tanabe’s "Practically Religious" 25 years after its publication, a panelist in the session "Author-Meets-Critics Roundtable: Justin B. Stein, Alternate Currents: Reiki’s Circulation in the Twentieth-Century North Pacific", and a panelist to discuss "Affective Ethnographies of Buddhism, Sickness, Loss, and Grief", presenting her new project on fear at the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting, November 18-21, in San Antonio, TX. See other colleagues presenting here. Find more information about the event here.

PhD Funding Website

For students. Are you interested in applying for PhD funding? The North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership has a new website: https://www.nwcdtp.ac.uk/home/current-students/funding-prospective-students/.

Religion & Theology Reseach Seminar

 

Religion & Theology. We’re particularly excited to welcome the Revd Professor Kelly Brown Douglas to the Department on 23rd November, who will be speaking about her latest research recently published as Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter (2021). Please note that Prof Douglas’ talk will be in a different physical location: Ellen Wilkinson C5.1 (same Zoom room). 23rd November, 4–5.30pm. For access, please email Wren Radford or Scott Midson.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical Studies. Joe Brennan, Nazarene Theological College The Holy and Blameless Ephesian Matron. 19th November 4–5.30pm. Zoom only. Please contact lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk if you are interested in joining. 

Religion & Theology Research Seminar

 

Religion & Theology. 9th November, 4–5.30pm, Eve Parker & Andy Boakye in Conversation on "Liberation". For access, please email Wren Radford or Scott Midson.

PhD Success

Biblical studies. Congratulations to Sherry Ashworth on the successful defence of her doctoral thesis ‘A Novel Approach to Reading Esther’. She was supervised by Dr Holly Morse and Professor Alex Samely; her external examiner was Dr Johanna Stiebert (University of Leeds). See the list of current staff and PhD students in the area of Biblical Studies at Manchester here.

Shut Up and Write

For students. Got a deadline coming up? Need some motivation? Pomodoro writing sessions for R&T and Liberal Arts students will be held on Mondays 11am-1pm over November. 13th Nov in the Whitworth building, Knowles Room; 20th Nov in John Owens building, Ken Kitchen Room; 27th Nov in the Whitworth building, Knowles Room; and 4th Dec in Sam Alex building, A7.

Papers, Society of Biblical Literature

Biblical Studies. Scholars of religion will congregate in San Antonio for the Society of Biblical Literature annual meeting November 18-21 2023. Those presenting among our colleagues and friends at the Centre of Biblical Studies are Siobhán Jolley, Holly Morse, Paul Middleton, and Sarah Parkhouse. Further information.

Teaching

UK Jewish Film Festival. Students taking RELT20121 Religion, Culture and Gender can look forward to a gender-themed evening at Cineworld Parrs Wood on 15 November 2023 at 19:00. Katja Stuerzenhofecker is organizing free tickets for the course group to watch the comedy Matchmaking (2022) with support from the Student Enhancement Fund.

Social Responsibility, school governor

Theology. Eve Parker has been appointed as a school governor at Sale High School, in Greater Manchester, where she will also be serving on their business committee. Further information.

Public Talk

Jewish and Christian studies. Professor Philip Alexander (University of Manchester) and Bishop Mark Tanner (Bishop of Chester) will give "Reflections on the Image of Exile in Christian Thought. How Useful is it in Our Time?" at the Chester Theological Society, Tuesday 28th November 2023, 7.30pm (Hollybank, CHB002). Admission: £3 (£1 for students). Includes a glass of wine. (in-person only). Contact trs@chester.ac.uk to attend.

Alumus Success

Sociology of religion. Dr Alex Fry, who graduated from UoM with a religion and theology BA in 2011 has published an important new book "Gender Inequality in the Ordained Ministry of the Church of England: Examining Conservative Male Clergy Responses to Women Priests and Bishops". Further information.

Religions & Theology Research Seminar

 

Religion & Theology.  26th October, 4–5.30pm, Stephen Joseph 1.1 and Zoom. Al Lowe (Manchester), "A Critique of the Concept of Discipleship in Fresh Expressions Literature". For Zoom access, please email: wren.radford@manchester.ac.uk or scott.midson@manchester.ac.uk.

Conference Presentation

Biblical studies. CBS honorary research fellow Mary Mills presented ‘Emotion and the Prophet’ at the Society for Study of the Old Testament (SOTS) in Cambridge in early September. The paper was invited by the SOTS president and consists of a first exploration of this topic with regard to a commissioned article of the same title for a forthcoming Oxford Handbook on Bible and Emotion. Further information.

Book Launch & Keynote

Religion and education. On Friday 20th October, Eve Parker will be the keynote speaker for the book launch of Confounding the Mighty: Theology, Ministry and the Working Classes (London: SCM, 2023) that will be taking place at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. The book includes a chapter by Eve entitled: “Class in the Classroom: Social Class and Theological Education”, you can find out more about the book launch and event here.

Appointment, Office for Students

Jewish Studies. Daniel Langton has been appointed as the lead assessor for Jewish Studies for the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of Higher Education in England. 

Screening & Talk

UK Jewish Film Festival. The Centre for Jewish Studies and the Department of Religions and Theology are proud sponsors of the screening of British-Jewish Life on Film: Northern Premieres & Q&A on 20 November 2023, 20:30, at HOME, Manchester. This screening is part of the UK Jewish Film Festival 2023. Further information.

Public Lecture

Christian Theology. On 26 October, Peter Scott will present a paper at the Religion and Global Society Seminar Series, Religion and Climate Change at LSE. The title of the paper is: "Religion, Theology and Climate Change in the UK”. Further details.

New Publication

Biblical Studies. HRF Stephen C. Barton has co-edited with Andrew J. Byers, In One God, One People: Oneness, Unity and Christian Origins, Atlanta: SBL Press, 2023. The volume includes chapters by Walter J. Houston, ‘One God, One People: Reflections on a Reconciled and Reconciling Pentateuch’, 13–32 and Stephen C. Barton, ‘Paul on Oneness and Unity in 1 Corinthians’, 237–258. Further information.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical Studies. Samuel Hildebrandt, Nazarene Theological College, "Language for a Shattered World: Job 3 and the Poetry of Trauma". 19th October, 4–6pm, Stephen Joseph Studio, room 1.1 and Zoom. Please contact lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk if you are interested in joining.

Visiting Research Fellowship Opportunity

Methodist and Wesleyan traditions. Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Joint Visiting Fellowship between the Manchester Wesley Research Centre and the University of Manchester. The aim of the fellowship is to promote research in the Methodist and Wesleyan traditions by facilitating scholarly access to the internationally renowned Methodist Archives held at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library in Manchester and the MWRC and Nazarene Theological College library. Applications are due by 31 January 2024. Further information.

New Publication

Biblical studies. Sarah Parkhouse has published ‘The Incarnation as Cosmic Disturbance in the Long Second Century: Tracing the Tradition’, Early Christianity 14.3 (2023) 340–359. Further information.

New Publication

Jewish Studies. New publication: The Prophets edited by CJS Hon. Research Fellow Rabbi Michael Hilton and Alasdair Nisbet, published by Liberal Jewish Synagogue London, 2023. Further information.

Conference Paper

Philosophy and religion. PhD student Adam North presented "The Increasing Political Power of the Sporting Gesture: Athletes and Alternative Forms of Communication” at the 50th International Association for the Philosophy of Sports (IAPS) Conference in Split.

New publication

Religion and Science. Daniel R. Langton, 'An Historical Overview of Jewish Theological Responses to Evolution', Theology and Science 21:4 (2023), 617-641. Further information.

Religions & Theology Research Seminar

 

Religion & Theology.  12th October, 4–5pm, Stephen Joseph 1.1 and Zoom. Raj Patta (LTI / Stockport Methodist Church), "Subaltern Public Theology". For Zoom access, please email: wren.radford@manchester.ac.uk or scott.midson@manchester.ac.uk.

Ehrhardt Seminar in Biblical Studies

 

Biblical Studies. John Applegate, Former Principal, Emmanuel Theological College '“Do not pray for this people …”: Disaster, Trauma and Prayer (Jer. 7:16; 11:14; 14:11; 15:1).' 5th October, 4–6pm, Stephen Joseph Studio, room 1.1 and Zoom. Please contact lev.eakins@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk if you are interested in joining.

Didsbury Lectures

Christian theology. The 2023 Didsbury Lectures "Jesus in Cartographic Perspective: Mapping Christian Practice, Thinking, and Feeling after Pentecost" are presented by Dr Amos Yong, Professor of Theology and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary. 9th – 12th October 2023, 7:30pm – 8:45pm.The lectures will be held on NTC campus in Maclagan Chapel and livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook. Registration is free of charge but mandatorty: bit.ly/NTCDidsbury23. The official hashtag is #NTCDids23. More information about this lecture and previous Didsbury Lectures can be found here. For further inquiries, please contact info@nazarene.ac.uk.

New Publication

Theology. David Law has published a chapter (number 43) entitled 'Divine Suffering and the Communicatio Idiomatum' that has just appeared in the T&T Clark Handbook of Suffering and the Problem of Evil, edited by Matthias Grebe and Johannes Grössl. Further information.