St Michael's College

Canon Dr. Peter Sedgwick became Principal and Warden of St.Michael's College Llandaff in Easter 2004. He was ordained deacon in the Church of England, in 1974, after training at Westcott House, Cambridge, and became a priest in 1975. He was a curate in East London from 1974-77, an incumbent (in charge of a parish) in Co Durham from 1977- 79, and an assistant priest in Birmingham from 1979-1982. From 1982- 88 he was Theological Consultant to the North East churches, covering all denominations from Middlesborough to the Scottish border. He was involved in many issues such as the 1984 miner's strike; the introduction of IVF treatment in hospitals; the disputes around the theology of Bishop David Jenkins on the Resurrection; and the ecumenical relations between the churches.

His academic life began in 1967 when he studied history at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, for a BA degree, followed by a year at Keble College, Oxford studying religion, foreign policy and public opinion in the United States during the 1930s. He then returned to Cambridge where he took a second degree in theology while training for ordination. In 1977 he began studying at Durham University for a PhD in theology and moral philosophy, which was awarded in 1983. He lectured in modern theology and ethics at the University of Birmingham from 1979-82, and was Course Director at the University of Hull for the MA in Theology and Society from 1988-94. He became a life fellow of the Center for Theological Inquiry, Princeton, New Jersey in 1991, and was also awarded a Fulbright scholarship for six month's sabbatical at Princeton. In 1994-5 he was Vice Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge. He has been external examiner at several university departments of theology, including Birmingham, Leeds and Heythrop College, London, and has also examined many doctorates.

Peter Sedgwick has served on many boards and committees of the Church of England dealing with ecumenism, theological training and social policy, and in 1996 he went to work full time for the central offices of the Church of England. He was their policy officer for home affairs from 1996-2004, where he was the link between the Church of England and the Government on mental health, criminal justice and drugs. He also founded and chaired the ecumenical body Churches' Criminal Justice Forum in 2002 , which has worked both with the Home Office and the Prison Service in promoting and coordinating voluntary action in the criminal justice system. In 2004 he returned to academic life as Principal of St.Michael's College, Llandaff. He was Dean of the Faculty of Religious and Theological Studies at Cardiff University from 2005-8, and was Moderator for Church and Society in Churches Together in Britain and Ireland from 2007- 10. He currently is Ministry Officer for the Church in Wales from 2005, and serves on the Doctrine Commission of that church as well.

He edited the journal of Christian social ethics called Crucible from 1998- 2009 and has written or edited about a dozen books, including studies of mission, the church in the city, and social ethics. Current articles over the last three years include an essay in an international symposium on the relation of the political philosophy of John Rawls to religious social thought. ; the formation of ordinands and contemporary ministry; and Anglican theology from Michael Ramsey to Rowan Williams.

Peter Sedgwick supervises three PhD students looking at prison, military and hospital chaplaincy. . He teaches one B Th module on Anglicanism, one on social ethics in the BA, and another module on ethics in the M Th in Chaplaincy.

Peter Sedgwick has degrees in history and theology from Cambridge University, and a doctorate in theology and moral philosophy from Durham University. He has published Mission Impossible: A Theology of the Local Church (Collins, 1990); The Enterprise Culture (SPCK, 1992); The Market Economy and Christian Ethics (Cambridge, 1999); and (with Andrew Britton) Economic Theory and Christian Belief (Peter Lang, 2003), as well as editing five collections of essays on topics ranging from the future of liberal theology, through urban and social theology, to criminal justice. He has published many articles on these subjects in British and Continental journals. A German translation of Economic Theory and Christian Belief was launched at the Kirchentag in Bremen in 2009. The translation was commissioned by the social research department of the German Protestant Church (E.K.D.)

He currently works in five areas:

Contemporary social Issues

• Criminal Justice, including editing the collection Rethinking Sentencing (Church House Publishing, 2004)

• Social Ethics, including articles on John Rawls ( 2009); Richard Layard ( forthcoming, 2010) Globalization in The Blackwell Companion to Political Theology (2003), edited by Peter Scott; and 'Wohlfahrstaat, (Welfare State) Theologische Realenzyklopädie, (2002)

• Economics and Theology, with the publication of Economic Theory and Christian Belief (Peter Lang, 2003: German edition, 2009) with Andrew Britton. Andrew Britton is a former director of the National Institute for Economic and Social Research.

Anglican theology, past and present

• Modern Anglican Theology, with an article in 2005 on Anglican theology from Austin Farrer to Rowan Williams in the third edition of The Modern Theologians edited by Professor David Ford

• Richard Hooker and Anglican social ethics

Stephen joined the staff of St Mike's in September 2004, having previously served for 13 years in the Diocese of London as a Curate, Team Vicar and University Chaplain. Previously he studied Theology at King's College London and trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. His Chaplaincy experience led to an interest in inter faith relations and related theological questions, and this is where his research interests are currently focussed. Having completed an MA in Christianity and Inter-religious Dialogue at Heythrop College, University of London, he is now working on a PhD in the area of religious diversity in the public sphere, also at Heythrop. Stephen is married to Debbie and they have three children. To keep fit he enjoys playing squash, and for his artistic re-creation he plays Jazz Saxophone. Having spent nearly all of his life in London, he is thoroughly enjoying the very different context of Wales.

Stephen's research interests are in the area of inter-religious dialogue and encounter. He is interested both in the particular dialogues - such as Christian-Muslim, Christian-Jewish and Christian-Buddhist dialogue - and in the more general theological questions relating to dialogue: how does Christianity make theological space for other religions? What is the nature of truth implicit or explicit in different approaches to dialogue? What can be said theologically about the practice of dialogue itself? He is currently working on questions relating to religious diversity in the public sphere, looking at ways in which multicultural societies can be peacefully ordered without religious (and other) convictions being rendered purely private. He is pursuing this question through engagement with liberal and communitarian thinkers in the realm of political philosophy on the one hand, and Muslim thinkers on the other. He hopes to formulate a Christian approach based on a dialogue with these two strands of thought.

Information to follow

Helena was born in Northampton of Anglo-Czech parents. Her father was a Czech pilot and returned to what was then Czechoslovakia after the second war. For three years Helena lived with her parents and Czech grandmother in a small village called Kostelec until the communist takeover in 1948. With her parents and sister they made their escape and returned to Britain.

Her father rejoined the RAF and eventually settled in Northern Ireland.

In her late teens Helena went to Loughborough Art College obtaining the NDD.

Married in 1965.

Moved to Cardiff 1971.

Children, Stuart, Jennifer and Christopher.

Grandmother Lisa and Alex.

Trained as a Reader 1980-82, Llandaff

Ordained Deacon 1988, Llandaff .

Westcott House 1991-1992.

Assistant Chaplain, University Hospital of Wales 1992-1995,

Chaplain, Bristol Royal Children's Hospital and St Michael's Maternity Hospital, Ordained Priest, 1995, Bristol

Lead Chaplain, Health and Social Services, Jersey, Channel Islands, 1999-2006. Graduate Diploma in Theology, University of Cardiff, 2006

Luke is the director of the Methodist Church in Wales Training Network and is responsible for a team of staff who deliver a wide range of formal and informal learning and development opportunities for individuals and local churches throughout Wales. He also acts as the Oversight Tutor for Methodist student ministers in Wales and is seconded for one day a week to help run the St Michael’s non-residential course. Luke teaches on both the residential and non-residential BTh courses in the areas of practical theology, pastoral care and the sociology/psychology of religion and the MTh in Chaplaincy studies where he is the tutor for the specialist school chaplains modules.

Prior to his current role, Luke was the Training and Development Officer for the Methodist Church in South Wales, he has worked as a policy officer for the British Methodist Church and is a qualified youth and community worker. Luke is married to a primary school teacher and has a young daughter.

Luke serves on the British Methodist Church’s Faith and Order Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council.

Luke is currently completing the Doctor of Education Programme at Bristol University.

He has recently co-edited a book about Methodist Identity (Methodist Present Potential) and is currently working on the theological material for a major report on the Methodist Church's involvement in Education.

I am Rector of Llanddulas and Llysfaen (near Colwyn Bay) as well as Tutor for the Non Residential Course in St Asaph diocese. Previously I was Vicar of Bethesda and three other parishes in the Ogwen Valley. During that time I was also a training incumbent and Director of Ordinands for the diocese of Bangor. Before returning to parish ministry, I combined my role as tutor with being Director of Life-long Learning for the diocese of St Asaph. I have two daughters and we enjoy days out together, shopping and going to the cinema / theatre. I reluctantly go to the gym as often as I can and like to read and write poetry. My other interests include cooking and eating out, and films, books and music of all kinds.

As well as being the face of St Michael's in the diocese I also teach the academic module Theology and Practice for the St Asaph students, and the Core Skills subjects Worship and Preaching, and Helping Adults Learn for all the non residential students on the course.

I have a degree in Humanities (mainly Religious Studies, Sociology and Women's Studies) from the University of Glamorgan, and in Theology from Cambridge University. An interest in experiential learning led me to study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Adult Education and Theological Reflection at Chester University.

I am currently working on an MPhil at Birmingham University, under the supervision of Stephen Pattison, looking at how Welsh women see their identity and the role that religion plays within it. I am particularly interested in self-confidence and how emotions about the self are affected by our distinctive, so-called `repressive’ attitudes to the body and sexuality, and whether in fact these attitudes have any bearing on reality today. I am using a narrative approach and will be collecting women's stories as well as researching how the (religious) stories of Wales have affected my research participants. I am hoping that the conclusions will be of use and interest to current thinking about the mission of the churches in Wales, as well as that of encouraging and developing vocations amongst women to different ministries.

Andrew joined the staff in November 2006, to direct courses in Chaplaincy Studies and to develop a research centre focusing on the ministry of chaplains and the issues and theology with which they engage. Since June 2008, he has also been Director of the Cardiff Centre for Chaplaincy Studies. Before coming to St. Michael's, he was the Continuing Ministerial Education Officer for the Diocese of St.Edmundsbury and Ipswich and Sub-Dean of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral. Earlier in his ministry he was Chaplain of King Alfred's College, Winchester, and then Director of Studies and Vice-Principal of the East Anglian Ministerial Training Course. He is a past President of the Cambridge Theological Federation and Canon Emeritus of St.Edmundsbury Cathedral. With a broad background in theological education stretching back to 1991, Andrew enjoys the opportunity provided by his present post to engage thoroughly with Practical Theology in relation to chaplaincy, especially with issues relating to doing theology in secular, multi-cultural contexts. He recently successfully completed a PhD with Cardiff University, which was directed towards another key theological interest - hermeneutics. The research is a study of the way members of different Bible-study groups talk about the Bible.

Andrew is married to Catherine, an Anglican Priest, and they have three children. After spending much of his ministry in East Anglia, Andrew has welcomed a return to more mountainous territory and the walking possibilities it presents!

Andrew is a practical theologian, with the following particular interests:

• The hermeneutical dimension of practical theology
• Practical theology in dialogue with the social sciences, especially in relation to research methods
• Practical theology as public theology - addressing public agendas
• Practical theology in the context of professional development

These interests give rise to specific areas of research:

• Chaplaincy discourse and practice
• The issues raised by chaplaincy relating to religion, faith, spirituality and public life
• The interaction of theology and public policy
• Christian ethics in the public arena
• The practice of biblical interpretation
• Discourse Analysis - especially in relation to the interaction of authoritative and lay discourses

Publications:

Books
Under Contract
Editor, Chaplains, Churches, and the Morality of Conflict: Military Chaplaincy in Contention (Ashgate)

• 1999 With Michael West and Graham Noble
• Living Theology (Darton, Longman & Todd)
• 1997 With Paul Oliver, Kate Lichfield & Martin Smith
• Tend my Flock: Good Practice in Pastoral Care (Diocese of Norwich)

Book Chapters

• 2011 'Responding to Diversity: Chaplaincy in a Multi-Faith Context', in ed. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes & Mark Newitt, Being a Chaplain (SPCK) 89-102
• 2010 'Negotiating Daniel's Masculinity: The Appropriation of Daniel's Dreams by Actual (rather than Ideal) Readers', in ed. Ovidiu Creanga, Men and Masculinity in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond (Sheffield Phoenix Press) 212-232
• 2002 'Of Presbyters and Priests - An Anglican View' in ed. Esther Shreeve & Philip Luscombe, What is a Minister? (Epworth Press) 104-116

Articles

• Forthcoming 'Chaplaincy Leading Church in(to) the Public Square', Crucible: The Christian journal of social ethics
• 2011 Guest Editorial, 'Religion, chaplains, prisons and justice', Crucible: The Christian journal of social ethics, April-June issue: 3-6
• 2009 'Reflecting ethically with British Army Chaplains', The Review of Faith and International Affairs 7(4): 77-82
• 2008 Guest Editorial, 'Military Chaplaincy Today', Crucible: The Christian journal of social ethics, Jan-March issue: 3-5
• 2007 'Engaging with trends in Chaplaincy: Living faith in other people's houses' The Journal of the Royal Army Chaplains Department 46: 6-9
• 2005 'Repertoires or Nodes? Constructing meanings in Bible-Study Groups'
• Journal of Applied Linguistics 4(2): 219-238
• 2000 'What is Theological about Theological Reflection?' in
• British Journal of Theological Education, 11(1): 35-45
• 1998 'Maintenance, Mission and MSE's' in
• Ministers-at-Work: the journal for Christians in secular ministry

Recent invited lectures and papers:

• July 2009 Guest Practical Theologian, Doctorate of Practical Theology, Summer School (UK-wide Professional Doctorate programme)
• July 2009 Staying Alive - Theological Reflection & Reflective Practice, Lecture to UK Conference of Anglican Prison Chaplains
• December 2008 Military Chaplains and the Ethics of Conflict, as part of a Panel on God and War, BISA annual conference
• June 2008 Practical Theology in the Public Arena: A critical reflection on the diversity agenda - Invited keynote address, College of Healthcare Chaplains annual conference
• May 2007 Engaging with Trends in Chaplaincy - Lecture to Anglican army chaplains, Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst
• January 2007 The Dialectic of Chaplaincy - Response to national consultation on the future of chaplaincy in the UK, St. Michaels College, Llandaff
• September 2005 What if the Bible Offends? - Invited Presentation to Bible as Pastor Symposium, organized by Bible Society & Cardiff University (jointly delivered with Zoe Bennett of the Cambridge Theological Federation)

Dr Yates has been Postgraduate Manager in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter for the last eight years. She has also been a lecturer at Lampeter in church history, with her focus being on religion, education and politics in the nineteenth century. She is currently working on research into the dynamics of educational reform in England, Wales and Scotland in the nineteenth century. She has also had a background in political life, and was Leader of Maidstone District council from 1985-1992. Dr Yates is an expert at delivering adult education, especially in distance learning, and has worked closely with a number of university departments and dioceses in the last decade. She has been a lifelong member of the Anglican Church and has been involved in parish church councils for many years.

Paula brings a variety of experience to her role as Dean of Non-Residential training at St Michael's. She moved to the college from the University of Wales, Lampeter (now the University of Wales, Trinity St David), where she had been for the previous ten years, first as a postgraduate student and then as a member of staff in the theology department. In 2002 she was brought in to set up procedures for the effective management of the department's rapidly growing portfolio of distance learning taught master's degrees and to manage the taught and research postgraduate degree programmes for the department. During this time she completed her doctorate on the role of the established church in Welsh elementary schooling between 1780 and 1830. She became a lecturer in church history at Lampeter in 2009.

Before coming to Wales, Paula had been actively engaged in politics in a number of different roles. She was a council leader for five years, stood for parliament and for the European parliament and worked for a time as constituency organiser for an MP.

Before that she had been a full time mother to her four children and whenever she has the time she likes to visit them and their families in England and Sweden.

Paula's research interests lie in the area of modern church history, particularly:

• the interaction of religion and politics and the changing role of religion in public life over the last three centuries
• interdenominational relations in the long nineteenth century
• establishment, disestablishment and the growth of denominational and religious pluralism
• education and the churches in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

She is currently working on a contribution on religion and educational reform in England, Wales and Scotland for the fourth in a series of volumes on The Dynamics of Religious Reform in Church, State and Society in Northern Europe, 1780-1920, being published by Leuven University Press. She is a member of the editorial board of the series and has co-edited the second volume, on internal church reform, with Professor Joris van Eijnatten of the University of Utrecht.

Her research plans include:

• a study of education as a focus of conflict between the established church and nonconformity in England and Wales in the early nineteenth century
• working with a colleague on a study of the growth of religious diversity in England and Wales in the long nineteenth century

Publications

• 'Drawing Up the Battle Lines: Elementary Schooling in the Diocese of Bangor in the Second Decade of the Nineteenth Century' in Nigel Yates (ed) Bishop Burgess and His World: Culture Religion and Society in Britain, Europe and North America in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries, University of Wales Press, Cardiff 2007, pp. 135-44
• 'The Dynamics of Religious Reform in Church, State and Society in Northern Europe, 1780-1929. Vol 2:' The Churches, (ed. with Prof Joris van Eijnatten), Leuven University Press, Leuven 2010
• 'Episcopal Leadership and Parish Life: Two Case Studies' in Theo Clemens (ed.) Transactions of the Anglo-Dutch Church History Conference (draft title) forthcoming
• 'Sunday Schools and Welsh National Identity; a Historiographical Study' in Frances Knight, Stuart J. Brown and John Morgan Guy (eds) Religion and Culture in Britain: Conflict and Conversation from the Restoration to the Twentieth Century, Ashgate, forthcoming.