Theology and Religious Studies can thrive if universities communicate its value, briefing hears
Academics considering the decline of Theology and Religious studies at British universities have been challenged to dispel the myths that courses are predominantly Christian and of no value to students in the jobs market. A Religion Media Centre briefing was told that the number of British universities offering single-honours Theology and Religious Studies degrees in UK universities has fallen to just 21, driven by financial pressures and falling student demand. Departments have been closed, merged, and subject to redundancies. The issue has been highlighted by the Theos think tank in an open letter. The briefing heard that the decline is mainly down to financial pressure, with universities facing deficits and favouring subjects with higher student numbers and therefore income from fees. But its status as a challenging liberal arts degree, the wide variety of topics covered, the interdisciplinary connections and the merits of applying the knowledge in a diverse society, are not understood well enough by parents, students or teachers who guide the sixth formers to university. Speakers included Dr Tim Hutchings, Prof Mathew Guest, Dr Suzanne Owen, Dr Roberto Catello, Prof Chris Higgins, Prof Gordon Lynch, Sarah Lane Cawte and Deborah Weston. View or listen to the discussion again via links on or website here.
The world watches as a vast wooden church in Sweden is rolled to a new location
A vast red timber Lutheran church in northern Sweden at risk of subsidence, has been lifted from its foundations and is moving on rollers to a new location 3 miles away. Kiruna Church is 35 metres high, 40 metres wide and weighs 672 tonnes, and its slow journey at 500m an hour is taking two days. A live feed on Swedish TV has attracted a global audience. The church is 113 years old and stood in the town of Kiruna 145 metres north of the Arctic Circle, in an area at risk of movement from historic iron ore mining. Other buildings have already been transported to new locations over the past 15 years, including a row of three old wooden houses and the clock tower on the roof of the old city hall. The journey began with a blessing from the church’s vicar, Lena Tjärnberg, and Bishop Åsa Nyström of the Diocese of Luleå. BBC report here
‘Outlaws’ and IDF attack on Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza condemned by Anglican diocese
The Diocese of Jerusalem has condemned an extraordinary series of events at the Anglican Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza on Sunday, when “outlaws” set fire to the hospital’s emergency department tents, then returned shouting and shooting into the air, which attracted an IDF drone, killing seven people and seriously injuring five. In a statement, the diocese called on all parties to “cease from making this sacred place of healing into a battleground” and implored the occupying power to protect medical facilities. Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani posted the statement on Twitter/X and said it was “shocking and disturbing news”.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church refuses to sever links with Russia
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is linked to the Russian Orthodox in Moscow, has announced its refusal to comply with legislation ordering it sever its ties with the Moscow Patriarchate. In a letter from Metropolitan Onufriy to the government, he says the demands were an unacceptable interference to the church’s internal life and the church’s activities have been misrepresented. He said the church had always condemned the war, supported Ukraine’s armed forces and provided humanitarian aid. The Orthodox Times reports that the letter was a missed opportunity to declare independence from the Russian Church “thereby deepening the controversy surrounding both his leadership and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church”.
Cardinal reads out names of Israeli and Palestinian children killed in the war
The head of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, joined dozens of other members of his diocese reading the names and ages of the 16 Israeli children and the 12,211 Palestinian children who have been killed in the war. The Religion News Service reports that the reading started on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption last week and took seven hours to complete. The Cardinal committed those assembled to pursue a path to peace, with a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Central Oxford mosque vandalised in hate crime
Trustees of Central Oxford Mosque have asked for help to find a man who stuck pork and an Israeli flag on its main door just after midnight on Tuesday. The mosque’s security team alerted the police who are investigating. The trustees said it was “an act of cowardice” and a hate crime, pointing out that last year a person threw a petrol can marked IDF over its gate. They are asking local people to check their CCTV and doorbell footage and report anything suspicious to Thames Valley Police. They said: “This is heart breaking for our community, and emotions will be high”. Story is here
Nominations requested for faith community action ‘Dangoor’ awards
The Faith and Belief Forum is organising another initiative to offer awards for groups working across communities in London, honouring their work in creating cohesion and inclusion. The “Dangoor Awards”, named after philanthropist David Dangoor, chair of the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London’s Faith Council, are an annual event. There are entries in various categories including groups that respond to the cost of living crisis, develop interfaith understanding in schools, build multi faith hubs, improve the environment, offer services for health and wellbeing, work with young people, promote inclusion for marginalised groups and support women. A total of 40 groups will win an award including cash grants, to be announced at a ceremony in November. Nominations close on Monday 25 August. Further details here.
Diocese of Coventry at centre of village dispute over 250 year old tree
Pensioners living next to the vicarage of St George’s church, in the village of Lower Brailes, Warwickshire, have been told by the Diocese of Coventry to chop down a 250 year old sycamore tree or pay for a root barrier costing £70,000. Richard and Melanie Gray told The Telegraph that the letter said the tree had caused subsidence damage to the vicarage 15 meters away. The “Four Shire Tree” is a local landmark, centre piece of the village fete, and was a selling point when they bought their house, the Old Parsonage, from the Diocese in 1982. Mr Gray is quoted saying that engineers blamed hot weather, not the tree, for the subsidence: “We’re not going to pay and we’re not going to take it down and the church is still threatening to send us this rather large bill.” The diocese has not yet commented.
