What is Public Theology?
'Public theology' focuses on issues of public concern:
- 'domestic' issues like housing, inequality, community cohesion and crime
- 'global' issues like poverty in the developing world, peace-making, climate change and the economic recession
Theology can shed fresh light on issues and contribute in new and challenging ways to debate and policy formation.
Public theology isn't about promoting the interest of 'the church' but drawing on the resources of the Christian faith to contribute to the welfare of society.
The Centre does this by:
- undertaking research and contributing to public dialogue on a range of topical issues
- producing high-quality resources to promote critical and engaged thinking about faith and current issues
- working with churches, networks, agencies and other organizations committed to the common good
- facilitating constructive dialogue between representatives of differing or conflicting viewpoints on current issues
- identifying issues of the future and providing opportunities for their consideration
The Centre is committed to working across disciplines to produce research of the highest academic standard.
The Centre works with all church traditions in Aotearoa-New Zealand. It also engages in dialogue with people of other faiths who have a shared concern about public issues.
The Centre delivers courses on Public Theology within and beyond the University. It is an excellent environment for postgraduate and postdoctoral students to pursue research into areas of public theology.
The Centre welcomes enquiries from established practitioners and scholars wanting to spend research leave at the University of Otago.