The Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Huddersfield, will speak about Christian faith and how it might engage with the world of politics in the annual Harold Wilson lecture at the University of Huddersfield on Thursday 23 April.
This lecture series looks at social or ethical issues and is run jointly by the University of Huddersfield and the Diocese. Previous speakers have included The Rt. Hon Ann Widdecombe, Professor Lord Robert Winston, Lord Paddy Ashdown, Baroness Gillian Shephard, and Tony Benn.
The title of Bishop Jonathan's lecture is ‘Response and Responsibility: Christian Faith engaging with the World of Politics.’
Bishop Jonathan read Philosophy and Politics at Jesus College, Oxford (Harold Wilson’s former College) before going on to undertake a PhD in Theology at Jesus College, Cambridge. His research explored the thought of H Richard Niebuhr who is best known for his 1951 book “Christ and Culture”. His dissertation applied Niebuhr’s theological and ethical framework of Christian life, summarised as “response to God and responsibility under God”, to the issue of the theology of work, identifying our fundamental calling as being to take responsibility for our own lives, for the well-being of others and for the good stewardship of creation, in response to God’s love for us revealed in Jesus Christ. The lecture will explore what this might mean in relation to Christian engagement with the world of politics, both for those actively engaged in the political process and for how Christians and the Church might speak into that world in a relevant and prophetic manner.
This year’s lecture will commence at 6.30pm, with refreshments served from 6pm, in the Diamond Jubilee Lecture Theatre at the University.
The lecture is free and open to all, but places must be reserved in advance. See here to book.