Dr Luke Bretherton

I am Senior Lecturer in Theology & Politics and Convenor of the Faith and Public Policy Forum at King's College London. Prior to King’s I was Director of Studies of an ordination training course for Anglican, Methodist and United Reform clergy and before that Research Director of the St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. I have also worked with a variety of faith based NGOs, mission organisations, and churches in a wide range of cultural contexts both in the UK and abroad (notably, East Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and Russia). My book 'Hospitality as Holiness: Christian Witness Amid Moral Diversity' explores the churches response to moral pluralism.  I have also published academic articles on a range of topics related to church-state relations in a multi-faith society and recently he co-edited a book of essays on the emerging church entitled ‘Remembering Our Future: Explorations in Deep Church’ (Paternoster, 2007).

Doctorate in Ministry (DMin) programme:
Moral theology and professional ethics

MA Theology, Politics & Faith-Based Organisations:
Theology, Politics & Faith-Based Organisations (core module)
Church, Mission & Society

My primary areas of research are political theology and Christian ethics. My methodology is inter-disciplinary in approach and draws on theology, political philosophy and the social sciences. The focus of the research is on a number of issues that affect the contemporary church: notably, church-state relations in a multi-faith society; and citizenship, democratic politics and inter-faith relations. I examine these issues within the context of wider concerns about social cohesion, respecting diversity and the religious dimensions of conflict and conflict resolution.  These foci are reflected in the three year research project of which I am Principle Investigator entitled: ‘Christianity, urban politics and pursuit of the common good through broad-based coalitions: the case of the Citizens Organizing Foundation’ (Arts & Humanities Research Council Research Grant AH/F010451/1).

As well as these areas, I continue to analyze particular political, economic and cultural issues that directly relate to both the practices of Christian mission and ministry and current political debates. Issues analyzed to date include: the role of faith based NGOs and confessional schools in a liberal democratic polity; immigration and refugees; Fair Trade and political consumerism; the use and abuse of drugs; euthanasia and the care of the suffering dying.

These research concerns are developed in conversation with others through my role as Convener of the Faith and Public Policy Forum and co-convener of the London Universities Consortium on Religion, Politics and Society.

Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture
Centre for Public Policy Research
Research Institute in Systematic Theology

You can view a selected list of my publications here.

You can view a list of my keynote speeches and plenary papers here.

You can view my professional profile here.