The University of Otago has announced that the first Howard Paterson Chair in Theology and Public issues will be Dr Andrew Bradstock, who is currently co-director of the Centre for Faith in Society at the von Hugel Institute at the University of Cambridge.
The Chair has been underwritten by generous donations from the estate of businessman Howard Paterson, the Synod of Otago and Southland, and Southland couple Ian and Annette Tulloch. The donors’ gifts were matched under the Government’s Partnerships for Excellence Scheme, which resulted in a total of $2.35 million.
Andrew will also head up the Centre for Theology and Public issues, which aims to view prominent social issues through a theological lens.
He says he was especially attracted to the practical dimension of the job; “its potential to see faith engaging with, informing and enriching public discourse around current issues”.
Although Andrew was born in England and completed his undergraduate and postgraduate study there, he was a postdoctoral fellow in church history at the University of Otago from 1990-1991. After returning to England, he taught theology in several institutions before becoming the Secretary for Church and Society of the United Reformed Church from 2000-2005. He has worked with United Kingdom politicians to develop links between Parliament and the Churches and other faith communities.
Otago’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies Head Professor Paul Treblico says the creation of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues has been greeted with widespread enthusiasm.
Andrew will take up his appointment in early 2009.