Exeter Centre for Ethics and Practical Theology (EXCEPT)

Description

The Exeter Centre for Ethics and Practical Theology (EXCEPT) aims to further theological research in understanding the role of religion in social and political formation. The Centre is keen to collaborate with a variety of partners in its research projects: academic, artistic, faith-based and social-justice-seeking communities at regional, national and international levels.

EXCEPT's goal is to foster and further theological and ethical research in contextual, practical and ministerial concerns. To this end, it is committed to developing theological and interdisciplinary research projects in collaboration with a variety of academic, artistic, activist, faith-based and social-justice-seeking partners at regional, national and international levels. In particular, it supports projects that take community and congregational life (in their ordinary activity, worship, civic engagement, activism and arts) as an object of theological reflection.

EXCEPT also explores the relationships between theological writing on the one hand and experiential, ethnographic and phenomenological attention to the patterns of civic and congregational practices on the other. It is concerned with the difference that theology and policy make to real lives. The Centre's work thus responds to the current need for better understanding of the role of religion in social and political formation, with particular attention to the nuances of the personal, local, and contextual manifestations of those debates. It seeks to contribute especially to the Christian churches' need for sound research to help them develop effective strategies for working within and across the boundaries of difference in today's world, in areas including sex, gender and sexuality, disability, and ecology.

EXCEPT was originally launched as the Centre for the Study of the Learning Church, supported by a grant from the St Luke’s College Foundation, in 2009-10. Under Prof Siobhán Garrigan, it was relaunched as the Exeter Centre for Ecumenical and Practical Theology; on her departure from Exeter in 2014 its leadership passed to Susannah Cornwall and it was renamed the Exeter Centre for Ethics and Practical Theology to reflect the research expertise in the then Department of Theology and Religion. 

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2009

Contact details

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University affiliation(s)

University of Exeter
Exeter