Northern Conference 2009

CiS/St. John’s College Joint Northern Conference 2009

What Does it Mean to be Human?

Saturday 14^th March 2009, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Leech Hall, St. John’s College, Durham, DH1 3RJ

Unfortunately there are no recordings available for this conference, but you can read the conference report.

Conference Flyer, pdf 750kb

Discussion Group Questions.

 Timetable

What DOES IT MEAN TO BE HUMAN?

Saturday 14^th March 2009

9.30-10.00            Registration and tea/coffee

10.00-10.15          Welcome

                                Jonathan Foster, Clare Parkinson and Andrew Pinder

10.15-11.15          ‘Humans in the image of God - and other things Genesis doesn't make clear' Richard Briggs

11.15-11.35          'The Spectrum of the Image'

Edinburgh CiS Group

11.35-11.55          Tea break with bookstall and Fairtrade stall

11.55-1.00            ‘The Status of the Embryo and Stem Cell research'

Stephen Bellamy and Judith Goodship

1.00-1.50               Lunch with bookstall and Fairtrade stall

1.50-2.00               'Teaching in schools about what it means to be human' 

Martin Rogers - Science and Religion in Schools Project

2.00-2.20               ‘Dimensions of the Spirit- Then and Now'

Eric Middleton              

2.20-3.20               ‘On Being Human - An Insider's  View'

Paul Marston

3.20-3.35               Tea break with bookstall and Fairtrade stall

3.35-4.25               Break-out discussion groups

4.25-4.45               Panel Discussion

4.45-5.00               Epilogue  

David Wilkinson

Northern Conference 2009 Speaker Information

Richard Briggs

Richard was born in London and acquired degrees in Maths & Philosophy and then Theology before completing a PhD at Nottingham on 'Speech Act Theory and Biblical Interpretation' (published as 'Words in Action', T&T Clark, 2001). He has been teaching the Old Testament at Cranmer Hall, Durham for 5 years and is the 'Director of Biblical Studies and Hermeneutics', and his passion is for teaching the Bible in a way that brings it alive as a transforming word for today. His background includes church planting in Belgium and in Nottingham, as well as church ministry in London, and he continues to preach regularly. He has written widely on the subject of biblical interpretation, including 'Reading the Bible Wisely' (SPCK 2003) and has just completed a book on 'The Virtuous Reader: Old Testament Narrative and Interpretive Virtue' (forthcoming from Baker Academic). In 2008 he co-wrote 'Living for God: Studies for Disciples in the 21st Century' (Piquant Editions) with his wife Melody, who is also a theologian, and they have three lively children, Joshua, Kristin and Matthew.

Judith Goodship

Judith is Professor of Medical Genetics at the Centre for Life at Newcastle University and a Consultant Geneticist for the NHS. More details can be found here.

Paul Marston

Dr Paul Marston is the SciBel representative on the Christians in Science Committee. He works as a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Science at the University of Central Lancashire, teaching courses on statistical theory, philosophy of science, and the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions. He studied under Karl Popper and Imre Lakatos at LSE and has written books on the topic of science and faith with Roger Forster.

Stephen Bellamy

Stephen Bellamy is vicar of St Nicholas’ Church, Durham, having previously been incumbent at St. James’ Church in Southport for 16 years. As an undergraduate, he studied Chemistry at Jesus College, Oxford. Stephen trained for ordained ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham and was one of the founder members of the Society of Ordained Scientists when it was inaugurated in 1987. He has a PhD from University College, Chester, where he researched how a Christian theological anthropology can inform ethical decision making about genetic interventions in humans. Stephen has recently published a paper on the ethics of tissue typing.

David Wilkinson

David Wilkinson is Principal of St. John's College, University of Durham. Before working in Durham as a theologian, he was a scientist and then a Methodist minister in inner city Liverpool. His scientific research was in theoretical astrophysics, where his PhD was in the study of star formation, the chemical evolution of galaxies and terrestrial mass extinctions such as the event which wiped out the dinosaurs. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. David also holds a PhD in systematic theology, where he explored Christian eschatology and the future of the physical Universe. His current interests involve the relationship of the Christian theology to contemporary culture, from science to pop culture. He has long held an interest in the dialogue of science and religion, especially as it impacts the physical sciences, and is author of, among other works, "God, Time and Stephen Hawking" (Monarch, 2001) and "Alone in the Universe: The X-Files, Aliens and God" (IVP, 1997).