I have served as a lecturer in Biblical Studies, primarily in Old Testament/ Hebrew Bible, for more than 30 years, and continue as a Senior Research Fellow at NTC. I am an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene, with local pastoral assignment and leadership roles in multi-cultural contexts—across Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.
Over the course of more than 40 years my particular context has been urban Manchester. The diverse setting of Longsight, amongst a significant Muslim population, led to collaboration with my neighbouring vicar, the Revd Canon Phil Rawlings, to establish the Manchester Centre for the Study of Christianity and Islam in 2014, to encourage Christians to engage with their Muslim neighbours. It is my desire to get Christians and Muslims together in the same room, learning not only about what we have in common, but how to live with our differences.
A primary role for me is the MCSCI relationship with NTC for academic studies in Christianity and Islam. The validation of degrees via the University of Manchester gives MCSCI a unique position to offer high quality academic research alongside and with experienced practitioners.
My own research has turned to a focus on the Bible and the Qur’an, and their interrelation. This takes place in church/mosque dialogue and research supervision; I have been part of the planning group that formed the Abrahamic Faith text-based seminar Scriptural Encounter hosted at the University of Manchester. This seeks to bring together faith leaders in Manchester to address key issues that affect our communities.
Since the Summer of 2022 I have been based in London.