LCCS

On Wednesday 6 May 2009 an Occasional Lecture Day will be given by Mike Higton on Disruptive Influences: On Paying Attention to the Word and People of God in Lichfield Campus B111. Dr Mike Higdon is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Exter. His interests are the history of Christian doctrine, modern Christian theology, scriptural reasoning, post-liberal theology and biblical hermeneutics.

The programme for the day consists of two lectures and a session of free discussion:

• 10am—Lecture 1, Disruption in the Church: How does the Church live with (or by) difference and disagreement? What limits does faithfulness place on diversity? An exploration of the Church's life as characterised by certain kinds of desire, certain kinds of giving, and certain kinds of discernment, loosely inspired by Rowan Williams' reflections on sexual relationships in The Body's Grace.
• 11.30am—Lecture 2, Scripture as disruptive influence: Building on the first lecture, an exploration of ways in which our settled patterns of discernment and desire are unsettled by scripture, particularly by scripture read contemplatively and communally. A central example will be from Romans 1:18-2:16, a text itself about human and divine judgment, and the ways in which they relate.
• 1pm—Lunch: Please bring sandwiches.
• 1.30pm—Free Discussion: What contexts, practices and attitudes does a church open to these ‘disruptive influences’ need?

She is available to speak to any group either in a lecture or more devotional setting (such as Bible study, quiet day or retreat). She is Canon Theologian of Birmingham Cathedral, Visiting lecturer at King's College, London, an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Birmingham and Senior Research Scholar at the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham. She is a Reader in the Church of England and a member of General Synod. Her publications include:

• Only the Third Heaven? 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 and Heavenly Ascent (Continuum, 2006);
• Hosea-Micah The People's Bible Commentary (Oxford: BRF, 2005)
• Exploring New Testament Greek: A Way In (with Peter Kevern, London: SCM 2004)
• The Pentateuch: A Story of Beginnings (Continuum Biblical Studies series, December 2000; reissued February 2005).

The annual Selwyn Lectures were established in honour of one of Lichfield's greatest bishops, George Augustus Selwyn (1809-1878, bishop 1868-1878). Bishop Selwyn was the first bishop of New Zealand and the 91st bishop of Lichfield. His ministry was characterised by an extraordinary energy and zeal, and a desire to further the education of the clergy of the Diocese.