The Church and Public Education: A Missionary Encounter?
The 65th Church of Ireland Annual Theological Lecture at Queen’s
Speaker: Professor Trevor Cooling (Canterbury Christ Church University)
Date & Time: Monday, 20th March 2023 – at 6.30pm
Venue: Stranmillis University College (Drama Theatre)
Religious education has become a hot topic within our schools – from the provision as part of the core curriculum to the provision of collective worship. Some would argue that the influence of RE in schools has undue influence on the lives of children and young people in Northern Ireland. Yet other research has demonstrated concrete examples of teachers connecting faith with their teaching to create positive holistic outcomes. So how can we best understand the relationship between faith and the classroom?
Trevor Cooling is Professor Emeritus of Christian Education at Canterbury Christ Church University, and Chair of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC). Over the course of a career that has taken him from working as a secondary school teacher to lecturing in theology, and serving as a diocesan adviser and as CEO of a Christian education charity, Professor Cooling’s highly-regarded research and writing on the subject has established him as a leading voice in the field. He is fascinated by the contribution that worldviews in general, and Christianity in particular, can make to human flourishing.
In this lecture, Professor Cooling will bring his considerable experience to bear as he unpacks a vision of the relationship between Churches and public education. How can drawing on the rich depths of Christian theology best contribute to educational outcomes? And what does the future of the relationship between faith and schools look like in best practice?
Attendees will also have a chance to put their questions directly to Professor Cooling in a Q&A session immediately following the lecture.
The Revd Danielle McCullagh, Church of Ireland and Methodist Chaplain at Queen’s University Belfast and Stranmillis University College, remarked: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to organise this year’s lecture together with our friends at Stranmillis College. It is an opportunity to continue celebrating the College’s recent centenary, and also our strengthening ties in chaplaincy.”
Dr Peter Hamill, Secretary of the Church of Ireland’s Board of Education (Northern Ireland), added: “We are delighted to have Professor Cooling giving this year’s annual lecture. Professor Cooling brings an insightful look at how religion, including the teaching of Religious Education, is viewed in schools in today’s society. The Board is particularly thankful to Stranmillis College for hosting this event in its centenary year.”
Free tickets are available from www.thehubbelfast.org or directly via Eventbrite through this link.
The Minister continued, “The education of our children and young people goes far beyond the Department of Education, or even schools and colleges. It requires the dedication of teachers, governors, parents and many more. The support of local churches, such as yours, is also key in placing schools at the heart of their communities.
Contributing to the morning’s discussions was keynote speaker Dr Irvin Scott, founder of the Harvard University Leadership Institute for Faith and Education. In a recorded address from Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dr Scott noted that while the context of education in the United States and Northern Ireland were, on the one hand very different, the goal of education in both places was very similar. “…[I]n the end we’re after the same thing – a group of students and educators who are achieving at high levels, who are becoming increasingly understanding of one another, who are learning across differences and who are just thriving… that’s what we are ultimately after..” he said.
Speaking at the close of the event, Dr Brown said, “We are grateful to the Minister for Education for taking time to join us this morning and to Dr Scott, for providing us with some thought-provoking insights. Our panel discussion reflected some of the diverse roles that PCI members and other Christian people play in the education system. Another important part of today’s proceedings was the small group engagement, which will provide us with much food for thought, as we seek to respond to the Independent Review of Education positively and creatively.
Dr Brown concluded by saying. “Many Presbyterian people are involved in education at all levels throughout Northern Ireland, often regarding it as a vocation rather than simply another job and I would like to thank everyone for coming and for their contributions today. In the context of this changing educational landscape, this has been a vital moment for us to pause and consider what that involvement might look like for the next 100 years.”
Dr Bruce continued, “The Mission of God is less something we do, it is more something in which we participate, responding to what He is already doing – and God is active in this new secular environment. We give thanks for that, as we partner with Him, reflecting on where we are, reframing partnerships and relationships, while endeavouring to be a blessing in our schools.”
Bishop Good thanked those who attended Monday’s meeting for their service to the community and to education, and prayed that the evening would prove an encouragement to them in their roles on school boards.
