Welcome to the 2024/25 season of lectures and seminars with the Harrogate School of Theology and Mission.
We ended last season’s programme with a fantastic lecture by priest and poet the Very Reverend Dean Mark Oakley. If you missed it, you could always catch up with the recording here.
We also have a line-up of first-rate speakers this season, beginning 28th September with Dr David Moffitt, on Looking through the Kaleidoscope: Hebrews’ Use of Old Testament Narratives in the Light of Jesus’ Ascension and Awaited Return.
David is Reader in New Testament Studies at St Andrew’s University and was personally recommended to us by the eminent theologian Tom Wright, who said of him; “David Moffitt is one of the very few contemporary scholars to provide fresh and compelling readings of the enigmatic Letter to the Hebrews. I have learned an enormous amount from him; in fact, I credit him with transforming my whole understanding of sacrifice in biblical thought. Also, unlike some top exegetical scholars, he is a lively and engaging speaker!”
The next speaker, on 23rd November, is our own Revd Dr Alan Garrow. Alan is vicar of St Peter’s Harrogate and a distinguished theologian, who will lead us through The Didache Discoveries: Two missing books of the Bible.
Remaining with local and distinguished, our speaker on 18th January 2025 is Bishop Arun Aurora, whose lecture title is still to be confirmed, but who never fails to educate and entertain on any topic.
Finally, on 22nd March 2025, we are delighted to welcome the nationally acclaimed theologian and author Prof Nicola Slee, whose lecture Abba, Amma: Improvisations on the Lord’s Prayer will suggest that we are called to live in the pattern of this prayer, and improvise around it to find our own way of relating to the Abba Amma (Mother/Father) God of Jesus.
Alongside the lecture programme, we were delighted by the enthusiasm for our experiment with live-led HST&M seminars last year, and will continue with the same format this year. We have been lucky to find (mainly via our contacts with theological colleges) some fascinating post-graduate speakers who will lead us though some thought-provoking and relevant topics. See the programme panel or our website for further details.
2024/25 Programme in full
Lectures
28th Sep – Dr David Moffitt.
Looking through the Kaleidoscope: Hebrews’ Use of Old Testament Narratives in the Light of Jesus’ Ascension and Awaited Return
23rd Nov – Revd Dr Alan Garrow
The Didache Discoveries: Two missing books of the Bible
18th Jan ’25 – Bishop Arun Aurora
Title to be confirmed
22nd Mar ’25 – Prof Nicola Slee
Abba, Amma: Improvisations on the Lord’s Prayer
Lectures are offered in person, at St Mark’s Church, Leeds Rd, Harrogate, starting promptly at 10am, but preceded by breakfast. The lectures are also available by live-stream (on Zoom)
Seminars
26th Oct – Rachel Crossley
Women who plant churches – Learning from the Story of Lydia in Acts 16
7th Dec – Jon Reynolds
Theology and Physics: Victorian or Modern?
22nd Feb ’25 – Dr David Hanson
Christian considerations in the discussion of potential changes in the law related to ‘assisted dying’.
12th Apr ’25 – Penny Pullen
Being the Body of Christ: How can we include people living with invisible illnesses and chronic conditions in our church communities?
Seminars are hosted at Woodlands, Methodist Church, Wetherby Rd, Harrogate and are also preceded by breakfast. They are in person only (no zoom option).
Note – there is currently some building work at St Mark’s which will affect September’s lecture. Please see here for full details.
Once again this year we are holding the costs of our lectures at the same price (£8 per lecture inclusive of breakfast, £5 for students and under 18s free) and our seminars are still £5 inclusive of breakfast (under 18s free).
All lectures and seminars should be booked in advance via Eventbrite (but we can accept payment on the day if you ae unable to book online)
Do you have any thoughts on our programme – or any thoughts in general about HST&M? If you do, we’d love to know so either email us at [email protected] or speak to one of us at a lecture or seminar.
Blessings from
The HST&M team