Wesley House Summer Sessions - Theology & Academia

You are warmly invited to join us in-person for one or more of these sessions taking place at Wesley House, Cambridge.

These sessions are taking place during a wider summer intensive so you'll have the opportunity to mix with Wesley House academic staff, existing doctoral students and other visitors.

Here is an overview of the sessions we are offering:

Below is further information on the sessions

Steps in Research Writing - Tuesday 30 June from 11am-1.30pm

This session will be led by Dr Muthuraj Swamy, Director of the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide.

Muthuraj (PhD, University of Edinburgh) moved to Cambridge in 2018. Previously, he worked as Associate Professor, Dean of Theology, and Dean of Postgraduate Studies at the Union Biblical Seminary (Serampore University) in India.

As CCCW Director, Muthuraj teaches in the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, and in the Cambridge Theological Federation.

Muthuraj is also a Fellow of St. John’s College, Durham University, and Project Manager for Theological Education for Mission in the Anglican Communion.

The session will run from 11am-12.30pm and will be followed by a brief service of worship and then lunch at Westminster College

Academic Writing Workshop - Wednesday 1 July from 11am-1.30pm

This session will be led by Dr Medi Volpe, Director of Research at Wesley House. As Director of Research at Wesley House, a key part of Dr Volpe’s role is promoting a vibrant research culture for PGR students, supervisors, Research Associates and Research Fellows.

Prior to joining the staff at Wesley House, she taught at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, and at Durham University, both in the Department of Theology and Religion and at Cranmer Hall.

Dr Volpe’s academic work is chiefly in Catholic moral theology.Her first book, Rethinking Christian Identity (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013), brings contemporary theological themes into conversation with voices from the classical Christian tradition. More recently, her work has explored the intersection of ecclesiology and spiritual formation, with a special interest in discipleship and Christian identity of children as well as people with intellectual disabilities. She has published in journals and handbooks, including the International Journal of Systematic Theology, Modern Theology, and the Oxford Handbook of Catholic Theology (which she co-edited with Lewis Ayres). She also serves on the board of the Journal of Disability and Religion. For the last several years, Dr Volpe has been writing and speaking about theology and intellectual disability.

The session will run from 11am-12.30pm and will be followed by a brief service of worship and then lunch at Westminster College

The Pastor Theologian - Tuesday 7 July from 11am-1.30pm

This session will be led by the Revd Dr David Chapman.

This session explores the dynamic of combining academic research and pastoral ministry. It explores how to hold these two callings in a single, sustainable rhythm and looks at how scholarly insight can genuinely be of service to the church.

David Chapman is a minister of the Methodist Church in Britain currently serving as Chair of the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District. His initial ministerial formation was at Wesley House, and he has a PhD in theology from the University of Cambridge. As a committed ecumenist and theologian, he has served as co-chair of the international Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue Commission and as a member of the British Methodist Faith and Order Committee. His previous ministerial appointments were in London and West Sussex.

The session will run from 11am-12.30pm and will be followed by a brief service of worship, drinks to celebrate a Wesley House doctoral graduation and then lunch at Westminster College

Making the Most of Academic Conferences - Wednesday 8 July from11am-1.30pm

This session will be led by the Revd Dr Daniel Pratt Morris-Chapman and Dr Eugene Fortein

This session offers practical guidance on how to engage effectively with academic conferences. It outlines approaches for preparing well, participating with confidence, and building constructive professional connections.

Daniel Pratt Morris‑Chapman is a British Methodist minister and academic, serving as Senior Tutor at Wesley House Cambridge. He has experience internationally in pastoral and teaching roles. He is also a Research Fellow at the University of Stellenbosch.

Eugene Fortein is Senior Lecturer in Church History & Polity and Head of Department: Historical & Constructive Theology at the University of the Free State, South Africa

The session will run from 11am-12.30pm and will be followed by a brief service of worship and then lunch at Westminster College

Writing for Journal - Friday 10 July 9am-11am

This session will be led by the Revd Dr Jason Radcliff.

Jason is the editor of our free online journal, Holiness.

Jason holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and recently led the short course at Wesley House entitled, “John Wesley and the Church Fathers: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s Ministry.” He is an Episcopal Priest serving in the Church of England as Vicar of Ticehurst and Flimwell. He comes to the work of editing Holiness with experience of editing the journal Participatio and of publishing multiple theological articles himself. He has served as a theological educator and as a parish priest in the USA and the UK and has broad global experience and networks.

We would strongly recommend using public transport where possible including the Cambridge Park & Ride service.

The closest pay and display car park would be at Shire Hall which is only 2 minutes walk from our premises.

If you have any queries don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]