Stephen Burns is a Research Fellow in Charles Sturt University’s Strategic Research Centre in Public and Contextual Theology and is based at United Theological College.Stephen was born in Whitehaven, Cumbria, in north-west England, studied at the universities of Durham (BA, MA, PhD) and Cambridge (MLitt), and is a priest in the Church of England, having served parishes in the diocese of Durham. He joined the faculty at UTC in 2007 and has been the tutor in liturgy at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham, England, and an honorary lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religion at Birmingham University.Stephen’s publications include Worship in Context: Liturgical Theology, Children and the City (2006, Peterborough: Epworth Press), Liturgy (SCM Studyguide) (2006, London: SCM Press), Exchanges of Grace: Essays in Honour of Ann Loades (ed. with Natalie K. Watson, 2008, London: SCM Press), and The Edge of God: New Liturgical Texts and Contexts in Conversation (ed. with Nicola Slee and Michael N. Jagessar, 2008, Peterborough: Epworth Press). He is editor of the series Renewing the Eucharist (2008-, Norwich: Canterbury Press) and has contributed essays to a number of edited collections – including recently Pete Ward, ed., Mass Culture: The Interface of Eucharist and Mission (2008, Oxford: BRF) – and to journals such as Black Theology: An International Journal, Contact: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Pastoral Studies and Worship. Stephen’s current teaching covers the areas of contextual theology, applied theology, and christology, and his current research is concerned with worship as public theology and with postcolonial criticism of liturgical tradition. Future publications include Christian Worship: Postcolonial Perspectives (with Michael N. Jagessar, 2009, London: Equinox Press). He is also presently co-ordinating future publications on liturgical inculturation in Australia (with Anita Monro), and on local – ‘postcode’ - theology (with Clive Pearson), as well as a collection on liturgical renewal in honour of the dean of Philadelphia Cathedral, Richard Giles. PaCTCharles Sturt University’s Strategic Research Centre in Public and Contextual Theology involves a number of UTC faculty members who co-ordinate and contribute to two of its key focus groups.  Faiths and CulturesThe Faiths and Cultures group is especially concerned with:  Theory and Practice of Public and Contextual Theology

The Theory and Practice group is especially concerned with:

Both groups work in partnership with other focus groups based at St Mark’s National (Anglican) Theological Centre, Canberra and together are involved in the Global Network for Public Theology which is presently co-ordinated from Canberra/Sydney.Dr Stephen Burns can be contacted about PaCT matters at stephenb@nsw.uca.org.au or sburns@csu.edu.au