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About the Centre

'Contextual theology' is a two-way process. Doctrine is applied to the context in which congregations live out their faith. Their experience of discipleship in turn develops their relationship with God and their theological understanding.

The Contextual Theology Centre is rooted in two specific East London neighbourhoods - one in Tower Hamlets and another in Newham.  We work with local churches and chaplaincies (listed here) on the Gospel's implications for our common life in a pluralist society.  In this local work, a key partner is the London Citizens, an alliance of grassroots faith and community groups acting together for for social change.   Recent achievements include a 'Living Wage'  for many of London's lowest-paid workers, and working with the Mayor for a new model of affordable housing.  London Citizens has won a commitment to fair pay at the 2012 Olympics  - with a concordat signed by Lord Coe, Mayor Livingstone and one of London Citizens' young Catholic leaders (pictured).

The Centre seeks to bring this local context into dialogue with other communities' experiences, and with academic research and reflection on the role of faith in a pluralist society.  With the University of Notre Dame and Magdalen College,Oxford we are developing a research programme entitled Just Communities: The Church's Witness in a Pluralist Society.  Students from Notre Dame and Oxford are also involved in our placement programme.  Locally, we work closely with the University of East London, on both reflection and action for social change.   Click here for links to all our partner universities and institutes.

Through the Presence and Engagement (P&E) process, the Church of England is equipping congregations for mission and ministry in multi Faith contexts.  As with London Citizens, the approach is to root inter-faith relations in the experience of living and working together.  The Centre has therefore been commissioned to coordinate the P&E process in Greater London.

The Centre is grateful to the Diocese of Chelmsford and its London Over the Border Council (LOB) for providing core funding for its work.