Dr Jeffrey John To Deliver Swansea Lecture

The controversial cleric Dr Jeffrey John is to give the opening ‘Theology Public Lecture’ for Lent at Swansea University this week.

Dr John, an Anglican priest and celibate homosexual, is dean of St Albans. Recent newspaper reports claimed that he was set to sue the Church of England for having prevented his promotion to Bishop, because of his sexuality.

But the Welsh born cleric, an accomplished academic scholar who is widely respected in the Church of England, has so far refrained from taking any such action.

Now he is to give the opening Theology Public Lecture for this Lent Term at Swansea University, where he will talk about "The Meaning in the Miracles."

The lectures, which are open to students and public alike, are free to attend. They were set up to open up Christian theology to all, and have so far proved to be highly successful.

Other speakers lined up for 2012 are Professor David Ford from Cambridge University speaking on ‘The Future of Christian Theology’ and Professor Simon Conway Morris, also of Cambridge University, giving a talk called ‘Evolution and how the Universe became self-aware: what are the theological consequences?’

The Theology Public Lecture Programme at Swansea University was first set up over nine years ago by the Reverend Nigel John, Senior Chaplain at Swansea University.

By the end of this current academic year there will have been a total of 70 lectures that have taken place with 68 different speakers, including internationally respected Church leaders and world renowned academics.

People are extended an invitation on the basis of being distinguished public figures and outstanding scholars.

The Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey John, was appointed Dean of Divinity at Magdalen College Oxfordin 1984, before going on to become Canon Chancellor and Theologian of Southwark Cathedral. He is now Dean of St Albans.

The lecture will be held in the James Callaghan Lecture Theatre in Swansea University at 7.00p.m. on Thursday, 9th February 2012.