What borders? Enlightenment modernity freed the pursuit of knowledge from the control of church and state, but it sets scholarship within the borders of autonomy, secularism and “objectivity,” and treats faith, values and beliefs as subjective matters that should be kept private. This leads to siloed scholarship, neutered faith, and disconnected scholars.
As a result, modernist academia suffers from blindness to its biases, and from neglecting contributions from broader disciplines, including the domain of faith. Since, as Lesslie Newbigin stated, “Christ is the clue to all that is,” KLC intentionally transgresses the false borders established by modernity in the quest for richer, more human, and more truly objective scholarship practised coram Deo (before the face of God), while being genuinely open to dialogue with scholars of other persuasions.
KLC is a global network of Christian scholars based in Cambridge, whose rigorous interdisciplinary inquiry is enriched by the insights of faith, community and wisdom, producing a transformative body of research that deepens public discourse and serves the common good. The question How then shall we live? is a perennial challenge. However, today we face a smorgasbord of challenges across the cultural spectrum. If Christ is the clue to all that is, then he is the clue to how then shall we live. KLC is committed to pursuing that clue which is Christ with all the rigour we can muster. Our particular contribution is at the level of Christian scholarship across the disciplines oriented towards praxis, while also making our work available at an accessible level.
Vision: A flourishing academic ecosystem in which Christian scholars and practitioners actively cross the borders of modernity (autonomy, individualism and secularism) by uniting rigorous inquiry with faith, community and wisdom—for the church and the common good.
Mission: To create a network of Christian scholars engaged in missional, interdisciplinary public-theological research, fostering community, dialogue and innovation that crosses the borders of modernity.
Vision: A flourishing academic ecosystem in which Christian scholars and practitioners actively cross the borders of modernity (autonomy, individualism, and secularism) by uniting rigorous inquiry with faith, community, and wisdom—liberating scholarship from isolation and enriching the public discourse.
Mission: To create a network of Christian scholars engaged in missional, interdisciplinary public-theological research, fostering community, dialogue, and innovation that crosses the borders of modernity.
KLC was born in the pandemic, in late 2020, but our roots run deeper. The Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics (KLICE) originated in 2006 when the Whitfield Institute, previously based in Oxford, was restructured and renamed. It relocated to Tyndale House in Cambridge, aiming to foster authentic Christian engagement with biblical, theological and public ethics. Its scholarly community brought together academics from diverse disciplines to collaborate and enrich one another’s research.
During the demanding first months of the pandemic, KLICE was required to become an independent charity, which we did, keeping the connection to our namesake, Sir Kirby Laing. We initially called the Margaret Beaufort Institute our home in Cambridge, before moving to our beautiful office in the historic Chesterton Mill.
Tyndale House chairman Keith Bintley noted: “Under the leadership of Dr Jonathan Chaplin and later Dr Craig Bartholomew, KLICE has played a vital role in shaping ethical discourse in the public sphere. It has been a privilege for Tyndale House to support this work, and we extend our best wishes to the KLC team as they embark on this exciting new phase. We are also deeply grateful to the Kirby Laing Foundation and other generous donors who have made this journey possible.”
KLC derives its name from evangelical businessman and philanthropist, Sir Kirby Laing. The Laing family has been well known for generations for their building projects, which have transformed the British landscape. However, as committed followers of Christ, Sir Kirby and his children set an example in fair treatment of workers, in community involvement and in creating a legacy committed to preserving cornerstones of healthy society: faith, health and education.
The Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge is so named to honour the Kirby Laing Foundation’s support of our organisation, and to honour Sir Kirby’s example as a Christian whose faith was worked out in all of life.
Rev Dr Craig G. Bartholomew is the Director of KLC and one of the Trustees. Craig is a native South African, and a graduate of Oxford University and the University of Bristol. He is the author and editor of numerous books, and is currently working on a multi-volume project entitled “Old Testament Origins and the Question of God.” Craig is Senior Research Fellow, Adjunct Faculty at Trinity College, Bristol, and supervises doctorates through them for the University of Aberdeen. Craig loves gardening, is passionate about horses and dressage in particular, and enjoys crafts and jewellery making in particular.
Otto Bam holds a master’s degree in English Studies from the University of Stellenbosch and is currently studying for a master’s degree in Religion and Literature at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on the role of the body in the imagination, and particularly as it relates to religious practice, and has a keen interest in what has been called “ritual poetics” in literature from the Romantic era through to the Postmodern. As a musician, Otto has released a full-length album, an EP and multiple singles under the alias Oddo Bam.
Rosemary is undertaking the role of Fellows Administrator on a voluntary basis. She was previously employed by The British and Foreign Bible Society, who seconded her to work with Craig Bartholomew as the Administrative Manager for the Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar. This involved a period of time working in Canada.
C. Hugo Herfst, OblSB, PhD serves as KLC’s Director for Spirituality. Convinced that both communal and personal liturgical practices bring us into a deeper relationship with God and integrally transform us for mission, Hugo draws from the deep tradition of the Church as a Benedictine Oblate. Hugo and his wife, Jackie, recently returned to Guatemala where they had served for many years. In addition to working in his local diocese, he is the Spanish Liaison for the Henri Nouwen Society. Hugo enjoys baking artisan bread and strong espressos using beans from Guatemalan coffee farms. Jackie and Hugo have five married children in four countries.
Rev Dr David Larsen is a senior research fellow at KLC. His life story has three big chapters: a pastoral chapter, a business chapter during which he had the privilege of working with clients in over 100 countries, and now a theological research chapter. David loves sports (mostly just watching these days) and travel, enjoys good dinners with family and friends, and frequently attends theatre, especially musicals. Currently he resides in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Vicky, and they have three grown children and eight grandchildren.
Lauren is our Postgraduate Studies Administrator. She is working on her Master’s Degree at Union Theological Seminary. She resides in Michigan with her husband and children.
Dr Jordan Pickering manages our IT, digital communications and media. He has a biblical studies PhD; his dissertation focuses on the theme of Genesis. He has also published in the field of public theology. Jordan has been married since 2001 and has two daughters. He has worked as a graphic designer and dabbles in the arts.
Charlotte Sindle brings extensive experience and prospects to her role within KLC. Based in Cambridge, Charlotte will play an important role in developing the organisation’s presence within the city and will assist the Director with his calendar and other duties. Charlotte loves animals and likes to enjoy precious time with her family.
Istine is our executive administrator and an associate editor of The Big Picture. Having lectured in Mathematics for many years she has an excellent eye for detail, and is a lover of the arts. Contact Istine for administrative enquiries.
In addition to research, writing, and supervising graduate students, Rev Dr Michael Wagenman enjoys walking, hiking, cooking, reading, playing board games, and travelling. Contact Michael if you’d like to study or supervise students with us.
David McIlroy is a practising barrister, specialising in banking law. He is also Visiting Professor in the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London and Adjunct Professor at the University of Notre Dame (USA) in England. As well as being Chair of Trustees for KLC, David writes and speaks widely throughout Europe on questions relating to the theology of law. In 2019, he published The End of Law: How Law’s Claims relate to Law’s Aims, and gave the 12th Richard O’Sullivan Memorial Lecture asking ‘Why can’t we stop pretending law has anything to do with justice?’ You can find out more about David and the work he does at the intersection of the Christian faith and legal practice at his website theologyoflaw.org.
David Ball is the retired chairman of DB Group Holdings Ltd which he founded in 1970. He was widely involved in business and commerce, notably as a member of the Concrete Society, the British Standards Institution and the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Green Concrete Committee, and acted as advisor to several Engineering societies. His varied interests outside of commerce led to David contributing to education as a Trustee/ Director of Westcott House, Cambridge (2010-2015) and the Founding Governor of Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge; serving as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Technical Committee, on Historic Church trusts and as Chairman of Cambridge Philharmonic Society – and founding a radio station in Cambridge. David is a minister in the Church of England and a trustee of a number of boards and institutions, including the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology.
Rainer is married to Bianca. He worked for five years as assistant pastor in the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen in his hometown of Minden before doing his PhD in New Testament Studies in Cheltenham. In 2002 he started to work as pastor of Chrischona-Gemeinde Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, and since 2020 of Christliche Gemeinschaft Hamburg-Altona. Rainer translated and edited several of the main works by N. T. Wright into German. His passion is bridging the worlds of the academy and the church. He is part of the support team of Urban Mosaic which is about the transformation of fragile cities into Shalom cities.
Andrew Campbell is Rector of St Patrick’s Broughshane (Parish of Skerry, Rathcavan and Newtowncrommlin) in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor. He holds degrees in Ancient History, Byzantine Studies and Theology. In 2017 he was awarded a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast for his research on Nonviolent Atonement Theology under the supervision of Stephen N. Williams. He has served the wider Church of Ireland in various ways, including
as visiting lecturer in Anglican Dogmatics at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. He
continues his research into atonement theology, including its relationship to broader topics of justice, violence and sacrifice. Andrew is married to Allison; they have two children, Henry and Charlotte.
Genevieve studied Theology at King’s College London, before doing an MA in European Classical Acting at Drama Centre London. She formed her own production company, touring the acclaimed one-woman drama Asena against sex trafficking (BBC Radio Northampton). She worked for three years as Development Officer at KLICE, which has now become The Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge and of which she is a Trustee and Fellow. Alongside managing her father’s small business, in the last year she has been presenting for Radio Maria England, including Faith and Family in the Time of Covid-19, Questions of Faith, and co-producing and presenting Women Together, which is now entering its second series.
Andrew Kirk is an ordained minister in the Anglican Church. After a curacy in North Finchley, he lived as a mission partner in Argentina, teaching theological subjects in tertiary educational institutions (1967-78). On returning to England, he has been on the staff of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, the Church Mission Society, the Selly Oak Colleges and the University of Birmingham. He has also taught courses on all six continents. Since retirement (2002) he has been involved, on a part-time basis, with graduate institutes in Eastern and Western Europe, Canada and the United Kingdom, mainly supervising students doing research degrees in the field of mission studies. His current main mission interest is in a theological and philosophical interpretation of current ‘culture wars’. Photo © 2020 Alasdair Kirk.
Sarah worked with KLC at its very beginnings, while it was transitioning to become an independent charity. Her background is in international relations, project management and event planning where she has worked in a variety of roles related to missions, peace-building and international exchange. She is currently working towards a PhD in sociology of religion at VID Specialized University in Norway. Her research will look at themes within migration and religion, transnationalism, and lived religion. Sarah is married to Mikael, who leads the mathematics hub at KLC and they have three lovely children.
Kyle Redel is lead pastor at The Parks Church in McKinney, Texas.
Libbie Weber is an ordained minister in the Anglican Church in North America. After beginning her professional life as an academic reference librarian, she surprised herself by going back to school at Regent College, Vancouver, BC; meeting her husband Roger there; and eventually seeking ordination (also not in her plan), after working as a volunteer with university students through InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Being in parish ministry during a time of great upheaval in North American churches and culture brought many thoughts and questions to the fore. She currently serves as a hospice chaplain in Albuquerque, New Mexico (it really is one of the 50 states!). When she somehow found the KLC monthly prayer meeting online, she felt as though she was home again. As a trustee she looks forward to learning more about KLC’s unique take on public theology and Christian scholarship and helping to translate the importance of that work to others both inside and outside the university and church environments. She is interested in art and theology; formative spirituality; and personalism; and appreciates good historical fiction; gritty mysteries; and, of course, dachshunds.
Having trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford (1995-1998), William served his title at Greyfriars Church in Reading. He went on to serve a second curacy at Holy Trinity Church in Cambridge and is delighted to have a reason to visit Cambridge again as a KLC trustee! Since 2011 he has been Incumbent of St Matthias’ Church, Killiney, in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Dublin. He serves the diocese of Dublin and the wider Church of Ireland in several capacities and he is theological adviser to the Archbishop of Dublin. William was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993 as a member of Middle Temple and he was awarded a PhD in biblical hermeneutics from Liverpool University in 2007. He is married to Tanya and they have three adult children.
