British Academy honour for minister

Thomas Baldwin reports on a new honour for a Church of Scotland minister and prominent academic

CHURCH of Scotland minister and academic the Rev Professor John Swinton has been elected a Fellow of the British Academy.

Professor Swinton, Chair in Divinity Studies and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen, is one of 85 academics who were nominated for election at the Academy’s Annual General Meeting in July.

Professor Swinton, who earlier this year was appointed as a Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen in Scotland, is a minister of the Church of Scotland who for more than a decade worked as a registered nurse specialising in psychiatry and learning disabilities. He also worked for a number of years as a hospital and community chaplain.

In 2004, he founded the University of Aberdeen’s Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability and in 2014 he founded the University’s Centre for Ministry Studies.

His work has a dual focus on the relationship between spirituality and health and the theology of disability, and he has published widely within the areas of practical theology, disability theology, qualitative research and pastoral care.

In 2016 he was awarded the Michael Ramsey Prize – the ‘Man Booker of theology’ which celebrates the most promising contemporary theological writing – for his book Dementia: Living in the Memories of God.

His theological research has succeeded in the reframing of dementia as part of the spiritual life of the community, leading to significant changes in local government, caring agencies, third sector organisations, dementia care providers and religious communities in both the United Kingdom and internationally.

In 2017, his most recent book Becoming Friends of Time: Time, Disability and the Art of Gentle Discipleship won the award of merit for theology and ethics in the Christianity Today book awards for 2017.

The book was named as ‘one of the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture’.

Professor Swinton said: “I am greatly honoured to have been elected a Fellow of the British Academy. The Academy are involved in important work and I look forward to being able to contribute to the academic life of the country in this new way.”

Professor Tom Greggs, Head of Divinity at the University of Aberdeen, said: “We are delighted that John Swinton’s research has been recognised by Britain’s national academy. This is a wonderful achievement and is thoroughly well deserved. We are delighted that John’s entire career has been with us here in Divinity at Aberdeen.”

The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences, with a Fellowship of over 1600 of the leading minds in related subjects from the UK and overseas. It elects distinguished academics as Fellows in recognition of their outstanding contribution to research.

Of the 85 Fellows elected this year, 52 are UK-based (five in Scotland, including Professor Swinton) and a further 29 are from universities abroad (Corresponding Fellows). 55% are female, the highest proportion of women ever elected.There are also four new Honorary Fellows, including the writer and poet Benjamin Zephaniah.

Professor Julia Black, President of the British Academy, said: “With our new Fellows’ expertise and insights, the Academy is better placed than ever to open new seams of knowledge and understanding and to enhance the wellbeing and prosperity of societies around the world. I congratulate each of our new Fellows on their achievement and look forward to working with them.”