Letter: Margaret Beaufort Institute - Gratitude, Ripples and Rest

Image: MBIT

As we come to the end of this academic year, first and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who is reading this message for being there and being part of the Margaret Beaufort Institute community.

Special thanks to all those who contributed to our synodal listening process last Autumn and responded to the online survey. We have now produced a new five-year strategy which I invite you to view here.

The strategic review was one of the many activities of this passing year, alongside a great variety of courses, seminars, wonderful celebrations and public events which marked our Pearl Anniversary year.

It is hard to believe that twelve months ago I was writing our final message from Grange Road, just before moving to our temporary home at Wesley House. As I am typing this, we are getting ready to move again to a more long-term home at Woolf Institute. We will tell you more about this exciting development in September…

We shrank in terms of physical space but expanded in other ways. Over the past twelve months our community has grown considerably (in truth, beyond my expectations). This growth is interesting, given that the trend in theological education suggests the opposite. Ted Smith in his highly influential book The End of Theological Education captures well the challenges that theological education is facing. He reflects on something that we have been observing for a while and which the report 'Believing, not Belonging', conducted by Liam Hayes (Centre for Ecclesial Ethics) confirms: namely, that something interesting is going on outside organised religion.

Someone recently asked me about the kind of theology our Institute does. I responded with the usual: it is a theology that prioritises women; a theology that is in conversation with other disciplines; a tripartite theology of research, teaching and pastoral practice, etc. I could sense that my interlocutor wasn't satisfied with my answer. It was only later, when I thought of the growth, the impact, the testimonies of those who study with us, many of whom are from 'outside organised religion' that I thought of 'ripple theology'. The unexpected effects of our encounters, human to human, are like ripples. Ripples are the influences and inspirations that we experience together at Margaret Beaufort Institute. They radiate as on the water's surface, almost imperceptible yet real. I tested the idea of ripple theology as our brand with the Institute's Council. I was captivated by what one member, Sr Jenny Dines, remarked: 'ripples sometimes create waves'.

So, however uncertain academic theology, religion, the Church, and our world are, our Institute is here to serve and produce more ripples and perhaps, with God's grace and your support, create waves. We shall continue working on this after the summer break. For now, on behalf of the Margaret Beaufort Institute Team, I wish you a restful summer. We look forward to being in touch again in September.

Anna Abram
Principal