The Revd Paul Burden

Bio:

The Revd Paul Burden is Dean of Ministry. He has had 22 years of experience in parish ministry and specialises in preaching, human identity, mission and evangelism, leadership and worship.

Paul initially studied mechanical and fluid engineering through a Cambridge University MA, and worked as a Design Engineer in the design and construction of civil nuclear power stations, particularly in the computer modelling for earthquake protection and for boiler design. He became part of the company’s public speaking team, responding to requests for talks and discussion on nuclear power in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. He then studied at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, taking the Oxford University MA in Theology before ordination in 1992 and 22 years in parish ministry in Bath and Wells Diocese. He has been a Training Incumbent, Archdeaconry Warden of Readers, Vocations Adviser and involved in other aspects of training and ministry support for lay and ordained ministries, including being part of a diocesan working group on clergy wellbeing. He completed an MTh in Preaching through the College of Preachers and the University of Wales in 2005.

Paul has been at Sarum College since April 2014 in the training of ordinands and licensed lay ministers. As a theological educator, he has a keen desire to see the practical skills of ministry rooted in theology and reflective practice with a clear missional perspective. Effective partnership between ordained and lay ministries in traditional and emerging forms of church is important in this. A key research interest is in homiletics, together with other research in biblical studies; mission; leadership and self-care; and the leading of worship. In the last seven years he has taught in many of the modules in the ministry programmes, teaching at levels 4 to 7 in the curriculum areas of bible and homiletics, leadership and mission, and worship and practical ministry.

Paul has an interest in the Britain-Australia Society through church connections with Arthur Phillip, first Governor of New South Wales, and is also interested in connections with the Lutheran and Anglican Churches in Latvia through the Salisbury Diocese link.

Paul leads training on preaching across different denominations and dioceses, is a Tutor for the College of Preachers and was on the Trustees of the College of Preachers for 8 years to 2019. When teaching commitments allow, he leads and preaches in a number of churches in the two dioceses around where he lives in Somerset, and is a member of his local church where his wife is a worship leader.