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Home Short Courses Theology, Imagination & Culture Autism, Theology and Christian Life

About the Autism, Theology and Christian Life course

How might churches better respond to autistic people within congregations, and draw more on their gifts and insights? What biblical and theological resources might help us to reflect more deeply on the experience of people with autism?

Based on her book Peculiar Discipleship: An Autistic Liberation Theology, this course will consider descriptions of autism and neurodiversity, the nature of autistic Christians’ engagement with the church and Christian life, and offer some practical suggestions for the flourishing of autistic Christian lives. We will consider some of the ways in which autistic people are discriminated against in society and in the church, and the tutor will offer some theological reflection on some biblical passages that illuminate the welcome the church can offer, grounded in the welcome of Christ.

About the Tutor
Claire Williams investigates the experience of women’s spirituality and practice, using empirical methodology, with research interests in motherhood and spirituality, feminist theology, embodied spirituality, and the practices of charismatic churches (in particular Newfrontiers). She is also interested in the Benedictine monastic traditions, trauma theology and charismatic studies.

Her book Peculiar Discipleship: An Autistic Liberation Theology was published in 2023 by SCM. She is co-editing a book on theology and pregnancy with Dr Karen O’Donnell.

Claire is working on a PhD at Durham University, with the provisional title of ‘The faith lives and practices of women in Newfrontiers churches’. She earned a BA in theology at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and completed an MA in theology at St Augustine’s College of Theology in Kent.

Book Event

Online Early Bird Ticket #2462 £30

This is a discounted early bird ticket offering the course for £30.00 rather than the normal £35.00. This offer expires 60 days prior to the event and cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount. This is an online course delivered via zoom. A zoom link will be sent out to all participants prior to the event.

Available Tickets: 29

The Online Early Bird Ticket #2462 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Online ticket #2462 35

This is an online course delivered via zoom. A zoom link will be sent out to all participants prior to the event.

Available Tickets: 10

The Online ticket #2462 ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.

Details

Dates & Times

20 Jun 2024

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Course code

2462

Other Notes

This is an half-day online course delivered via Zoom.

Please note that discount codes are not applicable for this course.

Early bird discount tickets available (£30) until 60 days prior to the event. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount

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What our students say

PhD Research Programmes

Visual Artist Claire Reed

The complex and sometimes fractious relationship between contemporary art and religion has intrigued me throughout my art career, informing my direction as an artist. It has led me to work in sacred spaces with their immediate and wider communities, to study an MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture at Sarum College, and recently to become artist–researcher at Leo Baeck College of Jewish scholarship and learning.

My aim is to examine the extent to which this creative approach might generate fruitful inter-religious theological insights within a Jewish and Christian ministry training context.

Sarum College combines an open-minded embrace of the imagination and the arts with a supportive, questioning and diverse community. Crucially for me, the Sarum-Winchester PhD programme is one of the very few UK university programmes to offer a hybrid thesis in art and theology in which the creative process and resulting art output along with a written critical component are presented for examination.

This PhD research is a key part of my development as an artist engaged with theology and inter-religious dialogue.

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Stimulating and Challenging

What is Successful Ageing? led by James Woodward

I enjoyed the course immensely from beginning to end – the seamless interweaving of knowledge, ideas and research and the linking with belief and faith.

The content was stimulating, challenging, thought provoking and I was greatly appreciative of the contributions and questions from other participants, your considered and sensitive responses and integration with your presentations.

Thank you!

Netflix, Theology and Pastoral Practice

Peter Butchers on his MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture student experience

How do cultural tropes, like those found in Black Mirror, help bridge the gap between what academic theology espouses and what the everyday Christian believes? In his research as a student on the MA in Theology, Imagination and Culture, Peter Butchers explored platonic philosophy, digital theology and eschatology, and pastoral practice around death and dying.

Rewarding Sabbatical Stay

The Revd Greg Syler, is Rector of Ascension & St. George’s, Resurrection Parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC USA, spent part of his ministry sabbatical at Sarum College in spring 2022.

His account of the experience begins: ‘I loved spending nearly three weeks of my ministry sabbatical at Sarum College earlier this year.

Not only did I rest, and rest well in the comfortable care of the Sarum College staff, I experienced very significant renewal and fresh insights.’

The Road Not Taken

Sarum Graduate Mike Truman

January 2022

Five years ago, I told my Warden of Readers that I would not be renewing my licence when it expired in 2019, as I thought my faith was becoming too unorthodox for a Church of England licensed lay minister. As someone who knew me well, she challenged me to actively explore what I did still believe. Thus started the journey that ended last August with the dissertation completing my MA in Theology Imagination and Culture (MATIC) at Sarum College.

Clergy Study Breaks

The opportunity for clergy to get away occasionally from their own context, to have an overnight stay in the beautiful setting of Sarum College and all that the Salisbury Cathedral Close offers is hugely valuable. All the clergy I have suggested who have spent 24hrs at Sarum College have benefit greatly from the experienced mentoring where they can talk, reflect, think, plan and pray.

The support and encouragement they receive is excellent and has a positive on their on going ministry. This is something the Diocese of Rochester encourages and supports financially in preparation for their clergy preparing for Extended Ministerial Development Leave (Sabbatical).

— Canon Christopher Dench, Diocese of Rochester Director of Formation and Ministry

Retreats and Private Stays

When I arrived, exhausted and sensitive, I was grateful not to be asked by Reception were I came from, whether I had had a good journey etc. That was the kind of hospitality I needed: a non-intrusive welcome that was found in ancient cultures and still survives in some societies today, where the host asks questions about a stranger and his journey only when the visitor has rested and been given food and drink.

— guest on a private stay

Biblical Study Breaks

I just found it very refreshing – as a leader of a church I don’t get as many opportunities to step out and do courses (my fault, not the church!) and so I loved it. I think it was run really well online – which is a difficult medium to work with.

Pádraig Ó Tuama (pictured) was outstanding in his balance of getting us to engage and sharing his learning. Also the quick availability of resources provided by Sarum College Librarian Jayne Downey was excellent.

— course participant, Story Theology: Narrative Approaches to Scripture

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Autism, Theology and Christian Life