Simon Andrew Oliver (born 2 October 1971) is a British Anglican priest, theologian, and academic. He was formerly Associate Professor of Philosophical Theology at the University of Nottingham,[4] he is now the Van Mildert Professor of Divinity at the University of Durham.[5] Oliver is also on staff with the Centre of Theology and Philosophy.[6]
Simon Oliver | |
|---|---|
| Born | Simon Andrew Oliver 2 October 1971 |
| Nationality | British |
| Title | Van Mildert Professor of Divinity |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | |
| Thesis | The God of Motion (2003) |
| Doctoral advisor | Catherine Pickstock |
| Influences | |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Theology |
| Sub-discipline | |
| School or tradition | Radical orthodoxy |
| Institutions | |
| Ecclesiastical career | |
| Religion | Christianity (Anglican) |
| Church | Church of England |
| Ordained |
|
Offices held |
|
Early life and education
editOliver was born on 2 October 1971. He studied philosophy, politics and economics at Mansfield College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1993; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1998.[7][8] In 1995, he matriculated into Westcott House, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college in the Liberal Catholic tradition, to train for Holy Orders.[8] During this time, he also studied theology at Peterhouse, Cambridge, graduating with a further BA degree in 1997;[7][8] as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree in 2000.[8]
Having left theological college in 1998, Oliver continued his studies, undertaking postgraduate studies at Peterhouse.[8] His doctoral supervisor was Catherine Pickstock,[4][2] and his doctoral thesis was titled The God of Motion: Theological Physics from Plato to Newton with a Particular Emphasis on the Work of St. Thomas Aquinas.[9] He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 2003.[8]
Ordained ministry and academic career
editOliver was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1998 and as a priest in 1999 for the Diocese of Ely.[5][8] From 1998 to 2001, he served his curacy as a non-stipendiary minister at All Saints, Teversham and St Andrew's Church, Cherry Hinton.[8] From 2001 to 2004, he was the chaplain of Hertford College, Oxford.[7][8] In 2005, he joined the University of Wales, Lampeter, as a lecturer in theology.[8] He was promoted to senior lecturer in 2006.[8]
In 2009, Oliver moved to the University of Nottingham, where he had been appointed associate professor of philosophical theology.[5][10] In November 2010, it was announced that he had been additionally appointed Canon Theologian of Southwell Minster; he was installed during a service at the minster on 13 February 2011.[11] He became head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Nottingham in 2013.[7]
In February 2015, it was announced that Oliver would be the next Van Mildert Professor of Divinity at the University of Durham.[5] He moved to Durham to take up the appointment in September 2015.[7] As such, he also became a residentiary canon of Durham Cathedral,[12][13] and was installed during Evensong on 20 September 2015.[14] He gave the 2017 Stanton Lectures at the University of Cambridge; the series was titled "Creation's Ends: Teleology, Ethics and the Natural".[15]
Views
editOliver is a notable member of the theological sensibility known as radical orthodoxy.[16] He organised the 2013 Centre for Theology and Philosophy conference: The Soul, held at St Anne's College, Oxford.[17]
Personal life
editOliver is married and has two sons.[13]
Selected works
edit- Oliver, Simon (2005). Philosophy, God and Motion. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415360456.
- Oliver, Simon; Warrier, Maya, eds. (2008). Theology and Religious Studies: An Exploration of Disciplinary Boundaries. London: T & T Clark. ISBN 978-0567032362.
- Milbank, John; Oliver, Simon, eds. (2008). The Radical Orthodoxy Reader. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415425124.
- Oliver, Simon; Kilby, Karen; O'Loughlin, Tom, eds. (2012). Faithful Reading: New Essays in Theology in Honour of Fergus Kerr, OP. London: T & T Clark. ISBN 978-0567644039.
References
edit- ^ Mohamed, Feisal G. (2011). Milton and the Post-Secular Present: Ethics, Politics, Terrorism. Stanford, California: Stanford University. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-8047-8073-5.
- ^ a b Shortt, Rupert (2005). God's Advocates: Christian Thinkers in Conversation. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-8028-3084-5.
- ^ Oliver, Simon (2017). Creation: A Guide for the Perplexed. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark. p. x. ISBN 978-0-567-65611-7.
- ^ a b "Simon Oliver". Department of Theology and Religious Studies. University of Nottingham. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Two new Canon Professors appointed". Department of Theology and Religion. University of Durham. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "Staff". Centre of Theology and Philosophy. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Profiles: Professor Simon Oliver". Department of Theology and Religion. Durham University. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Simon Andrew Oliver". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ Oliver, Simon Andrew (2003). "The God of motion : theological physics from Plato to Newton with a particular emphasis on the work of St. Thomas Aquinas". E-Thesis Online Service. The British Library Board. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
- ^ "FELLOWS". The Centre for Theology & Community. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "University of Nottingham professor appointed as Canon Theologian". The Nottingham Post. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Governance of Durham Cathedral". Durham Cathedral. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b Oliver, Simon (4 October 2015). "SERMON: Receiving the kingdom as a child". Durham Cathedral. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Special Service - Installation of Chapter member and Canon Residentiary". Durham Cathedral. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ "Stanton Lecture 2017: Creation's Ends: Teleology, Ethics and the Natural". Faculty of Divinity. University of Cambridge. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
- ^ Milbank, John; Oliver, Simon, eds. (2008). The Radical Orthodoxy Reader. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415425124.
- ^ "The Soul". Centre of Theology and Philosophy. Retrieved 17 April 2017.