People in the news

Congratulations to Andrew Davidson, Starbridge Lecturer in Theology and Natural Sciences at Cambridge, and David Wilkinson, Principal of St John’s College, Durham. In what may be firsts for the C of E, Davidson has become ‘canon philosopher’ of St Albans Cathedral and Wilkinson ‘canon scientist’. Bishop Alan Smith hopes the appointments will contribute to an ‘increased confidence’ in the intellectual traditions of Christianity and to the ability of Christians in the diocese to take part in discussions in the public square. Leaving the public square is Bishop David Hope (Lord Hope of Thornes) who retired from the House of Lords on 30 April. In taking this step he followed his predecessor, Lord Habgood, who was one of the first to take advantage of the new retirement procedures for the Lords in 2011 when he was 85. Lord Hope has made the move at 75. Meanwhile Stanley Hauer was has responded to criticisms Nicholas Healey made of his work in a book published recently. The response comes in an appendix to a new book by Hauer was, The Work of Theology and extracts can be read online at Eerdword. Embarrassing revelations continue about Hauerwas’ guru, the Mennonite theologian, John Howard Yoder. The National Catholic Reporter has published a long article suggesting that Notre Dame must have known about Yoder’s predator y attitude to women when it appointed him to a chair in Christian Ethics. The University has refused to comment but the newspaper prints allegations by women studying at Notre Dame. Hauerwas, teaching there at the time, confesses he did not understand the extent of what was happening.