“Disciplinary Encounters with the Theology of Love” – A one-day conference for faculty and postdoctoral academics.
In collaboration with the Global Faculty Initiative, Developing a Christian Mind, and the Oxford Pastorate. Convened by Tom Simpson and Terry Halliday.
Yarnton Manor is hosting this workshop for faculty in the continuing Dialogue on Scholarly Disciplines and the Theology of Love, the fifth dialogue of the Global Faculty Initiative, a community of 200+ Christian professors in 70+ secular universities on six continents.
The 2026 Workshop deepens and extends reflections on Oliver O’Donovan’s evocative new thought on a core Christian doctrine and its salience for all scholarly fields, the university, academic life, and the wider culture and society.
Please note that this is an invite only event – registration access code is provided in the invite.
There is no charge for attendance or catering. Refreshments and lunch are provided.
Schedule will be announced shortly
About the Global Faculty Initiative (GFI)
Founded by Donald Hay (University of Oxford) and Terry Halliday (American Bar Foundation/Australian National University) in 2020, GFI is an international community of 200+ academics on six continents who engage in Dialogues of Faith and Learning on great themes of the Christian tradition that fit readily into the discourse of secular research universities. GFI first Dialogue, led by Nicholas Wolterstorff (Yale) on Justice and Rights, was published in 2025 as Justice and Rights: Nicholas Wolterstorff in Conversation with the University (Carlisle: Langham Global Library). The GFI Dialogue led by Nigel Biggar (Oxford) on Created Order will be published as Order and Disorder: Nigel Biggar in Conversation with the University, and launched on 7 May 2026 at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Other Dialogues include Miroslav Volf, Matthew Croasmun, Ryan McAnnally-Linz (Yale) on Flourishing; and Jennifer Herdt (Yale) on The Virtues.
- Professor Emeritus, Christian Ethics and Practical Theology, University of Edinburgh.
- Honorary Professor, School of Divinity, University of St. Andrews
- Emeritus Student & Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.
Biography
Oliver O’Donovan, a founding member of GFI’s Convening Panel, is Emeritus Professor of Christian Ethics, University of Edinburgh, and Emeritus Student and Canon, Christ Church, Oxford. Born in 1945 in London, he was educated at Balliol College and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and at Princeton University, and was ordained priest in Oxford in 1972. He was Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology and Canon of Christ Church Oxford (1982-2006), before which he taught at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford (1972-7) and at Wycliffe College, Toronto (1977-82). He was Professor of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology at Edinburgh (2006-12), and has been Honorary Professor of Divinity at St Andrews since 2013. He has written on Augustine, on the theological basis of moral concepts, on contemporary bioethical dilemmas, on political theology and the ethics of war. He has served on the Church of England’s Board for Social Responsibility, Doctrine Commission and Faith and Order Commission, and was recently convenor of the Archbishops’ review of the Crown Nominations Commission. He is a past President of the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics, a Fellow of the British Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is married to Joan Lockwood O’Donovan. They live in Scotland and have two sons.
Academic biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_O%27Donovan
Contributions to GlobalFacultyInitiative.net
Yarnton Manor, Church Lane, Yarnton, Oxfordshire, OX5 1PY.
Directions –
If you’re driving from Oxford:
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Take the A44 (Oxford → Woodstock) north-west out of Oxford.
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Look out for a roundabout by the Turnpike Pub, then turn left toward Cassington Road.
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Follow Cassington Road until you see signs for Church Lane. Turn left onto Church Lane.
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Yarnton Manor will be a few hundred yards down Church Lane on the right.
By Public Transport
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The Stagecoach S3 bus route travels between Oxford train station, city centre and Yarnton (towards Chipping Norton/Charlbury.
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Get off at the Paddocks stop in Yarnton, then you’ll need to walk south to Cassington road, turn left and then right onto Church Lane
Arriving:
- Yarnton Manor entrance gates are just to the left of St. Bartholomew’s Church.
- Press ‘Call’ on the gate intercom for security to let you in.