Professor Tom Wright will speak at next week's Clergy Conference
Bishop Harold writes:
'We are privileged that Professor Tom Wright has agreed to come to speak at the Down and Dromore Clergy Conference from 18-21 October. The theme for his addresses is, 'Re-reading the gospels: understanding, praying and preaching God's Kingdom’.
Tom Wright is undoubtedly one of the foremost theologians of our day. Anyone who has read his books (some of them very weighty volumes indeed) will know that. Indeed, if I had a pound for every time one of the clergy tells me how much they are enjoying one of them, I would be a rich man indeed!
But Tom is also a convincing apologist for the Christian faith. He has recently stepped down from his role as Bishop of Durham to become Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Andrew's University to focus more on that aspect of his ministry, in writing and communications. He is a renowned worldwide speaker, passionate for his subject and often challenging us to 'Think again' and argue coherently for our views.’
Biography
An internationally-renowned scholar and author, Tom Wright was born in Morpeth, Northumberland and before the age of 7 or 8 he already felt called to go into Christian ministry. He was educated at Sedbergh School, Yorkshire, where he specialised in Classics and played rugby and cricket for the school.
He took a 'double first' in Philosophy and Ancient History ('Greats') and Theology at Exeter College, Oxford, where he was president of the undergraduate Christian Union and gained a half-blue for Rugby Fives. He then studied for the Anglican ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and was ordained to a Junior Research Fellowship at Merton College, Oxford, where he was later junior Chaplain. From 1978 to 1981 he was Fellow and Chaplain of Downing College, Cambridge.
In 1981 he moved to Canada to be Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies at McGill University, Montreal, returning to the UK in 1986 as Lecturer in New Testament in the University of Oxford and Chaplain, Fellow and Tutor at Worcester College. He became Dean of Lichfield in 1994, Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey in 2000, and then Bishop of Durham in 2003.
Widely regarded as one of the world's foremost New Testament scholars, Professor Wright has written over fifty books, both for the academy (his series Christian Origins and the Question of God) and for a mainstream audience (the Everyone series of guides to the New Testament). He has also written books of apologetics, including the best-selling Simply Christian. He has broadcast regularly on radio and television and has written guest columns for broadsheet newspapers.
Dr Louise Richardson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of St Andrews, recently described Tom as, 'A scholar of unparalleled insight and erudition, he is one of the leading New Testament analysts of our time. Among his wide ranging skills, he possesses in abundance the rare ability to combine fine grained technical exegesis with a capacity to see and to illuminate the big picture.'
Tom Wright is married to Maggie, who has worked as a teacher, a consultant and as a member of the Board of Visitors of a prison in the Midlands. They have four children and three grandchildren. He lists among his hobbies music, hill walking and golf, and is a life-long supporter of Newcastle United FC.