Oxford theologian appointed to commission tackling division in the UK

An Oxford University theologian has been appointed to the UK’s new independent commission on community and cohesion.

The Commission, which originated in the aftermath of the riots last year and has gained cross-party support, has been established to grapple with one of the UK’s most urgent challenges around disconnection and division.

It brings together 19 leaders in diverse fields, including Professor Luke Bretherton, who is Oxford's Regius Professor Moral and Pastoral Theology and Director of the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Life.

Professor Bretherton said: "It is a great honour to be a part of this commission and a privilege to serve alongside such distinguished figures whose track records of public service speak for themselves. My formation in theology, political thought, and community organising is animated by the concerns the commission addresses. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to its vital work of addressing the deep fractures in our common life and seeking ways to reweave civic trust and social solidarity amid heartfelt disagreement and difference."

Professor Dan Grimley, Head of Humanities at Oxford University, said: "I am delighted that Professor Luke Bretherton has been appointed to the independent commission on community and cohesion alongside leaders in politics, academia, faith, civil society, media and business. This is just the latest example of the critical role of humanities in general – and theology in particular – in confronting the most pressing issues facing society today."

Sir Sajid Javid, Co-Chair of the Commission, said: “This Commission has been established to do what governments alone cannot: take a long view, propose radical policy changes and - crucially - help forge a cross-society consensus about how we want to live together now and in the future.”

The Commission will examine the forces driving disconnection and division across the country, and it aims to develop a series of evidence-based recommendations to help build a stronger, more connected sense of community across the UK. The Commission met for the first time last week.

More information on Professor Bretherton and his research can be found on the Faculty of Theology's website. The Commission's website explains its mission in more detail, and it has received widespread coverage in media outlets including the Times.