Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I studied theology at the London School of Theology and the University of Birmingham, where I completed a doctorate on Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity in Nigeria. Between 1991 and 2007, I taught theology in Nigeria, most recently at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (affiliated to the University of Jos). In 2007, I was appointed a research fellow in the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, University of Birmingham. In March 2013, I became a Lecturer in Ministerial Theology at Roehampton. From 2015 to 2018, I was the programme convenor for the MA in Theology and Religious Studies.
Qualifications
MA (Brunel University, Biblical Hermeneutics 1991), PhD (University of Birmingham, Theology 2004)
Research interests
My research interests include Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity and its intersection with politics and development; religion and migration; Christianity in Africa and the African diaspora; and religion and conflict. I am happy to supervise PhD projects on any aspect of Pentecostal/Charismatic studies, African Christianity and practical theology, but especially in the areas of Pentecostalism in Africa and the African diaspora, faith-based civic engagement, and Christian-Muslim conflict in West Africa.
Research projects
- October 2017 to December 2018, co-PI on the project "Signs of Wonder: Iconography and Aesthetics of New Black Majority Churches in the London Borough of Southwark" (PI: Andrew Rogers), funded by Southlands Methodist Trust.
- September 2016 to May 2017, principal investigator on a research project exploring the learning experiences of students on ministerial-theological programmes in the UK, funded by Southlands Methodist Trust.
- September 2012 to December 2013, commissioned scholar, John Templeton-funded Religious Freedom Project, administered by Georgetown University.
- May 2010 to August 2012, principal investigator on a John Templeton-funded research project within the Pentecostal and Charismatic Research Initiative, administered by the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California.
- June 2010 to February 2011, research fellow on the research programme "Global Prayers: Redemption and Liberation in the City" , a joint project of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), the cultural studies faculty of the European University Viadrina (Frankfurt/Oder) and metroZones - Center for Urban Affairs.
- May 2007 to May 2010, research fellow on the GloPent (European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism) research team within the NORFACE-funded research programme 'Re-emergence of religion as a social force in Europe?'
Professional affiliations
- Member of the European Research Network on Global Pentecostalism (GloPent).
- Member of the British & Irish Association for Practical Theology (BIAPT).
- Member of the European Pentecostal Theological Association.
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
- Book Review editor of the journal PentecoStudies.
- Member of the Editorial Boards of the Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association (JEPTA) and Occasional Papers in Faith and Higher Education.
Consultancy work
From 2013 to 2016, I was a member of the Advisory Group for the AHRC-funded "Megachurches and Social Engagement in London" project, University of Birmingham
Teaching
I teach on the FdA/BTh programme in Ministerial Theology, the MAs in Christian Ministry and Theology and Religious Studies, and the Professional Doctorate in Practical Theology (DTh). I teach the following FdA/BTh modules: Study Skills; Pentecostal Theology in Context; Christian Doctrine in Ecumenical Perspective; Education, Faith and Society. My MA modules are Pentecostal Theology and Practice and Theologies of Encounter, Conflict and Reconciliation. My DTh module is: Research Design 1: Literature Review and Research Questions.
External positions
External Examiner for the BA in Applied Theology, Regents Theological College (valided by the University of Chester)
2015 → 2018Projects
- 2 Finished
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Signs of Wonder: Iconography and Aesthetics of New Black Majority Churches
1/10/17 → 31/12/18
Project: Research
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The pedagogical challenges of teaching ministerial theology to students from non-traditional community churches
Burgess, R., Garner, M. & Thorpe, A.
1/09/16 → 31/05/17
Project: Research
Research Output
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Megachurches and "Reverse Mission"
Burgess, R., 21 Nov 2019, Handbook of Christianity: Megachurches. Hunt, S. (ed.). Leiden: Leiden: Brill, Vol. 19. p. 243-68 (Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open AccessFile21 Downloads (Pure) -
Ogbu Kalu and African Pentecostalism
Burgess, R., 30 Apr 2019, Making Evangelical History: Faith, Scholarship and the Evangelical Past. Atherstone, A. & Jones, D. C. (eds.). Routledge, (Routledge Studies in Evangelicalism).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure) -
Nigeria
Burgess, R., 2017, Church Growth and Decline in Global Anglicanism: 1980 to the Present Day. Goodhew, D. (ed.). RoutldegeResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Christianity and the Challenge of Religious Violence in Northern Nigeria
Burgess, R. & McCain, D., 2016, Christianity and Freedom.: Volume II: Contemporary Perspectives. Hertzke, A. D. & Shah, T. S. (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 306-337 (Cambridge Studies in Law and Christianity).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Pentecostalism and Democracy in Nigeria: Electoral Politics, Prophetic Practices and Cultural Reformation
Burgess, R., 1 Feb 2015, In: Nova Religio. 18, 3, p. 38-62Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Activities
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Diaspora Churches and Public Engagement
Andrew Rogers (Keynote/plenary speaker), Richard Burgess (Keynote/plenary speaker), R. David Muir (Keynote/plenary speaker), Andrew Rogers (Organiser), Richard Burgess (Organiser) & R. David Muir (Organiser)
29 Feb 2020Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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New Testament Assembly National Conference: ‘Christianity and Postmodernity: A Pentecostal Response’, 16th June 2018
Richard Burgess (Keynote/plenary speaker)
16 Jun 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
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Signs of Wonder Consultation Evening, Whitelands College, Roehampton University
Richard Burgess (Speaker) & Andrew Rogers (Speaker)
3 Dec 2018Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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PentecoStudies (Journal)
Richard Burgess (Editor)
2018 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editorial Activity
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Mission Theology Lecture, Centre for Anglican Studies, Durham University, 25th April 2018
Richard Burgess (Invited speaker)
25 Apr 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference