Dr David Bennett
DPPhil (Oxon)
Email: david.bennett@theology.ox.ac.uk
Dr. David Bennett is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of Theology and Religion and Associate Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall.
Research Interests:
- Theology of Love, Desire and Asceticism
- Analytic and Philosophical Theology
- Constructive Trinitarian Systematics
- Augustinian Ethics
- Political Theology and Theory
- Ethics of the Body, Sexuality, and Gender
- Anglican Moral and Pastoral Theology
- Contemporary Queer Theory and LGBTQI+ Studies
Biography:
Dr David Bennett researches at the intersection of patristics, systematic theology, and ethics with a particular interest questions of revelation, desire, theological anthropology and love. With a background in Writing, Cultural and French Studies, he came to Oxford University to read theology from 2013, now holding a Certificate in Pastoral and Theological Studies and PGDip in Theology and Religion. In 2018, he completed an MLitt in Divinity (Analytic and Exegetical Theology) at the University of St Andrews receiving the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. His masters research was a reconstructive critique of Sarah Coakley’s new asceticism. Continuing this research at Oxford, his doctoral thesis, Queering the Queer: An exploration of how gay celibate asceticism can renew and inform the role of desire in contemporary Anglican theology, posited a reconstructive critique of queer theology and contemporary Anglican theology through a distinctly Hookerian, Augustinian ethics of desire. The book is under contract with T&T Clark/Bloomsbury, tentatively entitled, ‘An Augustinian Ethics of Same-Sex Desire and Gay Celibacy: Queering the Queer in Contemporary Theology’.
Dr Bennett is the co-founder and Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Augustinian Resemblances Project. He has worked to found and establish the Public Legitimacy of the Church of England project with Professor Joshua Hordern through a knowledge exchange TORCH fellowship with Bishop Graham Tomlin at the Centre for Cultural Witness, Lambeth Palace. As the author of a bestselling book, Dr Bennett was appointed as a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s College of Evangelists and work as a speaker and writer serving and seeking to connect the academy, Church, and world.
Research Centres and Projects:
- Augustinian Resemblances
- The Public Legitimacy of the Church of England Project
External Engagement:
- Interview on Theology of Sexuality and Desire for The DeepEnd with Lecrae, November 2024 (over a million views).
- Mighty Pursuit Podcast, “Three Gay Men Discuss Faith”, November 2024 (over million views).
- Preacher, Oriel College Chapel, October 29th, 2023.
- Advisor for the Church of England’s Prayers of Love and Faith, Pastoral Guidance Group by invitation of the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, 2023.
- Sermon on Augustine and Home, Westminster School at Westminster Abbey, 19th May, 2023.
- BBC One panellist Sunday Morning Live on the Church of England and sexuality, 5 September, 2022.
- BBC One, ‘Young, Gay and Christian’ documentary, 2019.
- Participant and Presenter for Shared Conversations, General Synod, Church of England, 2017.
- Extensive speaking and consulting for churches, Christian communities, especially in USA, UK, and Europe.
