Church and University in Scotland: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

This paper was originally delivered as the third D. W. D. Shaw memorial lecture at the University of Aberdeen on 27 May 2024. It examines the shifting patterns in the relationship of church and academy in Scotland from the establishment of the four ancient universities to the present day. Despite historical changes, most notably the Reformation, the church and the academy maintained a cooperative relationship in the shared project of producing a well-educated clergy. Yet this has altered significantly in recent decades. Contributory factors include a steep decline in the number of ordinands, the emergence of religious studies, and diverging economic circumstances. The paper concludes by examining future prospects for theological education, addressing critical questions concerning the academic pursuit of a confessional Christian theology amidst rising secularism and alternative approaches to the study of religion.