The Team

The Theology and Action Research Network is co-ordinated by a Steering Committee, made up of theologians, sociologists and action researchers. Brief details of the Committee are given below.

Prof Clare Watkins, Durham University. Network Director.

One of the original developers of Theological Action Research, Clare is a Lecturer at the University of Roehampton in Ministerial Theology. A Catholic lay theologian, Clare’s work has been in ecclesiology, sacramental theology and the theology of ecclesial practice. She is a former chair of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology, and a member of the Ecclesiology and Ethnography Group.  Clare has recently published a constructive ecclesiology, drawn from empirical research and integrating ecclesial and systematic theological sources. This work – Disclosing Church: an ecclesiology learned from conversations in practice – concludes with a proposal for a ‘whole-theology’ approach which recognises practice as an entirely necessary and traditional element in faith’s seeking of understanding. More details of Clare’s background and publications can be found here.

Dr Helen Cameron

Helen is the Director of Research at Regent’s Park College, Oxford.  She was Principal Investigator and Co-Leader of Project Violet, a three-year research project looking at the place of women in Baptist ministry which uses theological action research as a vehicle for institutional self-reflection www.projectviolet.org.uk .  She is also a Research Fellow at Wesley House, Cambridge where she supports the work of doctoral supervisors and leads the Certificate in Enabling Skills for Ministry and Mission Enabling Skills – Wesley House (cam.ac.uk).  Her publications can be found here: Helen Cameron (academia.edu).

Dr James Butler

James is Pioneer Training Leader at the Church Mission Society, Oxford and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Roehampton, London. He researches and teaches in the fields of missiology, ecclesiology and practical theology. He is currently involved in two theological action research projects: one exploring learning in British Methodism, and the second exploring Methodist and Catholic engagement in social action. He was awarded his PhD from Durham University researching how small missional communities sustain their social action.

Administrative Assistant/Web Manager:
Dr Stefanie Conradt

Stefanie is the Website Consultant and Administrator. She is responsible for keeping our readers informed about upcoming events, which you can find in our newsletter and on our website. She will be responding to inquiries and will be the first point of contact.

Stefanie is a Research Associate of the Susanna Wesley Foundation and a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of the Centre for Baptist Studies, Regent’s Park College, Oxford and the William Leech Research Fund. She was awarded her PhD in practical theology from the University of St Andrews in spring 2023 and has recently concluded The Reflecting Together Project. This theological action research project was conducted in partnership with Churches Together South Tyneside and explored the experiences of loneliness and social isolation of older people.