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| Job title: Head of Research and Commercial Development, Senior Research Fellow and Professor of Inter-Religious Relations |
| Email: p.g.weller@derby.ac.uk |
| Phone No: 01332-591779 |
| Room: E214 |
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Faculty: Education, Health and Sciences
I have been at the University of Derby since 1990. My employed role is both strategically and operationally to lead and manage research in the Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences, which is the University's largest and most research-engaged Faculty.
It includes several University recognised research centres and groups, and a number of other research units. Within this, I have overall responsibility for organising the environment for approximately 60 research degree students in the Faculty, as well as general oversight of the around 100 students on professional Doctorate programmes. I also have strategic responsibility for commercial development in the Faculty, working together with the Faculty's Business Development Manager.
Teaching responsibilities
My present role means that I am at the moment involved in very little classroom teaching. However, I do contribute to the Level 6 Sociology module on Religion and Society, and I undertake research supervision of a number of doctoral students engaged in research with relevance to religion.
Professional interests
I have specific interests in the study and practice of religion, having served as a Baptist Minister working in congregations in Greater Manchester (1997-1984). I then worked as Community Relations Officer for the Ecumenical Council in Greater Manchester on issues of racial justice and inter-faith relations, as well as later for the London Churches Employment Development Unit as an Employment Development Officer. In the early years of the Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom I worked (1988-1989) as its Resources Officer. I have continued to serve a range of religious-related bodies, most recently having acted as Chair of the Faiths Forum for the East Midlands (2004-2007).
I continue to be a member of the Council of the Forum of Faiths for Derby (2004-), and a Trustee (2006-) and member of the Executive Committee (2005) of the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby (see www.multifaithcentre.org), having been among those who first conceived and developed the idea of the Multi-Faith Centre.
Research interests
As Professor of Inter-Religious Relations, I focus particularly on the relationship between religions in the public sphere and between religions, the state and society in respect of the institutions and processes of governance. I also have research interests in relation to religions and statistics; religions and discrimination; religious freedom and human rights; and religions and dialogue.
Membership of professional bodies and advisory committees
- Visiting Professor of the Centre for Christianity and Culture of Regent's Park College, University of Oxford
- Member of the Baptist Historical Society (1984-)
- Member of the British Association for the Study of Religion (1990-)
- Trustee of the Interreligiose Arbeitstelle, Nachrodt, Germany (1990-)
- Member of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, Paris', Academic Response to Racism and Anti-Semitism (1995-).
Recent Publications
Inter Faith Network for the UK, London, 1995, pp. 4-16.
Electronic publication only at http://www2.derby.ac.uk/response/6d.asp?aid=10.
Recent Conferences
P. Weller, “‘Human Rights’, ‘Religion’ and the ‘Secular’: Variant Configurations of Religion(s), State(s) and Society(ies)”, at The Institute for Commonwealth Studies, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers’ Colloquium on Does God Believe in Human Rights?, at the Institute for Commonwealth Studies, London, 28th February, 2005
P. Weller, “Time for a Change: Key Theological and Ecclesiological Themes”, on the occasion of the launch of Weller, P (2005), Time for a Change: Reconfiguring Religion, State and Society, at Regents Park College, Oxford, 21st April 2005
P. Weller, “Time for a Change: Key Social and Political Themes”, on the occasion of the launch of Weller, P (2005), Time for a Change: Reconfiguring Religion, State and Society, at The Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, 27th April 2005
P. Weller, “The Ambiguous Territory of Numbers and Religion: A Tour of East Midlands via the 2001 Census” given to the East Midlands Ministry Training Course at the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, Derby, 17th June 2005
P. Weller, “Health Care, Religion, Equal Opportunities and Discrimination” at the Multi-Faith Centre in the University of Derby and the Health, Nursing and Therapeutics Research Group of the Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences, University of Derby Seminar Series on Spirituality, Religion and Health, at the Multi-Faith Centre, University of Derby, Derby, 3rd October 2005
P. Weller, “Jesus”, “God” and “Inter-Faith Dialogue” (3 linked papers) at The 2005 Beach Lectures, Newbold College, Bracknell, 17th-18th October, 2005
P. Weller, “Religions, Globalisation and Dialogue in the 21st Century. Fethullah Gülen and Arnold Toynbee: A Critical and Comparative Conversation with Contemporary Realities” at a Conference on Islam in the Contemporary World: The Fethullah Gülen Movement in Thought and Practice organised by The Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance at Rice University, Houston; the A. D. Bruce Religion Center University of Houston; and the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Texas and taking place at: Rice University, Houston, Texas, 12th-13th November 2005
P. Weller, “Religious Understanding in a Modern University: An Exploration of Faith” at the 50th Anniversary of the University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park Campus, the University of Essex, Colchester, 28th November 2005
P. Weller, “Inter-Faith Relations”, in Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby
Autumn seminar series on World Religions, at the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, Derby, 14th December 2005
P. Weller, “Review of Evidence Base on Faith Communities in Relation to ODPM Policy Areas: Findings of an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funded Research Project” to an inter-departmental staff seminar at the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister, London, 16th December 2005
P. Weller, “The ‘Figure’ of the Native American, Radical Otherness, Equity and Exceptionalism in The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne”, at the Colloquium on Themes of Equity and Exceptionalism in Anglo-American Literature, sponsored by the Oxford Centre for Christianity and Culture of Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford, and the Centre for Law, Philosophy and Culture, the Catholic University of America, Washington, USA, and held at Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford, January 5th-8th 2006
P. Weller “Incitement to Religious Hatred: What Is It All About?’, at the Faiths Regeneration Project, Leicester Faiths Regeneration Network Event at Leicester Cathedral Centre, 20th March 2006
P. Weller, “The Changing Face of Europe: The Nature and Role of Ethnic Minorities in European Societies”, at the European Baptist Federation Mission Secretaries’ Conference in Co-Operation with the International Baptist Theological Seminary Directors’ Conference on Ethnic Churches in Europe - A Baptist Response, International Baptist Theological Seminary, Prague, Czech Republic, June 7th-10th 2006
P. Weller, “Lifting the Lid on the Role of Religion in Today’s Society: The Findings of the Review of the Evidence Base on Faith Communities Produced for The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister”, at the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, Thursday 6th July 2006
P. Weller, “MEG: an opportunity for research and professional partnership” at the Oxford Neurodevelopmental Magnetoencephalography Unit: Redefining the Frontiers in Neuroscience founding seminar, Mary Ogilvie Lecture Theatre, St Anne’s College, Oxford, 7th July 2006
P. Weller, “Rendering Unto Caesar? Ethical and Methodological Issues in Working for the Government on Researching Religion”, at the British Association for the Study of Religions Annual Conference on The Ethical Dimension, at Bath Spa University College, Bath, 4th-6th September 2006
P. Weller, “The Evidence Base on Faith: What We Need to Know, What We Do Know and What We Don’t Know”, “Faith Communities: Evidence for Strategy and Delivery in Neighbourhood Renewal” workshop as part of the Supporting Evidence for Local Delivery series of seminars, at Great Minster House, London, 19th September, 2006
P. Weller, “Building an Inclusive Community: Engaging with the Issues” at a seminar of the Rugby Inter Faith Forum, Rugby, 23rd September, 2006
P. Weller, “Fethullah Gűlen, Turkey and the European Union at the Second Annual Conference on Islam in the Contemporary World: The Fethullah Gűlen Movement in Thought and Practice held at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, 3rd-5th November 2006
P. Weller, “What is Discrimination” at the Faith 2 Faith event of the Yorkshire and Humber Inter-Faith Forum, at the University of Leeds, Leeds, 12th December 2006
P. Weller, “Social Cohesion: Religions, Discrimination and Inclusivity”, at the Faith, Enterprise and Employment East Midlands Dissemination conference, held at the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, 17th January 2007
P. Weller, “Insiders or Outsiders? Religious Groups, Polite Society and the (Post?) Modern State”, at St. Columb’s Park House 8th Inter-Isles Forum on Faith and State: Getting the Balance Right, held at the University of Westminster, London, 27th January 2007
P. Weller, “Between Prophetic Symbolism, Pastoral Practice and Parliamentary Process: Religious Groups and the Practice of Sanctuary in the UK”, at the Société, Droit et Religions de L’Université de Sherbrooke (SoDRUS) 3rd International Conference, on Giving Sanctuary to Illegal Immigrants: Between Civil Disobedience and Legal Obligation, Université der Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, 8th-9th February 2007
P. Weller, “Religions in the UK: Contexts and Issues”, at the Joppa Group and Baptist Union of Great Britain Consultation on Good Neighbours?, held at the St. Philip’s Centre for Study and Engagement, Leicester, 1st March 2007
P. Weller, “Religions in the UK: Contexts and Issues for the Multi-Faith Challenge”, at the North Lincolnshire Multi Faith Partnership Conference on The Multi Faith Challenge, at Normanby Hall, Scunthorpe, 13th June 2007.
Additional Interests and Activities
Research and Consultancy Grants and Projects
£13,698 Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom-Multi-Faith Directory Research Project Phase I [includes £3,000 from the Commission for Racial Equality channelled through the Network as part of its overall grant] 1990-3
£11,566 Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom-Multi-Faith Directory Research Project Phase II, 1994-6.
£500 Barrow and Geraldine S Cadbury Trust - Towards the publication costs of a volume of essays based on the Centre’s seminar on Statistics and UK, 1994.
£918 Derby PRIDE Ltd. towards the Centre’s Pilot Research and Development Project on Places of Worship as Settings for Health Promotion, 1995
£500 Community Health UK towards the Centre’s Pilot Research and Development Project on Places of Worship as Settings for Health Promotion, 1995
£15,000 Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom-Multi-Faith Directory Research Project Phase III (1998-2001)
(with Ahmed Andrews) £10,000 Demographic Project for BBC Radio Sheffield,1998-89.
with Marie Parker-Jenkins, Ahmed Andrews and Anna Doswell), £125,399 for Home Office funded project on Religious Discrimination in England and Wales, 1999-01
£11,000 Community Empowerment Fund, Research and Development Project on Religious Group Participation, Inter-Faith Infrastructure and Capacity-Building in Derby, 2003-04
£2,000 Derby Council for Social Responsibility, Religious and Faith-Based Organisations Database Research Project, 2003
£500 Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby consultancy ‘sub-contracted’ from Community Empowerment Fund, to contribute to the “Involving Religions” project to establish a Forum of Faiths for Derby, 2004
£1,750 Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby consultancy ‘sub-contracted’from the British Council for review and updating of the ‘religion’ section of the British Council website , 2004-5
(with Christine Garner) £19,000 Culture East Midlands research project on Culture and Wellbeing, 2004-5
(with Daphne Beale), £5,300 Engage East Midlands and Government Office East Midlands Research Project on Multi-Faith Infrastructure Support: An Investigation Into Activity and Needs in the East Midlands, 2004-5
(with the ‘Mercia Group’ of researchers including Jim Beckford and David Owen [University of Warwick], Ceri Peach [University of Oxford] and Richard Gale [University of Birmingham].£5,200 (as part of £28,930 overall project) Office for the Deputy Prime Minister research project on Review of the Evidence Base on Faith Communities in relation to ODPM policy, 2005
£3,000 for editorial consultancy to the places of worship and religious organisations content of Office for National Statistics’ Neighbourhood Services website as part of an overall c. £50,000 project by the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, funded by the Home Office, 2005
6,000 Euros for research and consultancy contribution as part of European Union Grundvig Adult Education programme involving several European Organisations, co-ordinated by the Centre European Juif d’Information, to produce a training module on religious diversity and discrimination for NGOs in Europe, 2005-7
£2,000 editorial consultancy for the Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby, for editorial co-ordination of the 2007 edition of Religions in the UK: A Directory, 2006-07.
Media experience
I regularly do interviews on the BBC Radio Derby Sunday breakfast programme on a range of topics related to religion. I I have have also broadcast on national radio in the UK, in both extended interviews and programmes, as well as in news bulletins, as well as on national radio in Sweden and local radio in the USA. I have been interviewed for both regional and national television in the UK, as well as for satellite broadcast stations broadcasting to the Arab world. I have given interviews for DVD media and regularly speak with local and national newspaper reporters.
Latest news
I am currently writing a textbook for Continuum Publishers on Religious Diversity in the UK: Contexts and Issues.
Its chapters will include: Religious Diversity and the Contours of the Religious Landscape of the UK; Religious Diversity and Places of Worship; Religious Diversity, Hatred, Respect and Freedom of Expression; Religious Diversity, Governance and Civil Society; Religious Diversity and Education; and Religious Diversity, Discrimination and Equal Opportunities.
It will take a critical incident and case-study based approach to some of the major debates including demographic, socio-economic and other issues from the Census; places of worship; hatred, respect and freedom of expression; governance and civil society; education; and discrimination and equal opportunities. It will do so by facilitating engagement with topics of recent and often heated debate, such as The Satanic Verses, Jerry Springer the Opera, and Behzti controversies; wearing the veil and other religious symbols and responses to these; religious representation in public life; faith schools and student religious societies in higher education; religious rights, women’s rights and gay rights.
Geared to higher education students and to adult learners, it will contain helpful features for students - such as learning outcomes associated with the materials in each chapter; tasks and questions for discussion; a timeline of key events and developments; and bibliographical resources for further learning.
Undergraduate qualifications
- Cert ED (FE/HE), Derbyshire College of Higher Education (1992)
- Managing Safely Certificate, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (2006)
Postgraduate qualifications
- MA Theology, University of Oxford (1981)
Research qualifications
- MPhil on a Baptist Contribution to the Theology & Practice of Dialogue, University of Manchester (1988)
- PhD on The Rushdie Controversy, Religious Plurality & Established Religion, University of Leeds (1996)