The University of Leeds

Faculty Member, Theology and Religious Studies

Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology

About

Al McFadyen works mainly on the theme of humanity, trying to understand theologically how to be human and what it means to be human in practice as well as in theory, as well as how to speak humanly about humanity. He is married, with two sons and two step-daughters (one wife) who would all tell you quickly how little he knows about that, were they able to edit his profile.

In his research and writing, he operates within the interface, not only of church and world, but of academy and world, often attempting a triangulation between Christian doctrine, secular theories and concrete situations of practice in the real world, hoping for mutual illumination.

He has developed this approach writing on child sexual abuse and the holocaust, on inner-city policing, and on personhood.

He could give a complicated theoretical account of why this is an appropriate theological methodology, but really it's simply a triangulation he finds he lives within and is his existential situation as an Anglican (Episcopalian) lay-person, working in the academy who has always also found himself engaged in other communities of practice. Alongside his full-time academic post, he also serves part-time as a police officer in a challenging, multi-faith and multi-ethnic inner-city area of Leeds (the views he expresses are entirely his own and not necessarily reflective of the views of either of his employers).  Especially since the 7th July 2005 terrorist attacks on London (he lectures about half a mile from the bomb factory), he has tried to work more explicitly in ways that bring the two worlds of policing in a religiously plural and secular society and academic study of religion together.

The great American guru of practical theology, Don Browning, once asked Al whether his theology fit most neatly into a box labelled 'Systematic Theology' or the one labelled 'practical theology'. After much conversation, they agreed that he was 'practically a theologian' and Al has been trying to live up to that ever since.

He is currently finalising a book called Seeking Humanity, whilst also working on the themes more directly related to his policing experience - loving enemies, loving the neighbourhood, and police engagement with faith communities.

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