Evangelical Subjectives: an Ethnographic Study of Religious Life-Worlds within a Conservative Evangelical Anglican Congregation in London

Lead Supervisor:       Gordon Lynch (Bbk)

Co-Supervisor:          Cosimo Zene (SOAS)
                                   Lisa Baraitser (Bbk)

This project will contribute to our understanding of contemporary Evangelical subjectivities, focusing particularly on conservative Evangelicals in London with links to GAFCON.  The project will examine in what ways Evangelical subjectivities are constructed through a complex inter-play with forms of secular culture and other religious beliefs and structures.  It will seek to move beyond simplistic characterizations of Evangelical belief to examine how Evangelicals negotiate tensions arising out of their participation in a pluralist society, as well as the significance of their religious subjectivity in different social settings.  By adopting an ethnographic approach, the project will also make it possible to track over time how wider pressures (eg.over sexuality in the Anglican Communion, or in relation to new equality legislation in the UK) contribute to the ways in which Evangelicals experience their place in relation to wider religious and political structures.  By the end of the project, it is expected that the award-holder will be able to make a valuable contribution both to our understanding of contemporary Evangelicalism and to theoretical debates about religious subjectivities.  The award-holder will also benefit from a wide range of research activities in the study of religion, and social research more generally, available through Birkbeck and SOAS.

The successful applicant will have a good undergraduate degree (2:1 or above) in a relevant discipline (e.g.anthropology, sociology, theology, religious studies) and would also normally be expected to have relevant Masters' level qualification (preferably with distinction).  An understanding of contemporary Evangelicalism is essential, as is the ability to plan and conduct an in-depth ethnographic project in this context.  Previous formal training in ethnographic or social research methods more generally would be advantageous, but not essential as further training can be provided whilst in post.

Further details about the project may be obtained from:

Lead Supervisor:         Professor Gordon Lynch; g.lynch@bbk.ac.uk
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/crcs

Co-Supervisor:            Dr Cosimo Zene: zc@soas.ac.uk

Further information about PhDs at Birkbeck is available from:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/prospective/research/

Application forms and details about how to apply are available from:

http://www.bbk.ac.uk/crcs/postgraduate/bloomsbury
Professor Gordon Lynch
Centre for Religion and Contemporary Society
Birkbeck College
26 Russell Square
London
WC1B 5DQ;
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7631 6658
g.lynch@bbk.ac.uk

Further Requirements

Completed application forms should be returned to Professor Lynch at the above address together with copies of any relevant academic transcripts and a covering letter setting out briefly the applicant's suitability for this studentship.

Closing date for applications is:  25 February 2009