Gillian begins our 2025 season on Belonging by talking with Prof John Swinton, Professor of Practical and pastoral theology at aberdeen university. John is an registered mental health nurse, ordained minister and noted theologian, researching particularly in areas of mental health and dementia. He is also President of GoHealth, and a musician, recently releasing an album Beautiful songs about difficult things.
Together they explore:
- Countercultural presence
- Absence because of mobile phone use
- Getting comfortable with disruption in church
- Mental health in terms of discipleship and vocation
- Moving from ‘fixing’ to friendship.
- Theology of the Psalms of lament.
- Spirituality of darkness.
- Helpful and harmful anger.
- Solastalgia.
- Belonging as being missed.
- Learning to be kind.
- The Denis Duncan Lecture 2025
