Staff profile

New book: The Life of Christian Doctrine (Bloomsbury, 2020)

In 1991, at the beginning of the third year of my undergraduate degree, I made a last-minute decision to switch from maths to theology – and I haven’t looked back since. I started my first teaching job in 1999 in Exeter’s Department of Lifelong Learning, overseeing evening classes in theology all over the South West from Truro to Yeovil, and developing distance learning courses. In 2005 I moved over to the Department of Theology, where I taught modern Christian theology and the history of Christian doctrine, and became became Head of Department in 2006. In 2010, I took up a three-year secondment to the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme, to develop research programmes bringing together scholars of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and helping develop associated public education projects.

My post in Durham is part of the University's Common Awards partnership with the Church of England and various ecumenical partners. I provide academic leadership for the University's validation of the Common Awards in Theology, Ministry and Mission offered in colleges and courses around the country, and for developing collaborative research projects that bring together people from the church and university sectors to discuss the future of theological education.

I am married to Hester, a copy editor and proof reader, and have two children, Jordan and Tom.

• Christian doctrine
• Christology
• Postliberal theology
• Anglican theology
• Theology of higher education

Authored book

• Christian Doctrine
  
  Higton, M. (2024). Christian Doctrine. SCM.
• The Life of Christian Doctrine
  
  Higton, M. (2020). The Life of Christian Doctrine. Bloomsbury.
• Modern Theology: A Critical Introduction
  
  Muers, R., & Higton, M. (2012). Modern Theology: A Critical Introduction. Routledge.
• The Text in Play: Experiments in Reading Scripture
  
  Higton, M., & Muers, R. (2012). The Text in Play: Experiments in Reading Scripture. Cascade Books.
• A Theology of Higher Education
  
  Higton, M. (2012). A Theology of Higher Education. Oxford University Press.
• Deciding Differently: Rowan Williams' Theology of Moral Decision-Making
  
  Higton, M. (2011). Deciding Differently: Rowan Williams’ Theology of Moral Decision-Making. Grove Books.
• Christian Doctrine
  
  Higton, M. (2008). Christian Doctrine. SCM.
• Deliver Us: Exploring the Problem of Evil
  
  Higton, M. (2007). Deliver Us: Exploring the Problem of Evil. Canterbury Press.
• Vulnerable Learning: Thinking Theologically about Higher Education
  
  Higton, M. (2006). Vulnerable Learning: Thinking Theologically about Higher Education. Grove Books.
• Difficult Gospel: The Theology of Rowan Williams
  
  Higton, M. (2004). Difficult Gospel: The Theology of Rowan Williams. SCM Press.
• Christ, Providence, and History: Hans W. Frei's Public Theology
  
  Higton, M. (2004). Christ, Providence, and History: Hans W. Frei’s Public Theology. T&T Clark.

Chapter in book

• Beyond Theological Self-Possession
  
  Higton, M. (2023). Beyond Theological Self-Possession. In A. G. Reddie & C. Troupe (Eds.), Deconstructing Whiteness, Empire and Mission (pp. 13–26). SCM.
• Hans Frei, George Lindbeck and the Objectivity of Scripture
  
  Higton, M. (2023). Hans Frei, George Lindbeck and the Objectivity of Scripture. In G. Hunsinger (Ed.), The Legacy of Hans W. Frei. Bloomsbury.
• Receiving Scripture Again from One Another
  
  Higton, M. (2022). Receiving Scripture Again from One Another. In Receptive Ecumenism as Transformative Ecclesial Learning (pp. 383-392). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192845108.003.0031
• Doctrine and Prayer
  
  Higton, M. (2021). Doctrine and Prayer. In A. Cocksworth & J. C. McDowell (Eds.), T&T Clark Handbook of Christian Prayer (pp. 123-137). Bloomsbury.
• Lindbeck, Doctrine, and Reading
  
  Higton, M. (2021). Lindbeck, Doctrine, and Reading. In M. R. James & R. Rashkover (Eds.), Signs of Salvation: A Festschrift for Peter Ochs (pp. 223-234). Wipf and Stock.
• Rowan Williams
  
  Higton, M. (2018). Rowan Williams. In P. Avis (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of ecclesiology. (pp. 505-523). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199645831.013.15
• Christian Doctrine and the Discipline of Reading Scripture
  
  Higton, M. (2016). Christian Doctrine and the Discipline of Reading Scripture. In A. Paddison (Ed.), Theologians on Scripture. (pp. 93-104). Bloomsbury / T&T Clark.
• Education and the Virtues
  
  Higton, M. (2016). Education and the Virtues. In S. Heap (Ed.), The universities we need : theological perspectives. (pp. 77-90). Routledge.
• Marriage, Gender, and Doctrine
  
  Higton, M. (2016). Marriage, Gender, and Doctrine. In J. Bradbury & S. Cornwall (Eds.), Thinking again about marriage. (pp. 14-28). SCM Press.
• Faithful Improvisation or Talent Management? A Conversation Between the FAOC Report and the Green Report
  
  Higton, M. (2016). Faithful Improvisation or Talent Management? A Conversation Between the FAOC Report and the Green Report. In M. Higton & L. Alexander (Eds.), Faithful Improvisation? Theological Reflections on Church Leadership.. Church House Publishing.
• Reason
  
  Higton, M. (2015). Reason. In M. Higton & J. Fodor (Eds.), The Routledge companion to the practice of Christian theology. (pp. 9-22). Routledge.
• Tradition
  
  Higton, M. (2015). Tradition. In M. Higton & J. Fodor (Eds.), The Routledge companion to the practice of Christian theology. (pp. 193-202). Routledge.
• Religious Literacy in the Context of Theology and Religious Studies
  
  Higton, M., & Ford, D. (2015). Religious Literacy in the Context of Theology and Religious Studies. In A. Dinham & M. Francis (Eds.), Religious literacy in policy and practice. (pp. 39-54). Policy Press.
• Foreword
  
  Higton, M. (2013). Foreword. In M. Bowald (Ed.), The identity of Jesus Christ : the hermeneutical bases of dogmatic theology / by Hans W. Frei (p. xix-xxi). Wipf and Stock Publishers.
• The Theology of Tim Gorringe
  
  Higton, M. (2013). The Theology of Tim Gorringe. In M. Higton, C. Rowland, & J. Law (Eds.), Theology and Human Flourishing: Essays in Honour of Timothy J. Gorringe (pp. 1-15). Wipf and Stock.
• For It’s Own Sake, For God’s Sake: Wisdom and Delight in the University
  
  Higton, M. (2013). For It’s Own Sake, For God’s Sake: Wisdom and Delight in the University. In T. Greggs, R. Muers, & S. Zahl (Eds.), The Vocation of Theology Today: A Festschrift for David Ford. Cascade.
• Adoptionism, Anhypostasia, Communicatio idiomatum, Hans Frei, Homoousios, Hypostatic Union, Hypostasis, Incarnation, and Neo-Chalcedonianism
  
  Higton, M. (2010). Adoptionism, Anhypostasia, Communicatio idiomatum, Hans Frei, Homoousios, Hypostatic Union, Hypostasis, Incarnation, and Neo-Chalcedonianism. In I. A. McFarland, D. A. Fergusson, & K. Kilby (Eds.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Christian Theology. Cambridge University Press.
• Hans Frei
  
  Higton, M. (2006). Hans Frei. In J. S. Holcomb (Ed.), Christian Theologies of Scripture (pp. 220-239). New York Univ Pr.
• The Fulfilment of History in Barth, Frei, Auerbach and Dante
  
  Higton, M. (2004). The Fulfilment of History in Barth, Frei, Auerbach and Dante. In J. McDowell & M. Higton (Eds.), Conversing with Barth (pp. 120-141). Ashgate Publishing.
• English Popular Culture, Modern
  
  Higton, M. (2003). English Popular Culture, Modern. In L. Houlden (Ed.), Jesus in History, Culture and Thought: An Encyclopedia (pp. 240-244). ABC-CLIO.

Edited book

• Hans Frei: Reading Faithfully: Writings from the Archives, 2: Frei's Theological Background
  
  Higton, M., & Bowald, M. A. (Eds.). (2016). Hans Frei: Reading Faithfully: Writings from the Archives, 2: Frei’s Theological Background. Wipf and Stock (Cascade).
• Faithful Improvisation? Theological Reflections on Church Leadership.
  
  Higton, M., & Alexander, L. (Eds.). (2016). Faithful Improvisation? Theological Reflections on Church Leadership. Church House Publishing.
• The Routledge Companion to the Practice of Christian Theology
  
  Higton, M., & Fodor, J. (Eds.). (2015). The Routledge Companion to the Practice of Christian Theology. Routledge.
• Hans Frei: Reading Faithfully; Writings from the Archives, 1: Theology and Hermeneutics
  
  Higton, M., & Bowald, M. A. (Eds.). (2015). Hans Frei: Reading Faithfully; Writings from the Archives, 1: Theology and Hermeneutics. Wipf and Stock (Cascade).
• The Modern Theologians Reader
  
  Ford, D., Higton, M., & Zahl, S. (Eds.). (2012). The Modern Theologians Reader. Wiley.
• Theology and Human Flourishing: Essays in Honor of Timothy J. Gorringe.
  
  Higton, M., Law, J., & Rowland, C. (Eds.). (2011). Theology and Human Flourishing: Essays in Honor of Timothy J. Gorringe. Cascade Books.
• Conversing with Barth
  
  McDowell, J. C., & Higton, M. (Eds.). (2004). Conversing with Barth. Ashgate Publishing.
• Jesus
  
  Ford, D., & Higton, M. (Eds.). (2002). Jesus. Oxford University Press.

Journal Article

• Revisiting the Rustat case
  
  Higton, M. (2024). Revisiting the Rustat case. Ecclesiastical Law Journal, 26(3), 298-312. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956618X24000371
• Kathryn Tanner and the Receptivity of Christ and the Church
  
  Higton, M. (2022). Kathryn Tanner and the Receptivity of Christ and the Church. Anglican Theological Review, 104(2), 134-147. https://doi.org/10.1177/00033286211068747
• Introduction [to Special Issue: Receiving the Gift: Ecumenical Theological Engagements with John Barclay’s Paul and the Gift]
  
  Higton, M., Kilby, K., & Murray, P. (2020). Introduction [to Special Issue: Receiving the Gift: Ecumenical Theological Engagements with John Barclay’s Paul and the Gift]. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 22(1), 3-6. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijst.12390
• Discovering Virtue: How to be Good in Higher Education
  
  Higton, M. (2017). Discovering Virtue: How to be Good in Higher Education. Occasional Papers on Faith in Higher Education, 3, 17-31.
• Teaching and Witness in the Life of the Church
  
  Higton, M. (2017). Teaching and Witness in the Life of the Church. Scottish Episcopal Institute Journal., 1.2, 6-20.
• George Lindbeck and the Christological Nature of Doctrine
  
  Higton, M. (2015). George Lindbeck and the Christological Nature of Doctrine. Criswell Theological Review : CTR., 13(1), 47-61.
• Apophaticism Transformed
  
  Higton, M. (2015). Apophaticism Transformed. Modern Theology, 31(3), 511-516. https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12173
• A Response to Mark Randall James
  
  Higton, M. (2015). A Response to Mark Randall James. The Journal of Scriptural Reasoning, 14(1), 1-4.
• Reconstructing The Nature of Doctrine
  
  Higton, M. (2014). Reconstructing The Nature of Doctrine. Modern Theology, 30(1), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12050
• Wisdom and Delight in the University
  
  Higton, M. (2013). Wisdom and Delight in the University. Journal of Beliefs and Values, 34(3), 300-311. https://doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2013.828953
• Scriptural Reasoning and the Discipline of Christian Doctrine
  
  Higton, M. (2013). Scriptural Reasoning and the Discipline of Christian Doctrine. Modern Theology, 29(4), 120-137. https://doi.org/10.1111/moth.12065
• Theological Education between the University and the Church: Durham University and the Common Awards in Theology, Ministry and Mission
  
  Higton, M. (2013). Theological Education between the University and the Church: Durham University and the Common Awards in Theology, Ministry and Mission. Journal of Adult Theological Education, 10(1), 25-37. https://doi.org/10.1179/1740714113z.0000000002
• The Irrepressibility of Scripture: Psalm 1 Between Jews and Christians
  
  Higton, M. (2013). The Irrepressibility of Scripture: Psalm 1 Between Jews and Christians. The Journal of Scriptural Reasoning, 7(1).
• The Ecclesial Body’s Grace: Obedience and Faithfulness in Rowan Williams
  
  Higton, M. (2011). The Ecclesial Body’s Grace: Obedience and Faithfulness in Rowan Williams. Ecclesiology, 7(1), 7-28. https://doi.org/10.1163/174553110x540888
• Criticism, Obedience and Exile: Theological Education as Religious and Secular.
  
  Higton, M. (2009). Criticism, Obedience and Exile: Theological Education as Religious and Secular. Theology, 112(869), 323-332.
• Rowan Williams and Sharia: Defending the Secular.
  
  Higton, M. (2008). Rowan Williams and Sharia: Defending the Secular. International Journal of Public Theology, 2(4), 400-417.
• The Spirituality of Further Education
  
  Higton, M. (2007). The Spirituality of Further Education. Journal of Chaplaincy in Further Education, 3.
• Read Mark and Learn
  
  Higton, M. (2005). Read Mark and Learn. The Journal of Scriptural Reasoning, 5(3).
• Can the University and the Church Save Each Other?.
  
  Higton, M. (2005). Can the University and the Church Save Each Other?. Cross Currents, 55(2), 172-183.
• Boldness and Reserve: A Lesson from St Augustine.
  
  Higton, M. (2003). Boldness and Reserve: A Lesson from St Augustine. Anglican Theological Review, 85(3), 447-456.
• An American Theologian of History: Hans W. Frei in 1956.
  
  Higton, M. (2002). An American Theologian of History: Hans W. Frei in 1956. Anglican and Episcopal History., 71(1), 61-84.
• The Research Assessment Exercise as Sin
  
  Higton, M. (2002). The Research Assessment Exercise as Sin. Critical Quarterly, 44(4), 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8705.00453
• Meeting Scotus: On Scholasticism and its Ghosts.
  
  Higton, M., & Holmes, S. R. (2002). Meeting Scotus: On Scholasticism and its Ghosts. International Journal of Systematic Theology, 4(1), 67-81.
• "A Carefully Circumscribed Progressive Politics": Hans Frei's Political Theology.
  
  Higton, M. (1999). "A Carefully Circumscribed Progressive Politics": Hans Frei’s Political Theology. Modern Theology, 15(1), 55-83.
• Hans Frei and David Tracy on the Ordinary and the Extraordinary in Christianity
  
  Higton, M. (1999). Hans Frei and David Tracy on the Ordinary and the Extraordinary in Christianity. The Journal of Religion, 79(4), 566-591. https://doi.org/10.1086/490501
• Frei's Christology and Lindbeck's Cultural-Linguistic Theory
  
  Higton, M. (1997). Frei’s Christology and Lindbeck’s Cultural-Linguistic Theory. Scottish Journal of Theology., 50(1), 83-95.

Other (Print)

• Jesus: The How of God.
  
  Higton, M. (2016). Jesus: The How of God (pp. 18-19). Church Times.

Report

• Towards a Church of England Vision for Higher Education
  
  Higton, M. (2011). Towards a Church of England Vision for Higher Education.