Staff profile

Andrew has a professional background in community and youth work as practitioner, manager, trustee and consultant. He has worked with a wide range of organisations in voluntary, public and faith-based sectors in these roles and through his research.

Research and Educational Leadership

• Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies, Department of Sociology
• Director of the William Leech Research Fund (1 day per week secondment), enabling funding for research into Christian social action across the North East of England.
• Member of the Steering Group for the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action , having previously been Deputy Director and Director of this centre.

Research Projects

Recent research has explored:

• Ways of developing reflective learning relating to identities for Christian practitioners working with refugees and asylum seekers from different European contexts. 
• Forms of ecumenical Christian social activism connecting Brazil and the UK (led by Joanildo Burity, Fundação Joaquim Nabuco, Recife).
• Resource dilemmas for Christian social welfare practitioners (pilot project involving partners in four European countries).
• Participatory and collaborative research on responses to poverty, including supporting participatory research on reducing the need for foodbanks (with Steve Crossley leading), and current engagement with a Poverty Truth Commission in the North East of England. 
• Christian responses to debt and financial exclusion.
• Ways of enhancing learning in participatory research, including through supporting workshops and related institutional capacity building.

Andrew’s track record also includes previous engagement with policymakers at local, national and international levels on topics such as cross-community interactions.  He continues to be an expert for the Intercultural Cities programme of the Council of Europe, having previously supported the Council of Europe’s work on migrant belonging in local communities (leading to a recommendation to member states being adopted by the Committee of Ministers).  He has also previously undertaken research with the Methodist Church, including exploring deacons’ perspectives on good practice in diaconal ministry.

Teaching

Andrew currently leads the teaching for the postgraduate 'Communities, Civil Society and Social Justice' module and contributes to the undergraduate 'Communities and Social Justice' module.  Previous teaching experience includes leading the undergraduate ‘Societies in Transition’ module, and being Programme Director for postgraduate Community and Youth Work programmes. 

He has been part of the Department of Sociology’s management group since 2019, as Director of Education and now Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies. 

Andrew is an experienced doctoral supervisor and examiner and is open to PhD students within his areas of research interest, having also supported international visiting research fellows (including from Malaysia and Australia).  He has also supported staff and postgraduate research training on participatory research.

• Andrew's research interests focus on issues of faith, dialogue and diversity in professional practice, with a particular interest in how practitioners and others decide what is 'good practice' within related work.
• His work is often interdisciplinary in nature, including particular collaborations with practical theology to explore forms of Christian community and youth work.
• He is also interested in a range of related issues, including professional community work practice, community and voluntary organisation management, and social action, especially in relation to public policy and faith-based social action in these field
• Whether working with practitioners, policy-makers, or others, Andrew's research builds in impact by actively involving people within the research process.

Authored book

• Orton, A., & Stockdale, T. (2014). Making Connections: Exploring Methodist Deacons' Perspectives on Contemporary Diaconal Ministry. Sacristy Press
• Orton, A. (2012). Building Migrants' Belonging through Positive Interactions: A Guide for Policymakers and Practitioners. Council of Europe

Chapter in book

• Orton, A. (2021). Poverty in the Midst of Wealth and Social Exclusion as a Diaconal Challenge – Reflections on Responding to Household Debt in the UK. In G. Ampony, M. Büscher, B. Hofmann, F. Ngnintedem, D. Solon, & D. Werner (Eds.), International Handbook on Ecumenical Diakonia (388-392). Oxford: Regnum
• Orton, A. (2013). Conclusion: Sustaining Community Practice for the Future. In S. Banks, H. Butcher, A. Orton, & J. Robertson (Eds.), Managing Community Practice: Principles, Policies and Programmes (191-203). (Second Edition). Policy Press
• Orton, A. (2011). "Giving it Away", "Selling Out" or "Creative Spaces"? Why Changing Organisational Geographies Matter in English Christian Community Work. In C. Brace, A. Bailey, S. Carter, D. Harvey, & N. Thomas (Eds.), Emerging Geographies of Belief (272-292). Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Journal Article

• Burity, J., & Orton, A. (2024). Ecumenical Social Activism and Transnational Connections Between Brazil and Britain: Theoretical and Practical Understandings of Ecumenism. International Journal of Latin American Religions, 8(2), 655-681. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41603-024-00259-4
• Burity, J., & Orton, A. (2024). Ecumenical Social Activism and Transnational Connections Between Brazil and Britain: Practitioner Perspectives on Networks and Power. International Journal of Latin American Religions, 8(2), 682-715. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41603-024-00264-7
• Orton, A., & Barclay, D. (2020). Why networks matter in faith-related community development work: Learning from diverse Christian responses to debt in England. Community Development Journal, 55(3), 496-514. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsz002
• Orton, A. (2016). Interfaith Dialogue: Seven Key Questions for Theory, Policy and Practice. Religion, State and Society, 44(4), 349-365. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2016.1242886
• Orton, A., & Withrow, L. (2015). Transformative Potentials of Liminal Leadership. Journal of religious leadership, 14(1), 23-44
• Orton, A. (2014). The Ethical Dimensions of Dialogue Between Policymakers: Learning Through Interaction Over Migrant Integration Dilemmas. Journal of dialogue studies, 2(2), 25-48
• Orton, A. (2013). The Diverse and Contested Diaconate: Why Understanding this Ministry is Crucial to the Future of the Church. International Journal of Practical Theology, 16(2), 260-284. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijpt-2012-0017
• Stockdale, T., & Orton, A. (2013). The Contemporary Nature of Diaconal Ministry in British Methodism: Purposes and Processes of Good Practice. Theology and ministry, 2(2013), 4.1-4.19
• Banks, S., & Orton, A. (2007). The grit in the oyster: community development workers in a modernizing local authority. Community Development Journal, 42(1), 97-113. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsi074
• Orton, A. (2007). Contesting “good practice” in faith-based action for social change : diversity, dialogue & dilemmas in Christian community work. The journal for faith, spirituality and social change, 1(1), 20-33

Other (Print)

• Barclay, D., Orton, A., & Stepanova, E. (2016). Taking Action on Debt and Supporting Financial Inclusion: A Guide for Churches on Responding in Your Local Area. Durham
• Painter, J., Orton, A., MacLeod, D., Dominelli, L., & Pande, R. (2011). Connecting Localism and Community Empowerment: Research Review and Critical Synthesis for the AHRC Connected Community Programme. Durham
• Orton, A. (2008). Evaluating Cross-Community Work in Holme Wood: Making Connections?

Report

• Crossley, S., Orton, A., Corrigan, D., Davidson, L., Diamond, N., Hall, C., McGrother, I., Smith, K., & Wayte, M. (2024). Reducing the need for foodbanks in County Durham. Centre for Social Justice and Community Action (CSJCA), Durham Christian Partnership (DCP)
• Orton, A., & Hart, P. (2017). Leading Together in Growing Methodist Churches: Learning from Research and Practice in the North East of England. Durham: Durham University
• Barclay, D., & Orton, A. (2017). Money Talks: Christian Responses to Debt in the North East and London. Durham University, Durham, with the Centre for Theology and Community, London
• Orton, A. (2016). Tackling Prejudice and Engaging with Religious Minorities: How Cities Can Make a Difference with an Intercultural Cities Approach. Strasbourg: Council of Europe
• Orton, A. (2014). Faith in Intercultural Cities: Recognising religions as part of local diversity,and exploring how they can contribute to the diversity advantage of cities. Strasbourg: Council of Europe
• Orton, A. (2010). Exploring Interactions in Migrant Integration: Connecting Policy, Research and Practice Perspectives on Recognition, Empowerment, Participation and Belonging. Council of Europe, European Committee on Migration (CDMG)
• Orton, A. (2009). What Works in Enabling Cross-Community Interactions? Perspectives on Good Policy and Practice. National Community Forum / Department for Communities and Local Government