The Centre for Religion and Social Policy brings theological insight into contemporary world issues and social policy debates—by stimulating research and engagement activity across the University and by building external partnerships.
Mission
In keeping with its vision, the University established a Centre for Religion and Social Policy (RASP). Formally launched on Thursday 8 December 2016 in Melbourne CBD, RASP actively builds collaboration with the churches and agencies.
The Centre for Religion and Social Policy (RASP):
- promotes and undertakes research on the interaction between religion and society, and its policy implications
- encourages public conversation about the implications of religious social thinking, including its socio-economic, environmental, cultural and political aspects
- adopts an advocacy role about relevant areas of social policy
- engages in research for peer-reviewed journals and monographs
- draws academic resources within the University of Divinity into closer engagement with current public issues
- identifies and resources informed spokespeople to engage in public conversation in areas of their expertise
- develops partnerships among the Colleges of the University of Divinity; the churches, religious organisations and religious orders, their agencies and networks; organisations and individuals who share the Centre’s aims
- encourages, through collaboration with the Colleges, the teaching of specific units on religion and social policy.
I am excited and honoured to be the Director of the University of Divinity's Centre for Religion and Social Policy (RASP). The Centre is a key step forward by the University in line with one of its major aims, that of public engagement. I look forward eagerly to continuing work with our partner institutions and Members of the Centre in various cross-disciplinary research projects engaging major social policy issues of our time. We aim to make our research timely and of a relatively perennial public nature.
Engage
RASP hosts and contributes to a number of public events during the year. Visit the University’s Vox (News and Events) website for information about public events coming up near you.
Members of RASP also regularly contribute to public commentary on current social policy issues. The University consists of eleven colleges representing a diverse range of Christian traditions so most articles will reflect the perspective of our members but in engagement with a range of other perspectives.
Disclaimer: The University of Divinity does not accept any responsibility or liability for the opinions expressed in these pages.
Meet our team
Research
Under the overall focus of Flourishing in a Fragile World, these themes help RASP focus its research efforts but are not exclusive. They will be regularly informed by Indigenous, inter-generational, gender diverse, multicultural and multi-religious sources and dialogue.
Governance
There is a Management Group of the Centre for Religion and Social Policy which provides advice to the Director and support to the Centre in fulfilling its aims. The Management Group is accountable to the Vice-Chancellor.
The members of the Management Group of the Centre for Religion and Social Policy are:
- the Centre’s three priority project leaders (currently in ecology, economy and wellbeing)
- one other person with expertise in research and engagement and/or grant applications/fundraising (currently the University of Divinity’s Director of Research)
- the Director of the Centre
