Wendy Mayer
In the 21st century, across universities, theological schools, and countries, Patristics is under pressure. The increasing secularism of western countries, the pressures of business- and vocationally-driven educational models, a deep suspicion of institutionalised religion in the wake of nation-wide sex-abuse scandals, and fundamentalist movements – to name but a few social and political factors – are all having their impact. In this paper I will argue that these same factors are in fact an opportunity for re-energising and re-investment in the field. A case can be made to governments, society and university or college administrators that Patristics is relevant and has something vital to contribute. Examples will be drawn from my own experiences since taking up the position of Associate Dean for Research in a small embattled theological college that throws up many of these challenges in microcosm. My formation in Patristics and Patristics research, I have found, speaks to those challenges in surprisingly fruitful ways. If Elizabeth Clark famously argued in the 1990s for more church history, less theology in the field, what we will propose are some further avenues which (post-)postmodernity challenges us to take up. That vision embraces and lifts up a future for Patristics in not just Europe, the UK and North America, but also Asia and the global South.