Archbishop awards the first 'Examination in Theology' PhDs at Lambeth Palace

Wednesday 9th May 2012

These are the first two PhDs awarded through the MPhil/PhD research degrees programme launched in 2007 by the Archbishop's Examination in Theology.  The programme has been developed with Quality Assurance Agency requirements and general university standards in mind.

The Archbishop of Canterbury enjoys the right to grant these degrees by an Act of Parliament in 1533.  The act gave Archbishop Cranmer the right to grant dispensations previously granted by the Pope.

The Revd Canon Les Oglesby

Thesis title: God's involvement with evil: a dialogue between psychology and theology constructed from the works of Carl Gustav Jung and Hans Urs von Balthasar

Les trained at Ripon College, Cuddesdon, and was ordained in 1978.  After holding various posts in St Albans Diocese, he moved to Ely Diocese in 2001 as the Diocesan Director of Ministerial and Adult Learning, now Director of Ministry.  He is an Honorary Canon of Ely Cathedral.

The Revd Canon Robert 'Bob' Reiss

Thesis title: The testing of vocation: the twentieth century history of the Central Advisory Council for the Training of the Ministry and its successors

Bob trained at Westcott House, Cambridge, and was ordained in 1969.  He has held a variety of positions, including Chaplain at Trinity College, Cambridge, and Senior Selection Secretary in the Church of England's Ministry Division.  In later years he served as the Archdeacon of Surrey in Guildford Diocese and in 2005 became Canon Treasurer and Almoner at Westminster Abbey.

L-R: Peter Beesley (Faculty Office), Revd Dr Jeremy Morris (Director, Archbishop's Examination in Theology), Revd Canon Les Oglesby (PhD recipient), Archbishop of Canterbury, Revd Canon Bob Reiss (PhD recipient), Revd Canon Dr Maureen Palmer (AET Academic Registrar), Stephen Borton (Faculty Office).

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