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Luke Bretherton is the Canon and Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at Christ Church, Oxford. The Regius Professorship of Moral and Pastoral Theology was established by an Act of Parliament in 1840. Previously the Robert E. Cushman Distinguished Professor of Moral and Political Theology and senior fellow at the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University, Prof. Bretherton has a distinguished academic and practical background. Before joining Duke in 2012, he was a reader in Theology & Politics and convener of the Faith & Public Policy Forum at King’s College London.
His latest book A Primer in Christian Ethics: Christ and the Struggle to Live Well (Cambridge University Press, 2023) provides a new, constructive framework for addressing the question of what it means to live a good life amid the difficulties of everyday life and the catastrophes and injustices that afflict so many today. His previous books include Christ and the Common Life: Political Theology and the Case for Democracy (Eerdmans, 2019), which explores the historical and contemporary relationship between Christianity and democracy.
After completing his PhD, Professor Bretherton was appointed as Director of Studies at St Augustine’s Theological College before moving back to King’s College London in 2004 where he became Reader in Theology and Politics. Additionally, he has been a Visiting Professor at St Mellitus Theological College since 2022. Professor Bretherton has an MA in History from Cambridge University and a PhD from the University of London in Moral Philosophy and Theology. Prof. Bretherton was made Deacon in June 2024 by the Bishop of London in a service at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Prof. Bretherton’s work addresses critical topics including debt, populism, euthanasia, environmental justice, racism, humanitarianism, and church-state relations.
Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution and the author of eight books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. He is a contributing writer of The Atlantic and recipient of the 2005 National Magazine Award, the magazine industry’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. His many Brookings publications include the 2021 book The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, as well as the 2015 ebook “Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Back-Room Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy.” Other books include The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better after 50 (2018) and Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America (2004). He has also authored research on political parties, marijuana legalization, LGBT rights and religious liberty, and more.
Although much of his writing has been on public policy, he has also written on topics as widely varied as adultery, agriculture, economics, gay marriage, height discrimination, biological rhythms, number inflation, and animal rights. His multiple-award-winning column, “Social Studies,” appeared from 1998 to 2010 in National Journal.
Rauch was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and graduated in 1982 from Yale University. In addition to the National Magazine Award, his honors include the 2010 National Headliner Award, one of the industry’s most venerable prizes. In 1996 he was awarded the Premio Napoli alla Stampa Estera for his coverage, in The Economist, of the European Parliament. In 2011 he won the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association prize for excellence in opinion writing. His articles appear in The Best Magazine Writing 2005 and The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2004 and 2007. He has appeared as a guest on many television and radio programs.