Ekklesia was originally set up to operate ‘virtually’, with its freelance / volunteer staff operating from different locations. From 2014–16 we were able to employ part-time staff and maintain a small office in London. We are now working on a voluntary (non-remunerative) and occasionally contract basis. We have relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland, but engage with partners in other parts of the British and Irish isles and beyond.
Director
Simon Barrow (Scotland) is a writer, commentator, educator and researcher with wide experience in politics, public issues, media, organisational change and religion/beliefs. His next book, Against the Religion of Power: Telling a Different Christian Story, will be published in 2023. He has recently edited, co-edited and contributed to A Better Nation (Luath Press, 2022), Scotland After the Virus (Luath Press, 2020), Feast or Famine? How the Gospel challenges austerity (DLT, 2018), Scotland the Brave? (Luath, 2019) and A Nation Changed? (Luath, 2017). He is a member of the advisory board for the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Edinburgh, and for the Religion Advisory Board within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Stirling University. Simon co-founded the Accord Coalition. In 2022 he became its interim chair, and he is also chair of trustees of the Inclusive Education Trust. He is an elected member of the Ethics Council of the National Union of Journalists. He was previously assistant general secretary of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and executive secretary of the former Churches’ Commission on Mission. His columns can be found here (and archived ones here). Twitter: @simonbarrow
Contributing Editor
Jill Segger (England) is a freelance writer who contributes to the Church Times, The Catholic Herald, Tribune, and The Friend, among other publications. Her acclaimed book Words Out of Silence was published by Ekklesia in 2019. She is an active member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and has a particular interest in how spirituality influences our social and political choices. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Jill became an honorary associate director in 2010 and contributing editor at the end of 2022, reflecting her primary work on editorial issues and as a valued regular contributor. She is also a musician and has been a composer. Her recent columns are available here and her pre-2021 articles can be found here. You can follow Jill on Twitter: @quakerpen
Production and Publishing Consultant
Bob Carling (England) is a zoologist/pharmacologist with over 30 years’ experience in publishing. He is Managing Editor of the poetry, short fiction and ‘curious things’ publishing company Cultured Llama, as well as handling production for Ekklesia Publishing, which he helped to establish in 2016, and the new imprint, Siglum. He has previously worked for Academic Press, Chapman & Hall, the Royal College of Physicians, among others, as well as having an impressive freelance portfolio. Now a key part of the Ekklesia team, Dr Carling also writes occasionally for us on science-related issues and is a musician. For more on his publishing, music and writing, see: http://www.carling.org.uk. You can follow Bob on Twitter: @bcarling
Associates
Bernadette Meaden (England) has written about political, religious and social issues for some years, and is strongly influenced by Christian Socialism, liberation theology and the Catholic Worker movement. She is a regular contributor to our news briefings and commentary. Her latest book is Illness, Disability and Caring: A Bible study for individuals and groups (DLT, 2020). Her latest articles can be found here. Past columns (up to 2020) are archived here. You can follow Bernadette on Twitter: @BernaMeaden
Savitri Hensman (Sri Lanka/England) is a respected commentator on welfare and political issues. She is author of Sexuality, Struggle and Saintliness: same-sex love and the church (Ekklesia, 2016) and has been involved in seeking greater inclusion. She wrote about ‘Health or Wealth’ for Feast or Famine? How the Gospel challenges austerity (Darton, Longman and Todd, 2018). Here latest columns can be found here, and archived ones (up to 2020) here.
John Gillibrand (Wales) is Vicar of Pontarddulais with Penllergaer, in the Church in Wales Diocese of Swansea and Brecon. He is a writer and scholar. John is author of Disabled Church: Disabled Society: The Implications of Autism for Philosophy, Theology and Politics (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010). He runs the Good Conversation podcast. His archived Ekklesia articles can be found here. Twitter: @JohnGillibrand and @GoodToConverse
Douglas Hynd (Australia) is Adjunct Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Charles Sturt University. He is an Anabaptist active on peace and justice issues, particularly support of asylum seekers. His latest book, Community Engagement after Christendom was published in 2022 by Wipf & Stock. Twitter: @DouginCanberra
Harry Hagopian (Middle East/England) is an international lawyer, ecumenist and political consultant. He also acts as Legal Consultant to OTS Solicitors in London (particularly on Brexit and immigration issues). He has been a regular, specialist contributor on Middle East and related issues. His past columns can be found here. His book Keeping Faith with Hope: The Challenge of Israel–Palestine was published by Ekklesia in 2019. Twitter: @harryhagopian
Jake Cunliffe (United States) is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church. Recently, He has coordinated a diocesan task force against the death penalty and advocated for children in Ohio. He has previous experience in nonprofit and public sector research, banking, and recruitment consulting.
To get in touch with Ekklesia, please go to our contact page.