The Inspire Project: Alexander McMeekin
April 12, 2023
Inspire Portrait and Interview by Ginger Liu
INSPIRE seeks to capture photographic portraits of the York St John’s PGR community, accompanied by short interviews about who inspired you on your postgraduate journey.
Tell me about your background and what you do if you work, the area you live in, etc.
I studied Fine Art at The School of Art and Design in Belfast in the early 80’s and exhibited at several exhibitions including the Ulster Museum Summer Show and was a founder member of the Ulster Artists Association before moving into retail management at the end of the 80’s. During that time, I came to faith and as a part of that journey I attended Regents Theological College from 1993 -1995. From that time, I have held three Pastorates: West Bromwich Community Church, Kilsyth Church of God and from 2011 until the present at Beacon Community Centre in Burntwood.
I have continued to read widely and extensively in the arts, theology, and associated subjects, having a specific interest in Public Theology. I have taught at Adult Education, F.E. and have lectured in Christology at colleges in India, Italy, and the Philippines.
What is your Ph.D. about, what year, and why York SJ?
I am a part-time PhD researcher, having commenced in Oct 2021. My PhD Is about the degree of LGBT Inclusion in a Pentecostal environment, specifically within the Elim Pentecostal Movement. Initially I had decided to approach this subject using qualitative methods but as I have progressed through my first year, I have been excited to reframe the method of the research as I have listened to and reflected on the guidance of my supervisors.
I have been able to relocate my research within a Practical Theological framework utilising attitude measurement and psychological type as quantitative methods that might yield predictive empirical data that will allow analysis and reflection.
What is your PGR journey? What steps did you make, hardships, hurdles, dreams, and reasons why you wanted to be a PGR?
In 2020, I had begun to think about study and about what form that might take. I had considered theology as a subject base and had contacted Andrew Village to discuss possibilities of level of study. I don’t hold a B.A. or M.A. in theology so I had considered the possibility of the Dmin as this allows for professional experience to be considered in the application process. This route closed in 2021 and so the route that remained was to persuade Andrew of the validity and importance of my subject area.
Who inspired you to study for PGR and why?
My passion is in Public Theology and Cultural Apologetics. So I have been motivated to pursue academic research In these areas as a contribution to my professional work as well as to the literature. I read widely and deeply in these areas and so there are a host of inspirational writers and leaders I could mention but here are just a few: William Lane Craig, Dr Joe Boot, Archbishop Nazir-Ali, James Emery White, Mark Sawyers, Tom S Rainer and Andrea Minichiello Williams. These writers, thinkers and commentators forensically frame the cultural conversation between church and culture. I want to also mention my two supervisors as they have inspired me to new learning: Andrew Village and Leslie Francis.
How important is it to have inspiration to drive your PGR?
Beyond any shadow of a doubt what we research must mean something. The PGR journey is long, demanding, complex, exciting, it is surprising and can produce the unexpected, but it can also involve the mundane and the necessary minutiae. Inspiration and drive keep us to the task. It is not only the end goal, but the journey is itself one of discovery about the subject and about oneself. To grow toward the goal and to grow within oneself are rewards for those who commit to the journey and the destination.
What would you say to others who are thinking about PGR studies but have doubts about their personal abilities or confidence, etc?
I would absolutely encourage anyone considering academic study to both consider York SJ and PGR routes. My initial reservations about study were to do with my missing academic qualifications I thought were needed in order to progress to PGR. But my age was also a huge factor. I am returning to academia after 27 years. Would I be too old? Would the pace be too much? Would I be able to do it? My advice Is to ask, which is what I did when I contacted Andrew Village. I have found the support network at York SJ to be exemplary, and there are amazing opportunities for career development. My supervisors have guided me with excellence and have steered me in a way that has awakened an excitement in me for new learning and who knows possibly for entering the teaching world.
