Bretherton Luke

Luke Bretherton is a British theologian and author known for his influential work on the relationship between religion and democratic politics. He is currently a professor at Duke University, having previously taught at King’s College London and St Augustine’s College. Raised in Notting Hill, London, in a family engaged in community organizing, Bretherton’s early experiences—including co-founding a housing cooperative for migrants—deeply shaped his vision of the role of churches in public life.

He holds a degree in history from the University of Cambridge and a PhD in moral philosophy and theology from King’s College. Bretherton founded the St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation & Peace and has worked as a community mediator. He was actively involved in London Citizens, a major community organizing network, and collaborated with the UK government on community development initiatives. Alongside political theorist Maurice Glasman, he contributed to the development of the Blue Labour movement, which blends conservative social values with left-leaning economic policies to advance the common good.

Bretherton argues that democratic politics should serve as a means of building a nonviolent common life rooted in love of neighbor. His theological approach is dialogical, emphasizing encounter, relationship, and mutual responsibility. His most notable works include Christ and the Common Life, Resurrecting Democracy, and A Primer in Christian Ethics, which examine the intersections of Christianity and politics, addressing issues such as poverty, social justice, environmental injustice, and the construction of common life.

He is also the creator of the podcast Listen, Organize, Act!, which explores the relationship between religion and radical democratic politics, with a particular focus on community organizing. Currently, he divides his time between teaching at Duke Divinity School and St Mellitus College in London. Bretherton’s academic and practical commitments reflect his unique, integrative approach to theology and political engagement. Since January 2025, he has been Canon and Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at Christ Church, Oxford, and Director of the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics and Public Life at the University of Oxford, a research center dedicated to the relationship between theology, ethics, and public life.