Professor of Liturgical and Practical Theology, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity

Stephen teaches in the Ministry Studies Core at Pilgrim Theological College. Research interests include intersections of feminist, postcolonial and liturgical theologies, and liturgical spirituality and renewal.

Stephen studied at the universities of Durham (BA hons, MA, PhD) and Cambridge (MLitt) in the UK. He was ordained deacon and priest in the Church of England and is an ecumenical minister in placement in the Uniting Church in Australia.

Since joining the faculty of Pilgrim Theological College in 2018, publications include articles in Australian Journal of Liturgy, International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church, Liturgy and Worship, in various anthologies, and

• Anglican Theology: Postcolonial Perspectives, coed. with James Tengatenga (London: SCM Press, 2024)

• Feminist Theologies: A Companion, coed. with Kerrie Handasyde and Katharine Massam (London: SCM Press, 2024)

• The US and Us, a special issue of Liturgy, coed. with Andrew Wymer (39.1, 2024)

• Conversations about Divine Mystery: Essays in Honor of Gail Ramshaw, coed. with HyeRan Kim-Cragg (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2023)

• Explorations in Twentieth Century Theology and Philosophy: People Preoccupied with God, Ann Loades, ed. by Stephen Burns (London: Anthem Press, 2023)

• Feminist Theologies: Interstices and Fractures, coed. with Rebekah Pryor (Lanham: Lexington Books, 2023)

• From the Shores of Silence: Conversations in Feminist Practical Theology, coed. with Ashley Cocksworth and Rachel Starr (London: SCM Press, 2023)

• Queering Christian Worship: Reconstructing Liturgical Theology, coed. with Bryan Cones, Sharon Fennema and Scott Haldeman (New York: Seabury Press, 2023)

• Grace is Not Faceless: Reflections on Mary, Ann Loades, ed. by Stephen Burns (London: DLT, 2021)

• Twentieth Century Anglican Theologians: From Evelyn Underhill to Esther Mombo, coed. with Bryan Cones and James Tengatenga (Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2021)

• Grace and Glory in One Another’s Faces: Preaching and Worship, Ann Loades, ed. by Stephen Burns (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2020)

• When We Pray: The Future of Common Prayer, coed. with Robert Gribben (Melbourne: Coventry Press, 2020)

• Fully Conscious, Fully Active: Essays in Honor of Gabe Huck, coed. with Bryan Cones (Chicago: LTP, 2019)

• Liturgy: Postcolonial Perspectives, a special issue of Liturgy (34.2, 2019)

• Liturgy with a Difference: Beyond Inclusion in Christian Assembly, coed. with Bryan Cones (London: SCM Press, 2019) and

• Liturgy (SCM Studyguide) (London: SCM Press, 2018).

Other work includes, amongst others,

• Postcolonial Practice of Ministry: Leadership, Liturgy, and Interfaith Engagement, coed. with Kwok Pui-lan (Lanham: Lexington Books, 2016)

• Public Theology and the Challenge of Feminism, coed. with Anita Monro (London: Routledge, 2015)

• Christian Worship: Postcolonial Perspectives, coauthored with Michael N. Jagessar (Sheffield: Equinox, 2011)

• Presiding Like a Woman, coed. with Nicola Slee (London: SPCK, 2010)

• Christian Worship in Australia: Inculturating the Liturgical Tradition, coed. with Anita Monro (Strathfield: St Pauls, 2009)

• The Edge of God: New Liturgical Texts and Contexts in Conversation, coed. with Nicola Slee and Michael Jagessar (Peterborough: Epworth, 2008) and

• Worship in Context: Liturgical Theology, Children and the City (Peterborough: Epworth, 2006).

University Appointments

Coordinator of Ministry Studies (Pilgrim Theological College)

University Memberships

External Affiliations

• The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, Birmingham, UK (International Research Consultant)