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Clinton Bennett Clinton Bennett approach allows him to treat Islamic traditions and their Muslim interpretations with sensitivity and respect, not often found among Christian writings on Islam.'[1] Ben- nett became a US citizen during 2012. 1 Biography 1.1 Background Bennett was born in Tettenhall then an Urban District in Staffordshire, England. In 1966, he migrated to Aus- tralia with his parents, Howard Bennett (1922–1997) and Joan Bennett (1922–2007) and his two siblings. He com- pleted his final year of primary education in Australia then attended Maclean High School, Maclean, New South Wales. He was a member of the School Debating Team taking part in inter-school competitions, a member of the Radio Club, Student Leader of the Inter-School Christian Fellowship chapter and represented his class for a year on the Student Representative Council. He won prizes for acting and for History. After gaining his School Cer- tificate, he worked in Sydney as an officer in the state civil service 1972–1973.[2] Originally an Anglican, Ben- nett was baptised into membership of the Lower Clarence Baptist Church in 1969. He was active in the Christian Endeavor movement and as a youth camp leader. Clinton Bennett Clinton Bennett (born 7 October 1955) is a British 1.2 Education American scholar of religions and participant in interfaith dialogue specialising in the study of Islam and Muslim- non-Muslim encounter. An ordained Baptist minister, he was a missionary in Bangladesh before serving as the sec- ond director of interfaith relations at the British Council of Churches in succession to Kenneth Cracknell. Ben- nett has also taken part in the dialogue activities of the World Council of Churches. A graduate of Manchester, Birmingham and Oxford Universities he has held sev- eral academic appointments in the UK and in the United States, where he now lives. He currently writes for various publications and teaches part-time at the State University of New York at New Paltz and at Marist College. He is a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society, of the Royal Anthro- pological Institute and of the Committee for the Scientific Examination of Religion. He has authored books, chap- Aston Webb Building, University of Birmingham where Bennett ters in books, journal articles and Encyclopedia entries. obtained his MA and PhD. He can be considered to have made a significant contribu- tion toward developing a Christian appreciation of Islam Bennett returned to England to train for ordination at and of Muhammad. Ahmad Shafaat writes, 'Bennett’s Northern Baptist College, Manchester while also taking 1 2 1 BIOGRAPHY a BA in Theology at the University of Manchester where Education and Advisory Service Trust as a community he developed his interest in world religions. His initial tutor and development worker. During 1986–7 he was focus was on the religions of India. To matriculate, Ben- Free Church Chaplain at Aston University. nett spent his first year obtaining a Certificate in Bibli- cal Knowledge from the University and two 'A levels’ (in Religious Studies and British Constitution and Politics) from the Joint Matriculation Board (JMB). At University Bennett was politically active through the Liberal Soci- ety. He was Treasurer of the Baptist-United Reformed Church Society, served on the Chaplaincy committee and as Secretary of the Theological Society. In this capacity, he invited such theologians as Maurice Wiles, I. Howard Marshall, Morna Hooker and others to address the Soci- ety, whose members included Faculty alongside students. For the last six months of his final year he was Baptist Student Leader at the College (where Methodists were also training for ministry). He graduated in July 1978 and was ordained as a minister of the Baptist Union of Great Britain the same month. Accepted for service with the Main Building, Aston University where Bennett was Free Church Baptist Missionary Society, Bennett spent an academic Chaplain 1986-7 year at the Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham where he un- From 1985 until 1992 he was associate pastor at High- dertook missionary orientation. He was most influenced gate Baptist Church, Birmingham. In September 1987 by Lesslie Newbigin, who taught missiology.[3] In July he succeeded Kenneth Cracknell as director of inter- 1979, Bennett obtained a Certificate in the Study of Islam religious relations at what was then the British Council from the University of Birmingham through the Centre of Churches, where he remained until 1992. Bishop Jim for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations Thompson as moderator of Bennett’s committee led his before proceeding to Bangladesh, where he remained un- service of induction into office. During his tenure, Ben- til 1982 engaged in pastoral care and distance education nett encouraged member churches to adopt the four prin- teaching as a tutor for the College of Christian Theol- ciples of dialogue,[5] travelled widely speaking and lectur- ogy Bangladesh (CCTB). He passed the Junior and Se- ing to promote these principles but he often found him- nior level Bengali examinations of the Bangladesh Lan- self especially concerned with Christian-Muslim rela- guage Examination Board. Although he completed sev- tions. He issued joint press statements with Zaki Badawi, eral units of a Masters degree by distance learning from Chair of the Imams and Mosques Council in response to Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA he was un- the Salman Rushdie affair and to the first Gulf War. In able to complete the residential component because of 1992, having helped to establish the Churches Commis- the cost. When the BMS chose not to support his plan sion for Interfaith Relations within the new ecumenical to enroll for an MA at a College in Bangladesh, he re- structures for Britain and Ireland,[6] he left the Council to turned to Birmingham, graduating MA in 1985 and PhD take up appointment as Lecturer in Religious Studies at in 1990. Both research degrees were in Islamic Stud- Westminster College, Oxford. From 1996 he was Senior ies under the supervision of David Kerr and Christian Lecturer. Bennett lived on campus as a Resident Tutor W. Troll, SJ. His external examiners were Jan Slomp and Assistant Chaplain. In his teaching at Westminster, and Clifford Edmund Bosworth. Bennett’s doctoral the- Bennett was asked to focus on anthropology alongside sis was subsequently published as Victorian Images of Is- colleagues whose specialisms were psychology, sociology lam (1992) (in the CSIC Studies on Islam and Chris- and phenomenology of religion. He was Leader of the tianity series). In 1985, Bennett also passed the Ben- Religions in Contemporary Society Cluster for the BTh gali 'O Level' (London) achieving an 'A' grade. In 1996, Final Year and RS Subject Leader for Part One (Years Bennett graduated from the University of Oxford with One and Two) of the BEd program. While at Westmin- the MEd through Westminster College, Oxford where ster, Bennett also taught part-time on a Masters in spir- he was teaching at the time. In 1994 he had completed ituality at what is now the University of Winchester. In the Certificate of Professional Studies in Education from 1998, he moved to Baylor University, Waco, Texas with the University’s Delegacy of Local Examinations also the rank of associate professor of religion. He was cross- through Westminster.[4] listed as Asia Studies faculty and also taught on the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core. He was a full member of Grad- uate Faculty. After leaving Baylor in 2001, Bennett has 1.3 Career tutored part-time for The Centre for the Study of Jewish- Christian Relations, Cambridge (mainly Distance Learn- While researching at Birmingham University for his doc- ing). He has also taught for Cambridge University's In- torate, Bennett was employed by the Birmingham Ethnic stitute of Continuing Education. 2006–2007 he was on 1.6 Voluntary Service 3 the full-time faculty of the Unification Theological Sem- 1.6 Voluntary Service inary, Barrytown, NY where he was Associate Professor of Ministry and Living Traditions and Director of Field Bennett served as member, Vice Chair and Chair of Education. He was part-time at UTS during 2005. Ben- Chandos Primary School Governing Body (1986–1992) nett has also had honorary status as a Visiting Research and as a Governor of Yew Tree Community School Fellow at Birmingham University. Since 2005 he has (1984–88). Both schools are in Birmingham, UK. He written and edited for the on-line New World Encyclo- was a member of Birmingham Community Relations pedia and for other publications. Since Fall 2008 he has Council (1985–92) and Chair of the Birmingham Affairs taught Religious Studies part-time at the State University Committee of Birmingham Churches Together (then the of New York at New Paltz. Birmingham Council of Christian Churches) also serving on the executive and Free Church committees (1987–92). Also in Birmingham, he was Secretary of what is now called the Birmingham Council of Faiths (1985–92), Sec- retary of Small Heath Advice Centre (1985–89), Chair of 1.4 Teaching Oldknow Bengali Association (1984–1992) and a mem- ber of the Highgate Advice Centre Management Com- Bennett has taught undergraduate level courses on BEd, mittee (1985–1992). In these capacities, he engaged in BA and B.Th. degrees in Hinduism, Sikhism, Chris- advocacy, fund raising, recruited staff and liaised with the tianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Methodology, Ethics Charity Commission, City Council and Government De- (Moral Dilemmas and Matters of Justice), Islamic The- partments. He organised play schemes, supplementary ology and philosophy, Islamic Art and Architecture, Re- schools and excursions. Bennett assisted several Birming- ligious Exclusivism and the Issue of Uniqueness, Area ham Mosques with obtaining charitable status and funds Studies (Asia and the Americas) and World Cultures.
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