Qualifications: PhD 'Transforming Rites: Women's practice of ritual making'; MA (Theology); MA (Further and Higher Education); Diploma in Professional Studies (Counselling); BA (Theology)

Brief Introduction

Jan works half-time at Luther King House as Programme Leader for the MA in Contextual Theology, and is also involved in research supervision and tutorial work for Luther King House Open College. Her particular interests are in practical and pastoral theology, congregational studies, and feminist spirituality and liturgy.

Jan's PhD research, which has been recently published as Ritual Making Women, looked at women's experiences in constructing rites of passage. She has a strong commitment to inclusive worship and liturgy; has published prayers and hymns, and enjoys encouraging others to be creative in worship.

Jan was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1977, and worked in Baptist/URC congregations before taking up an appointment as ecumenical chaplain at Sheffield City Polytechnic (now Sheffield Hallam University). She became a minister of the United Reformed Church and joined the staff of Northern College as tutor in practical theology in 1997.

In September Jan was appointed as half-time Director of the Centre for the study of Theology and Health at Holy Rood House, Thirsk, (www.holyroodhouse.org.uk) where she is responsible for setting up courses, consultations and workshops in the area of theology and health, and co-ordinating projects on comabating sexual abuse in the churches and 'hymns for healing'. She combines this with her role as a staff member of Luther King House Open College.

Publications

Ritual Making Women: Shaping Rites for Changing Lives, Equinox 2009

Guest editor of Reform, URC Journal, December 2007 edition

'Whose Threshold? Women's Strategies of Ritualization' in Feminist Theology Vol 14 No.3 May 2006:273-288

Contribution on 'The Worship and Action of the Local Church: Theological Strand' in Studying Local Churches: A Handbook ed. H Cameron, P Richter, D Davies and F Ward SCM Press 2005

'Passion for Justice' in Silence in Heaven: A Book of Women's Preaching ed. H Walton and S Durber SCM 1994

'Liberating Worship - Pastoral Liturgy and the Empowering of Women' in Life Cycles: Women and Pastoral Care ed. E Graham and M Halsey SPCK 1993

Jan Berry: A Collection in Words for Worship series Women in Theology 1992

Prayers and material for worship in various anthologies including:

• Bare Feet and Buttercups Wild Goose Publications 2008
• Fire and Bread: Resources for Easter Day to Trinity Sunday Wild Goose Publications 2006
• Candles and Conifers and Hay and Stardust ed. R Burgess Wild Goose Publications 2004
• Wrestling and Resting: Exploring stories of spirituality from Britain and Ireland ed. R Harvey CTBI 1999
• Gateways of Grace ed. J Lees URC Prayer Handbook 1998-99
• Human Rites: Worship Resources for an Age of Change ed. H Ward and J Wild Mowbray 1995
• Celebrating Women ed. H Ward, J Wild and J Morley SPCK 1995
• Reflecting Praise ed. J Boyce-Tillman and J Wootton WIT/Stainer and Bell 1993
• Bread of Tomorrow ed. J Morley Christian Aid/SPCK 1992
• Wisdom is Calling ed. G Duncan
• A World of Blessing ed. G Duncan
• Courage to Love ed. G Duncan
• Shine on Star of Bethlehem ed. G Duncan
• Friends and Enemies ed. R Burgess
• Worship: from the United Reformed Church URC 2004