Staff profile

Administrative responsibilities

• Co-Director, Centre for Social Justice and Community Action
• Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies, Department of Sociology

Andrew has a professional background in community and youth work as practitioner, manager, trustee and consultant. He has worked with a wide range of organisations in voluntary, public and faith-based sectors in these roles and through his research.

Research Projects

Research has included:

• A two year project with the Methodist Church of Great Britain exploring Deacons' perspectives on 'Good Practice in Diaconal Ministry', in partnership with the Wesley Study Centre.
• A co-authored AHRC/ESRC-funded literature review which critically explored connections between localism and community empowerment.
• Work with the Council of Europe:
  • exploring improved approaches with policymakers to building migrants' belonging within local communities, which led to a recommendation to member states being adopted by the Committee of Ministers in 2011.
  • exploring ways of engaging with 'Faith in Intercultural Cities' in 2014.
• Work with the Department for Communities and Local Government (2009) exploring cross-community interactions.

This research has also included a range of other international engagements, including initial participatory workshops exploring religious mobilisations comparatively in Brazil and England, being an invited participant in the international Oxford Institute for Methodist Theological Studies (2013), and contributing to an international Consultative Workshop on Faith-Based Participation in Civil Society in Sarajevo (2013).

Teaching

Andrew currently convenes the postgraduate 'Communities, Civil Society and Social Justice' module and contributes to the undergraduate 'Communities and Social Justice' module.  

After previously teaching and directing the MA Community and Youth Work programmes, and having experience as Director of Education in the Department of Sociology, he now leads taught postgraduate provision as Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies. 

He also supervises PhD students within his research areas, and contributes to staff and postgraduate research training on participatory research.

• Andrew's research interests focus on issues of faith, dialogue and diversity in professional practice, with a particular interest in how practitioners and others decide what is 'good practice' within related work.
• His work is often interdisciplinary in nature, including particular collaborations with practical theology to explore forms of Christian community and youth work.
• He is also interested in a range of related issues, including professional community work practice, community and voluntary organisation management, and social exclusion, especially in relation to public policy and faith-based social action in these field
• Whether working with practitioners, policy-makers, or others, Andrew's research builds in impact from the outset by actively involving people within the research process.

Authored book

• Orton, A., & Stockdale, T. (2014). Making Connections: Exploring Methodist Deacons' Perspectives on Contemporary Diaconal Ministry. Sacristy Press
• Orton, A. (2012). Building Migrants' Belonging through Positive Interactions: A Guide for Policymakers and Practitioners. Council of Europe

Chapter in book

• Orton, A. (2021). Poverty in the Midst of Wealth and Social Exclusion as a Diaconal Challenge – Reflections on Responding to Household Debt in the UK. In G. Ampony, M. Büscher, B. Hofmann, F. Ngnintedem, D. Solon, & D. Werner (Eds.), International Handbook on Ecumenical Diakonia (388-392). Oxford: Regnum
• Orton, A. (2013). Conclusion: Sustaining Community Practice for the Future. In S. Banks, H. Butcher, A. Orton, & J. Robertson (Eds.), Managing Community Practice: Principles, Policies and Programmes (191-203). (Second Edition). Policy Press
• Orton, A. (2011). "Giving it Away", "Selling Out" or "Creative Spaces"? Why Changing Organisational Geographies Matter in English Christian Community Work. In C. Brace, A. Bailey, S. Carter, D. Harvey, & N. Thomas (Eds.), Emerging Geographies of Belief (272-292). Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Journal Article

• Burity, J., & Orton, A. (online). Ecumenical Social Activism and Transnational Connections Between Brazil and Britain: Theoretical and Practical Understandings of Ecumenism. International Journal of Latin American Religions, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41603-024-00259-4
• Orton, A., & Barclay, D. (2020). Why networks matter in faith-related community development work: Learning from diverse Christian responses to debt in England. Community Development Journal, 55(3), 496-514. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsz002
• Orton, A. (2016). Interfaith Dialogue: Seven Key Questions for Theory, Policy and Practice. Religion, State and Society, 44(4), 349-365. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637494.2016.1242886
• Orton, A., & Withrow, L. (2015). Transformative Potentials of Liminal Leadership. Journal of religious leadership, 14(1), 23-44
• Orton, A. (2014). The Ethical Dimensions of Dialogue Between Policymakers: Learning Through Interaction Over Migrant Integration Dilemmas. Journal of dialogue studies, 2(2), 25-48
• Orton, A. (2013). The Diverse and Contested Diaconate: Why Understanding this Ministry is Crucial to the Future of the Church. International Journal of Practical Theology, 16(2), 260-284. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijpt-2012-0017
• Stockdale, T., & Orton, A. (2013). The Contemporary Nature of Diaconal Ministry in British Methodism: Purposes and Processes of Good Practice. Theology and ministry, 2(2013), 4.1-4.19
• Orton, A. (2007). Contesting “good practice” in faith-based action for social change : diversity, dialogue & dilemmas in Christian community work. The journal for faith, spirituality and social change, 1(1), 20-33
• Banks, S., & Orton, A. (2007). The grit in the oyster: community development workers in a modernizing local authority. Community Development Journal, 42(1), 97-113. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsi074

Other (Print)

• Barclay, D., Orton, A., & Stepanova, E. (2016). Taking Action on Debt and Supporting Financial Inclusion: A Guide for Churches on Responding in Your Local Area
• Painter, J., Orton, A., MacLeod, D., Dominelli, L., & Pande, R. (2011). Connecting localism and community empowerment: research review and critical synthesis for the AHRC Connected Community Programme
• Orton, A. (2008). Evaluating Cross-Community Work in Holme Wood: Making Connections?

Report

• Crossley, S., Orton, A., Corrigan, D., Davidson, L., Diamond, N., Hall, C., McGrother, I., Smith, K., & Wayte, M. (2024). Reducing the need for foodbanks in County Durham. Centre for Social Justice and Community Action (CSJCA), Durham Christian Partnership (DCP)
• Barclay, D., & Orton, A. (2018). Money Talks: Christian Responses to Debt in the North East and London. William Leech Trust
• Orton, A., & Hart, P. (2017). Leading Together in Growing Methodist Churches: Learning from Research and Practice in the North East of England. [No known commissioning body]
• Orton, A. (2016). Tackling Prejudice and Engaging with Religious Minorities: How Cities Can Make a Difference with an Intercultural Cities Approach. [No known commissioning body]
• Orton, A. (2014). Faith in Intercultural Cities: Recognising religions as part of local diversity,and exploring how they can contribute to the diversity advantage of cities. [No known commissioning body]
• Orton, A. (2010). Exploring Interactions in Migrant Integration: Connecting Policy, Research and Practice Perspectives on Recognition, Empowerment, Participation and Belonging. Council of Europe, European Committee on Migration (CDMG)
• Orton, A. (2009). What Works in Enabling Cross-Community Interactions? Perspectives on Good Policy and Practice. National Community Forum / Department for Communities and Local Government