A small, independent charity set up by friends whose own faith was shaped by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, so that a new generation can discover him too.
Project Bonhoeffer was set up in 2012 by a small group of friends who, remembering the impact of Bonhoeffer’s life and ideas on their own thinking as young Christians, wanted to convey something of that experience to young Christians today.
We provide opportunities to think and to act: reflecting on faith, and doing something about it in the context where people feel called to serve.
Project Bonhoeffer seeks to inspire and enable people to put Christian faith into action in ways that make a positive difference in the world, engaging with the key social and political challenges we face. We encourage and resource theological reflection, conversation and community-building around the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and its meaning today, with a particular focus on supporting young people to develop their faith in relation to social and political action.
This we call the Bonhoeffer ChallengeThe question at the heart of Bonhoeffer’s writing, for him and for all of us
We are a small independent charity with limited resources, offering today’s young Christians opportunities to explore the meaning of their faith, and to live it out individually and together.
The Trustees meet regularly and undertake all the activities of the charity, supported by our part-time administrator.
Trustee
Geoff was first introduced to Bonhoeffer’s work as an undergraduate student and active member of the British SCM. He went on to serve on SCM staff in both the UK and Bolivia, before embarking…
upon a varied career in social research and teaching in HE and FE along with local politics as a city councillor, most of it in the North of England.
Trustee
Mike’s introduction to Bonhoeffer began while an undergraduate and active member of Student Christian Movement. Most of his working life has been in Industrial Mission, where he developed ways of doing Theological Reflection. All these strands come together in his work with Project Bonhoeffer.
Trustee
Margaret Halsey was employed in various working roles linking faith, social justice and education. Having retired from the post of director of Leeds Church Institute, she contributes to learning and work with asylum seekers…
in her local church, and is nourished by creative writing, art and music.
Trustee
Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at the University of Leeds. A Methodist for over 30 years, Alan is a member of the Progressive Christianity Network and in recent years has been grateful for the…
welcome and space for spiritual reflection offered by Mill Hill Unitarian Chapel in Leeds.
Trustee
Eleanor McLaughlin is Lecturer in Theology at Ripon College Cuddesdon. Ellie’s research has focused on Dietrich Bonhoeffer throughout both her Master’s degree at the University of Geneva, and her DPhil at the University of…
Oxford, where her doctoral research focused on Bonhoeffer’s late theology. She is the author of Unconscious Christianity in Bonhoeffer’s Late Theology: Encounters with the Unknown Christ, with a foreword by Rowan Williams (Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2020), and the chapter on Bonhoeffer in Ford’s The Modern Theologians. In 2018 she contributed to BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time in an episode on Bonhoeffer. Ellie lives in Oxford with her husband Luke and her cat Bertie.
Trustee
Tim is the Methodist Chaplain serving across the Universities in Leeds. He graduated from the University of Leeds where he read Theology and was introduced to the writings of Bonhoeffer. Tim returned to his…
roots in the East End of London to run social action projects and charities for a variety of Church organisations and is a former Director of the Simon Community in London. In 2011 he trained for the Presbyteral ministry at Wesley House in Cambridge. He served two appointments for the Methodist Church, in Wythenshawe and then in Canterbury. Tim is passionate about tackling the causes of poverty and exclusion, and political extremism.
Trustee
Emma is Communications and Marketing Manager for Leeds Church Institute, resourcing churches in Leeds with theology around social justice. She also works as Justice Lead for Leeds Sanctuary. She was introduced to Bonhoeffer’s theology…
through the Student Christian Movement while studying Philosophy at Leeds, and later worked for SCM as Faith in Action Project Lead, helping students to apply Bonhoeffer’s thinking in today’s context through theological reflection. She worships at All Hallows Church in Hyde Park, and co-leads Pride Church Leeds.
Trustee
Paschal’s first meaningful encounter with Bonhoeffer came through studying Political and Liberation theology as part of a Bachelor of Divinity degree at Heythrop College in London in the early 90s. As an RE teacher…
at secondary level, he shared the life, teachings and Christian witness of Bonhoeffer with the many students he taught over twenty two years. These days, Paschal works for the Passionists in their admin office in Coventry, not far from where he lives with his wife, Maria.
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Trustee
Administrator
Sarah is a PhD student at the University of Leeds, exploring issues related to physical disability and musical identity. Outside of her studies, she is passionate about social justice and advocating for those who…
are treated unfairly. Sarah lives in Leeds where she loves to explore the best local coffee shops.
Late trustee
Ben Bano was a Trustee from early 2023 to his death in June 2026. His generosity with his time and his total commitment to the welfare of the most disadvantaged in our community meant…
that he made a profound and lasting contribution to our work. He will be greatly missed.Ben’s life and achievements
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