Vision, Mission Statement, and Values

Sociology of Religion Study Group

Vision

Socrel, the Sociology of Religion BSA Study Group, is a successful, internationally recognised study group with more than 40 years of engaging events and high-quality research. Socrel aims to bring together specialists and non-specialists in contemporary religious issues to increase the profile of the sociology of religion within sociology and beyond.

Mission Statement 

Socrel is a vibrant community and actively engages in research through a series of events such as the Annual Conference and the Chair’s Response Day. It seeks to promote sociology of religion from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds and welcomes researchers from all backgrounds at any stage in their career. 

Socrel is an inclusive and supportive community and not only values the work of established researchers, but also seeks to provide support to the next generation of sociologists of religion. That is why bursaries and a support fund are available for PG/ECRs all year round. Socrel also aims to support women, for whom maintaining a balance between caring responsibilities and work can be difficult. Women from all backgrounds and at any stage in their career are invited to join our mentoring scheme.

Socrel is an engaged group, and seeks to promote collaboration and innovation within the field of sociology of religion. It encourages networking among scholars, not only through events but also our biannual newsletter, email discussions and social media channels. Every year, it also provides up to £5,000 funding for seed corn projects.

Values

Socrel is an inclusive, supportive and engaged community. The group aims to provide opportunities for collaboration and networking, and does not discriminate against any background. Socrel abides by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Charity Code of Ethics.

The strength of the group is in its members. We value each and every one of you, and Socrel thrives on your collegiality and the support you provide colleagues. We are proud to offer opportunities for horizontal support, member to member and without a hierarchy. Socrel encourages members to help each other to succeed and develop their careers. We also offer vertical support, as we integrate training scholars at postgraduate and early career stages with members more established and advanced in their roles, aiming to bring the whole membership forward.