Next conference

Dates: 30th April to 4th May 2012

Minding the Gaps: finding edges, holding tensions

The conference will explore those things which divide as well as unite us – issues of difference and similarity, individuality and community, separateness and connection. There are many differences, gaps, divides, edges and tensions in contemporary life – some of which we mind very much as they are a source of pain, conflict or tension, and some of which we mind or look after because they mark an important boundary.

In pastoral or counselling settings difference of perspective needs illuminating in order to work effectively. Tensions may centre around those differences, the potential for both intimacy and division. Jacob’s ladder dream and his wrestling with God, the ‘go between’ God, offers another conceptual frame for deliberating on that tension. This conference offers the opportunity for conversation with others, yourself and God in a liminal place of safety.

Speakers will tackle the theme from theological/biblical, spiritual, psychological/therapeutic and social/pastoral perspectives. The conference will include plenary sessions, workshops and small group work. In addition, each day will have worship and opportunities for reflection, relaxation and sharing.

Cost:

We are delighted that we are able to keep the cost of the conference at the same level as it was in 2010.

Full cost: £440

Early booking rate: £390 if paid in full by 31 October 2011

Booking forms can be downloaded at the bottom of the page.

Meet the Speakers

Our practice is to invite four speakers to come to our theme from different perspectives: theological/biblical, social/pastoral, spirituality, psychology or therapy. Our speakers for this conference will be Johnstone McMaster, Roly Riem, Dr Sarah Savage and Nicola Slee.

Roly Riem The Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem, Canon Chancellor and Pastor, leads Winchester Cathedral’s flourishing education and visual arts programmes. Roly is the author of Being Human and Becoming a Person, a Frank Lake memorial lecture published by Lingdale Papers. At Winchester he leads pastoral care and ecumenical relations, with links to Methodist and URC churches as well as the Anglican communion. Married to Sophie Hacker, popular speaker at the 2008 Conference, Roly’s meditations on Sophie’s nine Sculptural artworks are published in their book Icons of the Incarnation, which also describes the processes of Sophie’s work with musician Sarah Baldock to visualise the themes inspiring Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur. Roly will be addressing the theological/biblical aspects of our theme.

Nicola Slee Nicola Slee was born and brought up in rural North Devon, part of a big farming family of Methodists. A love of poetry was imbibed from an early age, from the recitation of the KJV Bible at chapel and her mother’s native Scottish poetry.  Faith was also part of a way of life which she adopted uncritically, but later came to take on in a more owned sense. After school and university, she fell into her first teaching post at the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education, and then moved sideways into ministerial education on the Southwark Ordination Course, which she found a more rounded educational environment where academic learning was balanced by attention to personal and spiritual formation.  She has subsequently worked in a number of theological educational establishments, being based at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education since 1997 in a number of roles. She works half-time at Queen’s as a Research Fellow supervising research students in the area of practical feminist theology and Programme Leader for the flourishing MA in Applied Theological Studies.  She also works freelance doing a wide range of editing and writing, retreat work and spiritual direction, and speaking engagements.  She is a lay Anglican, and has been involved in a number of groups campaigning for gender justice as well as a more inclusive church in which LGBT people have a full and honoured place. Poetry is a particular passion and she has written a number of books using poetry as a means of theological exploration, amongst numerous other publications.  Her most recent book, Seeking the Risen Christa (SPCK, 2011) explores the symbol of a female Christ figure through the medium of poetry, as well as prose reflections.  Nicola will explore the spiritual aspects of Minding the Gaps: finding edges, holding tensions.

Dr Sarah Savage is a social psychologist in the Psychology and Religion Research Group, University of Cambridge, and Senior Research Fellow in the Cambridge Institute for Applied Psychology and Religion. Formerly a dancer and choreographer, the influence of the arts is never far from her work. The author of Conflict in Relationships: understand it, overcome it (Lion Hudson 2010), she will invite us to consider the therapeutic/counselling aspects of our theme.

Dr Johnstone McMaster is lecturer and co-ordinator of the Education for Reconciliation programme, Irish School of Ecumenics, Belfast. Co–author of Communities of Reconciliation: Living Faith in the Public Place and Churches Working Together: A Practical Resource his current research includes reconciliation and peacebuilding, Celtic Christianity and spirituality, ethical remembering, social ethics and inter–faith dialogue.

Dr McMaster has been involved in the development of a community education programme and chairs a number of initiatives as well as working collaboratively with community relations networks. He has lectured in Eastern Europe, Sri Lanka, South Korea and the USA. He will speak on the social/pastoral aspects of our topic.

Quotes from previous conference participants

“A wonderful blend of mental, spiritual, and psychological stimulation, reflection, silence, worship and free time.”

“Enjoyed the variety, the vast experience, expertise and humour of the speakers.”

“The balance of worship, study and rest was very good.”

“Opportunity for most of the self to be used i.e. head, heart, spirit, creativity, humour, aloneness, relatedness, imagination and reflection.”

“The warmth has helped my spirit to start flickering again after feeling dead”