Taking a Stand Conference News Held at Leicester University in July the SOF UK Conference 2003, ‘Taking a Stand’, on radical theology as social and cultural critique, proved to be one of the more gripping and controversial conferences of recent times.
Speakers included James O'Connell, Professor Emeritus of Peace Studies at University of Bradford and President of the Partnership for Theological Education, Yasmin AlibhaiBrown, a Muslim and a writer for The Independent newspaper and Don Cupitt. There were also some excellent workshops, ably led.
Motions passed at the AGM:
This motion was put forward by the Doctrinal Diversity Study Group, in a report ‘Theological Diversity: Health or Heresy’ which was commissioned by the Sea of Faith (UK) AGM 2002. It reported on the papers and discussions it a had received, which it hopes may later be published. ¢ The SoF (UK) AGM supports the importance of allowing and encouraging everyone, clergy and laity, to explore religious faith honestly and openly, without necessarily supporting particular statements or positions that individuals may make. ¢ The SoF (UK) AGM does not believe that formal discipline is an appropriate way of handling doctrinal diversity. However, if churches do elect a disciplinary route, the process should be fair, just and consistently applied. e The SoF (UK) AGM asks the Steering Committee to maintain a watching brief on cases of doctrinal discipline or suppression of doctrinal diversity generally, and authorises the Network Steering Committee to make enquiries and statements on behalf of the Network in line with these principles.
The following motion was also put before the AGM, in the light of recent events in the Church of England. It was proposed by David Boulton, the former magazine editor and seconded by David Arthur and Stephen Mitchell, who are members of the SoF Steering Committee. e This AGM of the Sea of Faith Network, affirming the value of different sexual identities and opposing discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, voices its indignation at the intense pressure put upon Jeffrey John which forced him to withdraw from nomination as Bishop of Reading. It urges members of the Network, within and outside the churches, to work for full acceptance of loving same-sex relationships and oppose bigotry and prejudice in all its forms.
This motion was passed by the AGM.
On the final day of the conference there was a plenary debate, chaired by Del Stewart of the SnowStar Institute of Religion, in which conference speaker James O'Connell and Janet Sargeant stood for the following motion and Don Cupitt along with Rob Wheeler stood against it. It read: e This conference believes that our radical theological beliefs influence our involvement in social and cultural issues.
Following a stimulating debate, conference attenders passed the motion, disagreeing with Don Cupitt.
Conference Addresses Two of the conference addresses are available. These are e¢ James O'Connell - Religion, Rationality, and Neighbourliness: Western culture as a case study. ¢ Don Cupitt - Radical Theology, Radical Politics.
The cost for the available printed copies is £1.75 for one copy and £2.75 for both copies. Orders should be sent with cheques payable to the Sea of Faith Network (UK) to 15 Burton Street, Loughborough, LE11 2DT.
The presentation by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is being transcribed from tape for her to see before deciding whether to approve it.
The SnowStar Institute After being missed in 2002, in attendance at the conference again were representatives of The SnowStar Institute of Religion. The mission of this Canadian organisation is "To promote religious literacy and tolerance and to provide INSTITUTE information that will help interested individuals and communties to make informed choices." It is a member of The Alliance for Progressive Religion, with FaithFutures Foundation and The Center for Progressive Christianity. Representatives of SnowStar led a workshop which offered another ‘95 Theses’ for a new reformation. These are available by post. They should be ordered via e-mail, snowstar9@cogeco.ca. The price for U.K. residents is £3.00 sterling, including postage. Cheques should be made payable to 'SnowStar Institute’, address below.
The next conference of SnowStar is New Niagara III: "Paradise Lost, Now What?" March 16-20, 2004, at the Sheraton Fallsview, Niagara Falls, Ontario. This Conference will feature John Dominic Crossan and Riffat Hassan. Details to be posted on http:/ /snowstarinstitute.org / Those wishing to lean more about SnowStar or subscribe to it and receive Axiel, its magazine, might care visit the website above (where some past articles are available), or E-mail:
SnowStar Institute at snowstar9@cogeco.ca, or mail:
SnowStar Institute of Religion 1421 Grand Marais Road West PO Box 35024, Windsor, Ontario N9E 4V0 SnowStar's annual membership fee for UK residents is £20.
Three years of SoF-SnowStar co-operation 2000 - SnowStar officially and legally came into being (though there was activity prior to this). 2001 - SnowStar reps attend a Westar Conference in Santa Rosa, CA, where they meet SoF reps, including Don Cupitt and David Boulton, the then editor of the SoF magazine. 2001-2002 - SnowStar subscribed to SoF mag, providing it at no cost to all its members for one year. 2001 - Del Stewart writes an article for SoF mag entitled by the then editor "A Star Is Born’. 2001 - 3 SnowStar reps attend their first SoF conference in Leicester, where they host a (very generous) reception. 2002 - SnowStar's inaugural conference in Niagara Falls, ON, featuring Don Cupitt & Patti Whaley as keynote speakers 2002 - SnowStar creates the Don Cupitt Award to be presented to individuals for their courage & creativity in contributing to progressive religious thought - Ist Award given to Don Cupitt himself at the 2002 conference 2002 - Wilma Lamb of SnowStar becomes SoF mag subscription rep in Canada. 2002 - SnowStar display table at Leicester conference (not staffed in 2002) 2003 - SnowStar's 2nd annual conference - keynote speaker: