Baptists Doing Theology in Context Consultation. August 26-29, at Luther King House, Manchester

Tuesday I'm off to the Baptists Doing Theology in Context Consultation. Not taking the laptop so won't be blogging till the weekend. I've included the menu of papers below, with apologies to participants who are noted here only by surname. The overarching theme of the Consultation is 'The Wisdom of this World', and a keynote address will be delivered by Professor Paul Fiddes, sure to be a theological and intellectual highlight for all of us. Paul has been a major inspiration and encouragement for Baptists to engage together in theological reflection and pastorally constructive consultation. His own theological writings are exemplary of a theology that frutifully combines generous breadth in its ecumencial debts, and clear historical and theological focus in exploring and affirming the essentials of  a Baptist identity recovering its confidence.

Beyond that the idea of the consultation is that there will be three papers offered by particpants in each Open Session (five of these), all based on work they are doing within their own vocational context. Each of the College Principals will lead a plenary session based on their Paper, which will tackle some aspect of contemporary culture and attempt to hear and interpret the wisdom of this world as those who live by a more radical wisdom. It is going to be a theologyfest reflecting the remarkably wide range of theological interest amongst Baptists in the UK. I'll do a report here sometime over the coming weekend. After which I will be on sabbatical leave - a promised disengagement that may take me a week or two to adjust to.

Papers Offered for Baptists Doing Theology in Context

Topics and Timetable

 

Name	Paper Title	Time
Langford	“God in the Conversation: An Alternative to the Business Model of Church Meeting.”	Tue 4.pm
Vincent	“Living with the Bible Today: The Rhetoric and the Reality.”	Tue 4.pm
Presswood        &McBeth	“Embracing Eleanor: A Response to the Apology for Slavery.”	Tue 4.pm
Holyer	“Something Different – Theology Now.”	Wed 9.30
Humphreys	“The Provenance of John 8.-11. Some Light from Statistics.”	Wed 9.30
Kidd (Rosemary)	“‘And when was it we saw you a stranger and welcomed you?’ (Mat.25.38) Engaging with Asylum Seekers.”	Wed 9.30
Bottoms	“Spiritual Direction in the Service of the Kingdom of God".	Thurs 9.30
Carter	“Labelling ‘the sinners’ in Luke’s Gospel.”	Thurs 9.30
Colyer	“The Geometry of God.”	Thurs 9.30
Goodliff	“From dedication to presentation: a study of Baptist Order of Service for Infants.”	Thurs 4.pm
Gorton	“Doing Theology: History for the Health of the Church.”	Thurs 4.pm
Gotobed	“Ministerial Formation, Pastoral Experience and Practical Theology.”	Thurs 4.pm
Philips	“Wotsername!”	Fri 9.30
Thacker	“The Significance of Richard Dawkins' Atheistm for Christians and Others Today.”	Fri 9.30
Haymes	“The Communion of Saints.”	Fri 9.30
	Plenary Papers by College Principals
Finamore	“Atonement in Novel and Film.”	Tue 2.30pm
Wright	“Theological Topography – The stones cry out!”	Tue 7.30
Kidd	“From Cave Painting to Icons.”	Wed 7.30
Gordon	“Giving poets their place: Why Theologians should read Carol Ann Duffy.”	Thurs 11.am
Weaver	“Twenty Four Hour News.”	Thurs 7.30
Ellis	“Sport, Culture and Theology.”	Fri 11.am

Comments

[Catriona]

Thanks Jim, you do not know how useful this is! As I have to be on standby to drive south for a funeral visit it is helpful to know when I need to be in Manchester!!

[Geoff Colmer]

Hi Bob! I'm not the only person to nominate you for the not-too-serious 'brillante weblog 2008', but it's worth doing anyway! While this is a bit of fun, at the same time, thanks for your brilliant blog which I appreciate enormously.

[Jim Gordon]

Hey Geoff! Who's Bob? Me Jim!

[Geoff Colmer]

Sorry Jim - how silly - it was one of those days! I hope it didn't detract from my appreciation.