2005

‘Building Beloved Community’

Postmodernists announce the death of the meta-narrative and with it the whole structure of western religious expression. With the death of the old comes the challenge of the new. We are challenged to replace the old “messages” with the transforming power of community, beloved community. Building the beloved community is based on recognising the lovable in others, but such recognition only comes when we acknowledge how lovable we are ourselves. Such an appreciation is not tangential to a healthy religious journey. It is the starting point of a healthy religious journey. If you thought that planning, implementing and evaluating strategies was the way to build Unitarian communities, these presentations will make you think again. Cal Courtney, minister to London’s Islington and Newington Green Unitarians will examine such important theological ideas as uselessness, brokenness and the call to do nothing. He will delve into the essential nature of religion – the call to bind – and show how our individual and collective brokenness can transform the world around us.

Engagement Groups

A: ‘Creativity and Love’ with Simon John Barlow and Jane Blackall

The heart of beloved community is love – love of self; each other; humanity; nature; what we each name God. Many religious traditions share the concept that God Is Love and that the Creation of the Universe was love in action. Emerging from the idea that Love is the potential energy of the Holy Spirit to act in the world, we aim to offer you the opportunity to explore your feelings, experiences and beliefs about Love in its myriad aspects, using creativity as our focus.

B: ‘Ageing and Spirituality’ with Elizabeth Birtles and Michaela von Britzke

“As we grow older – the world becomes stranger.”

– T.S. Eliot

Like all stages of the life cycle, becoming older confronts us with questions, crises and gifts which offer opportunities for developing our spiritual openness. Whether we contract in fear at the thought of ageing, or can open to the possibility of “sageing”, these choices don’t move into place automatically. In this workshop we will use different modes of exploration to illuminate pathways towards growing older in emotional and spiritual responsiveness.

C: ‘The Spirit, the Body, and Words’ with Nancy Crumbine and Lynne Davies

When words work, as in a brilliant poem, they go to our body: we literally register their meaning physically. When our body works, however minimally, we are forever spinning words, in our brain, if not out loud. Unitarians are unique in their reverence for words as conveyors of what matters. This workshop is writing, walking, sitting exploration of the Unitarian spirit. As we each are able, we will explore the intersection of physical movement, spiritual exploration, and words. No experience required. Song and laughter throughout.

D: Children’s Programme with Heather Foster, Glenys Baird and Georgia Birtles

Recordings

Organisers and Speakers

Coordinator: Jean Mason

Theme Speakers: Cal (Cathal) Courtney

Panel: Jean Mason, Simon John Barlow, Elizabeth Birtles, Jane Blackall, Patricia Walker-Hesson