The

Modern Churchpeople's Union

Liberal theology in a changing world

MCU Conference 2007

Violence: A Stubborn Pandemic

Tuesday 10 - Friday 13 July 2007

Booking Form (.pdf) or Word (created in Word 2003 which may not display or print properly on all systems)

Programme (.pdf) and Word and reading list.

Enquiries - including bookings, cost, access, meals, facilities, email the booking secretary, Elizabeth Darlington or tel. +44 (0)161 633 3132

For information about the conference from the conference secretary email Alan Race or tel. +44 (0)116 299 7624

Speakers:

Tuesday 10 July
	Gordon Mursell ‘The Psalms and Violence – what kind of God?'	Bishop Gordon Mursell is the Area Bishop of Stafford and specialist in the history and theology of Christian Spirituality. [Books]
Wednesday 11 July
	Dorothy Rowe ‘Enemies and Friends'	Dr Dorothy Rowe is a psychologist and author. her latest book is Finding Your Way Out of the Prison of Depression. [Books]
	Paul Rogers ‘Current trends in international relations affecting war and peace'	Professor of Peace Studies, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford. He currently focuses on trends in international conflict, developing an analysis of the linkages between socio-economic divisions, environmental constraints and international insecurity. [Books]
	Alan Billings 'The Ethics of Pacifism and Just War in an Age of Terrorist Violence' in conversation with	Canon Dr Alan Billings is vicar of St George, Kendal and has been for the past 7 years. He’s also director of the Centre of Ethics and Religion at the University of Lancaster. He has produced this video of his views on the Iraq war; and this one on the anti-war campaign.
	Tony Kempster	Dr Tony Kempster General Secretary of the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship and Chair of the Movement for the Abolition of War.
Thursday 12 July
	Mark Juergensmeyer ‘Violence and the Religions – an Overview'	Professor Mark Juergensmeyer is Director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies and Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is an expert on religious violence, conflict resolution and South Asian religion and politics, and has published more than two hundred articles and a dozen books. [Books]
	Dawoud El-Alami ‘The Israel-Palestine Conflict'	Professor Dawoud El-Alami, Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Lampeter, University of Wales.
	in conversation with Dan Cohn-Sherbok	Professor of Jewish Theology and Director of the Centre for the Study of the World’s Religions, Lampeter, University of Wales - homepage.
	Giles Fraser ‘Theological Perspectives on Violence'	Revd Dr Giles Fraser has been Team Rector of Putney Parish Team since 2000. He has lectured in philosophy at Wadham College, Oxford since 1998.
Friday 13 July
	Derick Wilson ‘Conflict Resolution in a violent world'	Dr Derick Wilson is Assistant Director UNESCO Centre at the University of Ulster and Director of the Future Ways Programme. He has been active in the areas of youth work, community relations, community development and reconciliation work in Northern Ireland since 1965. He was awarded the MBE for services to community relations. He is a council member of the Corrymeela Community of Reconciliation and a Commissioner for the Equality Commission NI from 2003.
Programme
	Angela Weaver Conference Chaplain	Canon Angela Weaver is Guildford Cathedral's Canon Pastor. In 1995 she began her ordained ministry in the Birmingham Diocese after experience as a Mission Partner in Hong Kong and as a Lecturer in Women’s Leadership and Counselling at Westhill College (University of Birmingham). Beyond the Cathedral Angela serves as a member of the Diocesan Ministerial Reference Group, is a Bishops’ Selector, a Spiritual Director and a Patron of Changing Attitude.

We are sad to report that for personal reasons Bishop John Austin, has had to step down as Chair of MCU's 2007 Conference

I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.

Mahatma Gandhi

Violence has always been with us. It features in many of the world's stories and religious myths of origins. Pervasive in human experience, men and women of intelligence and goodwill both justify it and recoil from it. Many individuals derive their thrill of life from it. Spiritual visionaries propose pathways for overcoming it, yet the religions themselves can often seem part of the problem. In the twenty-first century religious antagonisms are once again being blamed for the world's desperate pandemic of violence. Where do the roots of violence lie and can there be hope in the face of it? The conference will explore Violence in four clusters:

• a study of the roots of violence in the human psyche and relationships the international and ecological scene the ambivalence of religious and theological responses to violence in text and tradition
• conflict resolution, reconciliation and how to hope
  

The conference will both acknowledge the impression of violence as an abiding factor in the human condition and also seek to offer hope in the face of its complexities. Chair: Bishop John Austin, Assistant Bishop of Leicester
Conference Secretary: the Revd Dr Alan Race

Or contact: Mrs E Darlington,
1 The Woods, Grotton, Oldham, OL4 4LP, UK,
Tel: +44 (0)161 633 3132,
email: conference@modchurchunion.org