Cross Currents Calendar: September to December 2008

Walking Alongside: Alternative Methods of Nonviolent Accompaniment in Israel/Palestine
CPT, EAPPI, ISM

Sixty years after the creation of the state of Israel, tensions in the Holy Land continue to capture the attention of the world, and continue to divide people of all faiths across the globe.
Come and spend a day with representatives from three organizations working to reduce violence in the region: Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine Israel (EAPPI), and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
As well as hearing first hand understandings of the conflict, there will be opportunities for discussion and interactive learning around different strands of non-violent accompaniment and violence reduction methods.
Violence is never the only way.

Saturday 27 September, at the LMC
9:30 am to 4:00 pm
Fee: £20 (£10 unwaged)
Fee includes VAT and meal
C-C seminar 307

Recommended Reading: Hebron Journal: Stories of Nonviolent Peacemaking by Arthur Gish; Peace Under Fire, Israel/Palestine and the International Solidarity Movement edited by Nicholas Blincoe et al; My Name is Rachel Corrie: Taken from the writings of Rachel Corrie edited by Alan Rickman and Katherine Viner www.palsolidarity.org, www.eappi.org, www.cpt.org

Faith is a Journey: A Workshop Taster
Noel Moules and Aglaia Barraclough

The London Mennonite Centre has had a long, close relationship with Workshop, a programme which has changed the lives of many people associated with the Centre. It is our very special privilege this year to offer those of you who have not yet experienced Workshop a day of discovery you will not want to miss (and for those of you who have already experienced Workshop, this is an opportunity to rediscover what you loved the first time around).
What is Workshop? It is an innovative, exciting and inclusive Christian learning programme designed to inspire people on their spiritual journey in today’s fast-paced, constantly changing, ever-demanding world. This special day, led by Noel Moules (the director of Workshop and a popular speaker at Greenbelt and other venues), and Aglaia Barraclough (Workshop Centres Co-ordinator) is designed to give you a ‘taste’ of what is on offer at Workshop. It will be divided into three parts.
The first part, ‘Journeying with scriptures’, asks whether understanding the order in which biblical documents are placed can help both our interpretation and spirituality. Noel believes the answer is “Yes!” and he will lead this simple but fascinating session that may surprise you with its actual implications.
The second part, ‘Journeying with freedom’, asks whether spiritual spontaneity is just a dream and legalism an inevitable reality. Noel will argue: “No! The spirit of liberty is the birthright of everyone choosing to live life from a Jesus perspective. There may be ‘law’ but not like most people understand it.”
The third part of the day, ‘Journeying with questions’, responds affirmatively to the question: “Shouldn’t we interrogate truth like a witness at a trial?” This will be an open discussion on themes raised by the day, plus an opportunity to ask questions on any other topic, intertwined with reflections on the importance of enquiry in developing mature spiritual growth.
Join us for a day of learning which could forever alter the way you see the world.

Saturday 11 October, at the LMC
9:30 am. – 4:00 pm.
Fee: £20 (£10 unwaged)
Fee includes VAT and meal
C-C seminar No 308

Recommended Reading: Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg; The Peaceable Kingdom by Stanley Hauerwas

Getting Going on Growing Green
Jo Rathbone

During the past decade, we have heard much about the ecological crisis facing our planet and how we, as Christians, need to take action. But what kinds of actions should we and our churches be taking? How do we get going on environmental issues?
This is precisely the question which Jo Rathbone addresses in her work as project co-ordinator of Eco-Congregation in England & Wales. We are delighted to have Jo, who is also a member of the Anabaptist Network steering group, lead us in this day of reflection on the practical implications of an appropriate Christian response to environmental issues.
Jo will begin this interactive day by laying some of the theological foundations as to why creation care is part of who we are as human beings, and part of our discipleship. Then participants will apply this to their own circumstances, helped by Jo’s stories of what churches are doing up and down the country. Jo will get people thinking about what they can do in their church situation to address environmental issues: in worship, in practical things to do with church management, and in the context of mission (locally and globally).
Jo will end the day by looking at a Jesus-centred shalom-based vision for the future: How can the churches take a lead in addressing the massive social changes that will arise over the next generation as a result of the end of oil? Will the churches be able to provide a moral steer on how our communities cope?

Saturday 15 November, at the LMC
9:30 am. – 4:00 pm.
Fee: £20 (£10 unwaged)Fee includes VAT and meal
C-C Seminar No 309

Recommended Reading: The Moral Climate by Michael Northcott; Soil and Soul by Alistair MacIntosh; Planetwise by Dave Bookless.

Training of Trainers
Venue: LMC
Bridge Builders Team

If you have attended one of Bridge Builders’ mediation skills courses, and want to be able to share with others some of the new insights about conflict that you have encountered, then this is the course you have been looking for!
Since 1996, Bridge Builders has led more than one hundred introductory workshops and courses throughout the UK for a wide variety of church groups. Training of Trainers, held at the London Mennonite Centre, will draw on that experience to equip others to lead a day-long workshop. The course will include teaching, group work and practice, and will provide guidelines on how to lead elements of a workshop using Bridge Builders’ workshop manual. Practical in focus, the sessions will seek to demonstrate Bridge Builders’ active approach to education and learning.
Spaces on the course are limited to a maximum of 20. Prior attendance on one of our Bridge Builders’ five-day foundation courses is a prerequisite.
A full brochure and application form can be obtained from our web site www.menno.org.uk; or else tick the booking form if you want us to send you a copy.

18-20 November at the LMC
Course begins 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, ends 4:00 p.m. Thursday
Fee: £300. Fee includes VAT, two training manuals, lunches and refreshments.
C-C seminar No 303

Threatened with Resurrection?
Simon Barrow

Under the influence of civic religion, concerns such as peacemaking have usually been considered ‘optional extras’ for Christians - matters best sidelined into a special arena labelled ‘ethics’, where pacifists clash and those who think violence is necessary continue to disagree. Simon Barrow, an ecumenical Anglican who considers himself a ‘Mennonite fellow traveller’, invites us to explore a very different approach - looking at how our core Christian convictions about the nature of God, rooted in the difficult peace of Christ, might radically reshape these questions.
Taking with full seriousness the modern challenges of scepticism and pluralism, this seminar asks what it means to live with “the threat of resurrection” (Julia Esquivel). Can radical discipleship, committed faith and critical questioning be brought together? What would the church’s mission look like if a refusal to kill was seen as a core Christian identity marker established by baptism?
This day will coincide with the launch of Simon’s new book Threatened with Resurrection. Don’t miss it.

Wednesday 26 November, at the LMC9.30 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.
Fee: £20 (£10 unwaged)Fee includes VAT and meal
C-C seminar No 310

Recommended reading: Fear or Freedom? Why a Warring Church Must Change by Simon Barrow; Threatened with Resurrection: The Difficult Peace of Christ by Simon Barrow

Transforming Church Conflict: A Foundation Course for Leaders
Venue: Guy Chester Centre, Muswell Hill, London
Bridge Builders Team

This is Bridge Builders’ new foundation course, replacing their widely acclaimed mediation and facilitation skills course. The new course builds on Bridge Builders’ experience of leading similar training since 1996, and aims to achieve the same high standards of training and learning.
The Transforming Church Conflict course is for those in leadership positions in the church, and for other Christians who want to deal better with conflict, with a focus on conflict in church settings. Apply to attend this course if you want to:
Develop new skills for handling conflict
Give time to personal growth as part of a worshipping community
Be part of a movement that is changing the culture of the church
Help put the church’s energy to more creative use
Held residentially, the course aims to raise self-awareness, to deepen understanding of conflict and to teach skills and methods for transforming conflict. Early booking is recommended as Bridge Builders’ courses are regularly over-subscribed.
Please tick the booking form to request a full programme and application form for one of the 2009 courses.

8-13 February 2009 Guy Chester Centre, Muswell Hill, London
Course begins 6:30pm on Sunday, ends 4:30pm Friday and includes two evening sessions.
Fee: £695. Fee includes VAT, course manual,style booklet, food and residential accommodation.
C-C seminar No 306
For the complete booking form, please visit our website: http://www.menno.org.uk/pdf/Calendar2008Autumn.pdf