What’s On

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

“What’s all this about then?” I hear you say. Well, the Church Unity Octave, initiated by the Rev Paul Wattson, was observed from 18–25 January 1908. This provided the structural origins of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which took its present form in the 1960s. Its purpose has been, and continues to be, a persistent and steady advance towards unity.

On campus, in a comparatively recent innovation, all the Christian societies have come together for a joint meeting in January, at the time of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Using worship and thought-provoking activities, this meeting aims to help Christians understand different theological standpoints and traditions. In the few years it has been running, the meeting has proved to be beneficial for all those attending. This year it will be held on Wednesday Week 2 (27th January) in L/036 at 7.30pm and should be another challenging and (hopefully) unifying meeting.

The Heslington Lecture

This year’s Heslington Lecture is to be given by Rev Kenneth Leech under the title “Is there a new religious fascism?” It will be held on Wednesday 10th February at 8.00pm in V/045.

Ken Leech has, for many years, had one of the most remarkable ministries in the Church of England. In the 1960s he worked in Soho and pioneered work with the homeless and those involved in the drug scene. For several years he was Race Relations Field Officer for the Church of England and latterly Director of the Runnymede Trust — monitoring racism. His years in the East End, in and around Bethnal Green, have given him the unique and first hand experience of the realities of racism, poverty and fascist violence. His Christianity is down-to-earth, rooted and radical. He was a founder of the Jubilee Group, a loose network of socialist and catholic Christians. He now works as ‘Community theologian’ based at St Botolph’s, Aldgate, in the City of London; a church with a vibrant ministry among the homeless. Ken Leech is author of more than half a dozen books, several of which are modern classics. His wisdom on topics such as spirituality and prayer is as respected as his experience at the sharp end of life in Britain. He is a fluent, engaging and enjoyable speaker and a fluent broadcaster. His Heslington Lecture will be thoughtful, provocative and very worthwhile.

Tim Elbourne

Standing Firm in Belief: What Price Christianity?

A conference to explore the pastoral and theological dimensions of working alongside groups requiring doctrinal conformity, to be held on Wednesday 24th March at St William’s College, York, from 10am-4.30pm.

The key speakers, Most Rev Dr John Habgood (Archbishop of York), Professor James D. G. Dunn (Lightfoot Professor of Divinity, University of Durham), and Elaine Storkey (Director of the Institute for Contemporary Christianity), will share a wealth of experience and will present input during the morning.

The conference has four aims: To inform about exclusive positions and why they arise; To provide a forum for participants to discuss their experience of working with groups and individuals who tend towards exclusive and/or fundamentalist positions; To explore theological reactions; To explore pastoral strategies.

Anyone who is interested may attend. The conference fee is £10, but a concessionary rate of £5 applies to students. For further information and booking forms contact Martin Webber (Alcuin) or Tim Elbourne (Chaplains Office)