what's new
newsletter
may 2010
Welcome to CTBI's second e-bulletin, sent out monthly to keep our supporters up-to-date with new developments on our website and across the churches of Britain and Ireland.
General Election update
Our General Election resources are still available to help you
in the closing days of the campaign and the early days of
the new government.
- Download Faith in Politics, a guide to a range of important policy issues.
- Search for a hustings in your area - our registration system now has over 250 entries and some are taking place in the final days before 6 May.
- Use the prayer resources for the election which we have gathered together in our ‘links' section.
- Watch videos of the main party leaders addressing Christians.
Sanctuary Pledge
Have your parliamentary candidates signed the Sanctuary Pledge? Are your church leaders supporting it? Has your church or Churches Together group made an entry in the Sanctuary Pledge books that are now circulating around the country? More >>
Racial Justice Sunday
Racial Justice Sunday this year will take place on 11th September. The theme for the CTBI resources will be Migration 2010, keying into the Migration 2010 initiative of the Conference of European Churches and the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe. Our downloadable resources will be available on the website by July. More >>
Creation Time
In 2008 and 2009, CTBI complied resources to encourage and assist churches to observe Creation Time, which takes place from 1st September to 4th October each year. Resources are now being produced for Creation Time 2010. This year's theme is Creation flourishing - A time for celebration and care and links into the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity. Our downloadable resources will be available on the website in June. More >>
Edinburgh 2010 and Foundations for Mission
Edinburgh 2010 is a multi-denominational, international project set up to commemorate the 1910 World Missionary Conference and to provide new perspectives on mission for the 21st century. The Centenary Conference takes place in Edinburgh in June. The overall project provides a decentralised 'study process' looking at mission related topics from many different angles, with research and other conferences going on around the world. As part of this study process, CTBI has produced Foundations for Mission - A study of language, theology and praxis from the UK and Ireland perspective, which will be available in June, both in book form and on the website to download. More >>
Annual conference: Churches Refugee Network & Migrant Voice
This will take place on Saturday 5th June 2010, 10.30am - 4.30 pm, at Holy Apostles Church Hall, 47 Cumberland Street, London SW1V 4LY. Keynote talks include: The Future of Immigration by Lord David Ramsbotham and Invisible handcuffs: Children's responses to immigration detention by a paediatrician (TBC). Plus reports and campaigns, workshops, photo exhibition by refugee photographers, and free lunch. More >>
Contemporary Spirituality, 24 to 27 May 2010
This MA module from Sarum College is open to non-MA students. It explores contemporary expressions of spirituality through a variety of different disciplinary lenses, creating a conversation between Christian and non-Christian perspectives. Course tutors include Eley McAinsh, Director of the Living Spirituality Network. More >>
Meeting God in friend & stranger 
New teaching document from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales on interreligious dialogue.
More >>
Photo: Catholic Church (England & Wales) 
Confident Discipleship
Jim Currin, Secretary for Evangelisation at Churches Together in England, discusses some current church thinking and initiatives relating to discipleship. More >>
Seminar for British Clergy at Yad Vashem,
the International School for Holocaust Studies
4th - 15th October 2010, Israel
An intensive 10 days of lectures, seminars and workshops specifically for clergy and lay leaders. The programme is designed jointly by the Head of the British Desk at Yad Vashem, and Dr Jane Clements, consultant for the Council of Christians and Jews. More >>
Sharing church buildings - A request from Churches Together in England
John Bradley of CTE writes:
The Churches Group for Local Unity is planning a day conference, probably in London in March 2011, exploring the ways in which churches are using their buildings to offer hospitality to other churches. We want to build on the work which produced the report Sharers, Guests or Tenants?, aware that the scene has changed in various ways since it was produced. We are aware of a range of patterns, from a permanent Sharing Agreement under the 1969 Act to a short-term letting and are interested in all of them.
At this point we are looking for good stories of how the experience of sharing a building has been positive for both parties and has furthered their ecumenical understanding. Are you aware of any such places? If so, please send me details of someone to contact and I will explore it further. We will tell you the time and place of the conference when they are confirmed.
Please contact John Bradley, tel: 020 7529 8131.
We work with our partners, the four national ecumenical bodies in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
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