PCN Britain’s Annual Report 2010
Added 1st July, 2010This is our Annual Report & Financial Statements for the financial year 1st January - 31st December 2010
Resources
Jesus of Nazareth in 2010
Added 2nd August, 2010In May 2010, Professor David Catchpole led a PCN Britain residential weekend at the St Deiniol’s residential library. He addressed some of the questions provoked by historical affirmations about Jesus in the Christian creeds, and filled in some of the gaps left where those creeds say nothing at all. Finally, with an eye to the question of whether Jesus can be viewed as the founder of Christianity, Professor Catchpole drew in a “theologically significant other”, and asked whether the religion of the carpenter’s son was truly that of the tentmaker Roman citizen, and vice versa. The papers to accompany Professor Catchpole’s talks are available here. The four topics are:
1. Mary and Joseph and the Baby (page 1);
2. Not a Christian but a Jew (page 15);
3. When from death he passed...? (page 30);
4. From 30 - 2010: Jesus in his world, and we in ours, (page 47).
Spiritual Lessons for Children - New Curriculum Changes How We Think About God
Added 9th August, 2010PCN Britain has learned of a new US religious studies programme for children.
PCN’s Chair, John Churcher, answers three questions
Added 18th May, 2010Occupying the ‘Chair’ for over a year has led me into many interesting situations and conversations. Here are just three of the questions that have been sent to or asked of me. I include my responses so that members of PCN Britain may be encouraged and supported when you also face such questions. The answers that I give are from my faith perspective, although I hope that they are in line with the 8 Points that guide PCN Britain. It is also important to remind ourselves that PCN Britain exists to resource and support local groups and people in their own faith pilgrimage and our place of uniting is around those 8 Points - not in declaring that this or that is the only way of seeing things.
March 2010 Newsletter
Added 24th May, 2010Howard Grace, who co-convenes the PCN group in Newbury, provides his take on evolution. Editor, Hugh Dawes supplies a progressive message on the resurrection. John Keddie, a church of Scotland minister, writes about God language and Hazel Day writes about prayer. Tom Hind tackles the question of what authority we need for our faith. There are reviews of three books recently published by PCN members plus the usual reports from PCN Groups.
December 2009 Newsletter
Added 24th May, 2010The death of PCN’s honorary adviser, hymnwriter, Fred Kaan, prompts a couple of articles in this edition. There a tribute from two members of PCN who, like Fred, are members of the United Reformed Church and a transcript of a speech given by Fred’s wife, Anthea, to the PCN AGM in October. Reflecting the season, PCN vice Chair Mary McMahon gives us food for thought at Christmas and Dorothy Haughton, a Unitarian, looks at Christmas from her viewpoint. PCN’s outgoing Hon Secretary, Jill Sandham, writes of what it means to be a progressive Christian and Hugh Dawes, the outgoing PCN Chair, writes a challenging article on looking for reliability in scripture. There are the usual reports from PCN’ groups and articles reflecting Bishop Jack Spong’s autumn lecture tour, sponsored by PCN.
Starting and Running a PCN Britain Group
Added 1st March, 2010The PCN Group Network is there to support progressive Christians whether or not they wish to subscribe to PCN itself. We ask only that the group should support the Eight Points (see About Us) and that there should be at least one member of the group who is part of PCN-Britain and therefore able to act as the link person or convenor. If you are wondering whether to start a new group this download will tell you what is involved and what we can do to help you. See also Experiences and Reflections on starting a PCN Group.
Experiences and Reflections on Starting a PCN Group
Added 29th April, 2010This is a more informal companion to “Starting a new PCN Group” which has been compiled by two members with experience of running a local group.
Draft Minutes of 2009 AGM
Added 6th May, 2010Draft Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of PCN Britain held on 24th October 2009 at 10.45am, at St James’s Church, Piccadilly
The Freedom to Explore
Added 20th April, 2010A hymn by PCN member, Monty Lynds, copyright 2006. Can be sung to the tune St Peters.
First Verse
I thank you God for giving me
The freedom to explore
Unfettered by the words of some
I’ll learn to know you more.
We Sing a Song of Light Divine
Added 21st April, 2010A hymn by PCN member, Monty Lynds, copyright 2004.
Can be sung to the tune, Kingsfold
First Verse:
We sing our song of light divine
Now born to all the earth.
To every colour, every race
To poor and noble birth.
To those of all and varied paths
With different ways to God.
The gifts of love to humankind
Are on the road He trod.
PCN Britain’s Annual Report 2009
Added 28th April, 2010This is our Annual Report & Financial Statements for the financial year 1st January - 31st December 2008
PCN Britain’s Constitution
Added 29th April, 2010This is the latest PCN Britain constitution.
September 2009 Newsletter
Added 31st December, 2009John Hetherington writes of a Spiritual Awakening, with both personal and global implications. Having retired from active ministry, John Weir Cook wonders about our images of God. Michael Wright gives an appreciation of Quaker spirituality plus the usual reports from the groups including a discussion on “what shall we tell the children” by the Newbury group.
June 2009 Newsletter
Added 31st December, 2009Charles Hedley, outgoing vice-char, writes of his hope for Progressive Christianity, Robin Story reports from The World to Come conference at St Mark’s Centre for Radical Christianity in Sheffield and Jill and Paul Cooper describe the St Deiniol’s Weekend on Portraits of Jesus. Plus book reviews and a poem, Some Living Ends, by Chris Avis.
March 2009 Newsletter
Added 31st December, 2009Items include My World of Doubt by John Cook and a summary of PCN Britain’s three year strategy by Jill Sandham, the secretary. John Churcher writes his first chair’s letter and Brian Wilson writes of Poetry (A Pathway to God?) Plus the usual reports from PCN groups and book reviews.
December 2008 Newsletter
Added 26th April, 2009What have we achieved? What next?
A review of PCN Britain’s three year strategy 2005 - 2008
September 2008 Newsletter
Added 26th April, 2009Together in Hope - I hope so!
Adrian Alker, a member of PCN Britain’s Management Committee from the beginning, founder member of the Centre for Radical Christianity in Sheffield, writes about the challenges for the Network of working together with others - what has been done, and what the future might hold.
March 2007 Newsletter
Added 25th June, 2008Progress Christianity and Climate Change: Adrian Alker, vicar of St Mark’s in Sheffield, secretary of the Centre for Radical Christianity there, and a member of the PCN committee, offers a progressive Christian take on what is fast becoming the principal concern of our time.
PCN Britain Information Leaflet
Added 16th July, 2008A printable PDF leaflet to take away with you with information on who we are, what we do and how to join us.
Membership Form
Added 20th July, 2008If you wish to apply for membership by post, just fill out our membership form and send it to PCN Britain, along with payment either by cheque or instructions to set up a standing order.
2008 PCN Britain Annual Report
Added 18th December, 2008Download our Annual Report for 2007/2008.
The Eight Points poster
Added 16th July, 2008A formatted poster of the ‘Eight Points’ ready to print.