A listing of local group meetings appears in the Events Calendar
Saturday 28 September 2019 — Saturday 16 November 2019
Five seminars exploring how an understanding of modern science might affect the way we pray.
Thursday 3 October 2019 — Sunday 1 March 2020
Free Events in St Paul’s Cathedral
Explore the challenges, contradictions and joys of being a Christian in the 21st century with some of today’s liveliest contemporary theologians, Christian thinkers and speakers.
Events are open to everyone, and all are welcome.
Thursday 17 October 2019
Judging religion: innocent or guilty?
Wednesday 23 October 2019
Extinction Rebellion
Wednesday 23 October 2019
Martin Camroux on "Radical God". This is his talk at the 2018 Free to Believe Conference. Some will remember that that he led a study day at Tavistock URC on "Religion is Dangerous" about 5 years ago.
Thursday 24 October 2019
Rev. Reiss will examine both historical and theological debates about what can be credibly believed about Jesus since the advent of biblical criticism from the nineteenth century onwards, considering especially some recent debates started by the publication of The Myth of God Incarnate. He is the author of Sceptical Christianity (2016) and is working on Death, Where is Your Sting? which he hopes will be published in 2020.
Friday 25 October 2019
Before the main topic we look at PCN Eight points, Point 2 introduced by Hazel
Saturday 26 October 2019
Project Bonhoeffer is hosting its annual conference, this year at St Georges Conference Centre on October the 26th. Join us for a day of keynote speakers, including Professor Tom Greggs of Aberdeen, and an afternoon of workshops to leave you with the drive and ideas to help build Faith in Our Democracy. More information can be found here:
https://www.projectbonhoeffer.org.uk/455-2/
Monday 28 October 2019
David Wood & Madeleine Cheadle will talk about how to make funeral services relevant to those whose churchgoing may have lapsed or who have no faith.
Monday 28 October 2019
Group member Clyne Shepherd will be exploring with us a few of the themes from Karen Armstrong's writing, and will then invite us to share our thoughts about the issues raised in his talk. The meeting promises to guide us further in the forward direction we identified in September. Hopefully it's 'one more step along the way we go!' Everyone is included and welcome....
Tuesday 29 October 2019
In the week we have been promised we will exist the EU `Do or Die` and in the light of the climate emergency, Peter will look at how our group might respond the events in the real world.
Tuesday 29 October 2019
The Bible speaks of an impartial God, a diverse body of believers and justice for all people. Yet, historically, the words of the Bible have been used to justify slavery, segregation and racial discrimination. And despite advances in law and in society, white privilege persists in all areas of life, including our churches.
Sunday 3 November 2019
We all know about the resurrection of Jesus but who are the people mentioned in Matthew 27 v 52-53? "The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many" Why dd Jesus go into Hades after his death and before his resurrection? Come along and find out....
Tuesday 5 November 2019
Adrian Alker, Chair of PCN Britain, will join us for a discussion on progressive Christianity and the initiatives being pursued by PCN Britain.
Wednesday 6 November 2019
Two of our members have moved to Sweden but are visiting Bedford. They will talk about their experiences of the Swedish Church and how it compares with the CoE. They expect to bring a guest who is a retired priest of the Swedish Church. PLEASE NOTE that the meeting has been deferred from October to accommodate our visitors.
Wednesday 6 November 2019
A talk on the situation in Yemen is proposed. This will replace the talk by Martin Mowforth of Tavistock Peace Action Group on the theme of Central America which will occur in 2020.
Saturday 9 November 2019
A day conference examining the themes of Bonhoeffer’s work and what it can say to us in today’s world.
Tuesday 12 November 2019
The meeting will be an open discussion, facilitated by Helen. We aim to look at `what next for the group`, considering the resources we may want to use, DVD, CD, Books etc or perhaps something new entirely. We would also welcome any offers to lead future group meetings.
Tuesday 12 November 2019
Daryl and Jean will select a theme from the Bible and encourage everyone to participate in bringing out the meaning of the text(s) for our lives today.
Saturday 16 November 2019
"Sceptical Christianity" by Robert Reiss - chapters 10 & 11
Monday 18 November 2019
Monday 18 November 2019
The life, poetry and theology of the great Welsh poet-priest R S Thomas.
Wednesday 20 November 2019
Trevor Dennis on "The Bible can be funny". This is one of his talks at the 2018 Free to Believe Conference. Having been vice principal at Salisbury and Wells theological college and then cannon chancellor at Chester Cathedral, he is now retired but is well known for many books which make faith very accessible for the person in the street.
Friday 22 November 2019 — Sunday 24 November 2019
PCN Members’ Residential 2019 Is a Radical Church Possible? by current PCN chair Adrian Alker is the book we will use for our discussions at this year’s weekend residential
Tuesday 26 November 2019
Eleanor and Alan have offered to lead us in another exercise in `Art Reflection`.
Thursday 28 November 2019
Jeffrey John will address the current struggle to allow same-sex marriage in the Church of England. He has been Dean of St Albans since 2004 . He was previously Vicar of Holy Trinity Eltham, Canon Chancellor and Theologian of Southwark Cathedral, and Director of Training in the Southwark Diocese. He has been partnered to Grant Holmes since 1976. In 2003 he was appointed Bishop of Reading but subsequently forced to withdraw. His books include The Meaning in the Miracles; Permanent Faithful Stable: Christian Same-Sex Marriage,; and Going for Growth. He co-authored This is Our Faith: A Popular Presentation of Anglican Belief..
Friday 29 November 2019
Before the main topic we look at PCN Eight points, Point 3 introduced by Sian
Sunday 1 December 2019
Tuesday 10 December 2019
In our last session of the series, we will be looking at Christmas. The session is still under development so please watch this space.
Tuesday 10 December 2019
A search for inclusive, progressive hymns.
Friday 13 December 2019
Before the main topic we look at PCN Eight points, Point 4 introduced by Frances
Friday 31 January 2020
Before the main topic we look at PCN Eight points, Point 5 introduced by Howard
Saturday 7 March 2020
Our environment is in crisis, inequality is growing, and yet our economic system seems fixated on endless growth, while politics is paralysed and coarsened by division.
How do we need to change our political and economic assumptions in order to meet these challenges? How can we can model new ways of living ourselves, and as churches? How does our hope in God’s future empower us to live a hopeful, abundant life on a finite planet?
JPIT’s 2020 national conference Renewal and Rebellion: faith, economy and climate invites you to join in looking at the big challenges we all face – rethinking economic structures and taking radical steps towards climate justice, and how we can all act to change them – in faith, for people and for planet.
Through panel discussions, workshops, poetry, art and conversation, we hope to inspire and resource people to speak, pray and act boldly for justice and peace over the next decade.
Thursday 30 July 2020 — Friday 31 July 2020
Liberal Theology: What is liberal faith and what does it offer to the world?