Humankind has an uncanny ability to ignore what we do not want to hear, especially if it requires decisive and radical action which is exactly what is needed now to grapple with climate change.

Is there anything the churches can do about it? The fundamental problems are not technical, however formidable they may be. They are political, moral and religious. The situation is not beyond hope.

The trustees and many members of PCN Britain received the news that the Toronto Conference of the United Church has ordered that you be reviewed due to concerns over the effectiveness of your ministry with real sadness and dismay.

In tribute to the life and work of Marcus Borg, the trustees of PCN Britain have decided to set up a new memorial fund which will be used to underpin financially a series of annual lectures in Marcus’s honour and we invite all our members and friends to make a donation to the Marcus Borg Memorial Fund.

Adrian Alker, PCN Britain's chair of the trustees, introduces this open letter from Pat Fuller, one of our a newly elected trustees. It first appeared in the September 2015 edition of Progressive Voices

Adrian writes: From the beginning PCN Britain adopted the Eight Points of The Centre for Progressive Christianity (TCPC) in the USA. PCN Britain made a slight change to the Eight Points at its inception and after consulting our membership a more major change in September 2014. Whilst the trustees never intended that these Eight Points should be seen as anything more than a signpost, showing our direction of travel as an organisation, clearly some members feel anxious that such points might be felt to be coercive of thought and practice.

The trustees feel minded at present to hold on to the importance of having the Eight Points as an expression of the Christian life but welcome Pat’s letter as we continuously review our work. Your comments on Pat's letter would be welcome. Adrian Alker, chair.

The new group is to be called “Beyond Belief”. It will meet for the first time on Monday, September 21^st at 7 pm for a 7.30 pm start at The Paris House (Le Pub), 21 Western Road, Brighton BN3 1AF.

August 2015

This is my first news update to members of PCN since being elected chair of the trustees and I want to begin by thanking my fellow trustees for their encouragement to take up this role. I am following in the footsteps of Angela Smith and I want to first of all pay tribute to Angela’s dedicated service to PCN as chair and it is good that she is able to continue as a trustee. At our last meeting Paul Onslow was elected as vice chair and Sandra Griffiths as secretary and we look forward to the appointment of a new treasurer in the autumn.

​Adrian Alker was one of the founding members of PCN Britain in 2003. He was Vicar of St Marks Broomhill, Sheffield for twenty years and subsequently Director for Mission Resourcing in the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales. He was made an honorary canon of Sheffield Cathedral and awarded an honorary degree by the University of Sheffield for his work in the community.

In exchange for 100-300 words you’ll get to keep the book, and the deadlines are flexible. If you’re interested please email Dave Coaker, the editor of Progressive Voices .

Currently we have the following books to review:

Ethnicity: The Inclusive Church Resource - Paperback (178x110mm), 128pp, 978-0-232-53070-4, £8.99, 8 April 2015.

1. Sexuality: The Inclusive Church Resource - Paperback (198x126mm), 128pp, 978-0-232-53067-4, £8.99, 27 November 2014
2. Poverty: The Inclusive Church Resource - Paperback (198x126mm), 128pp, 978-0-232-53068-1, £8.99, 27 November 2014

We welcome to our new group anyone who is seeking a Christianity relevant to contemporary understanding. If you are finding the traditional doctrines of the church difficult or impossible to believe you will find in our group a safe place to share your ideas and doubts without fear of condemnation.

This course is based on readings in the gospels of St Mark and St John. Each section consists of a carefully argued interpretation of the text interspersed with questions for discussion along the way and at the end of each section, encouragement to articulate your own conclusions.

Less than a month after the Paris shootings, in the very week that the carnage of Kobani has been revealed, here is an attempt to light a candle in the wind. The aim of World Interfaith harmony Week is to ask us all to think of the small step that each of us can take, in the cause of harmony, even if it is simply to acknowledge our Muslim neighbour with a smile, or ask them round for a cup of tea. This message is being effectively promoted by the Charter for Compassion and we invite you to sign their petition on Avaaz. Each one of us is a decision maker - we can decide to do nothing or do something.

Throughout the world, for more than two decades, ​Marcus Borg's was the most respected voice expressing the need for a new paradigm in Christianity. From our foundation in 2003, he was also a great friend and supporter of PCN. He was a frequent speaker at our conferences and his books were avidly read by our members.

Val's books include Like Catching Water in a Net; Stepping Out with the Sacred; and In Defence of Doubt. She first visited the UK in 2013.

This year's tour consists of ten venues across Britain, made possible through the collaboration of nine PCN groups and two progressive churches. All the hosts extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to come and hear her speak. Refreshments will be provided. Follow the links for details of each event.

We are delighted to have as our keynote speaker for this conference, Peter Rollins, probably the UK’s leading radical theologian, who has made a great impact at Greenbelt in recent years.

This is a press release from the Progressive Christianity Network Britain and the Student Christian Movement. Together they are hosting a conference with Peter Rollins in November 2014

The Christian habit of trying to convince non-believers that their lives would be transformed if they could only find God is off the agenda for Peter Rollins. This popular young theologian is challenging the Church to adopt a new approach to faith which transcends the usual preoccupations of Christians.