Looking ahead...

This is the final post on the PEN blog for 2011, and we hope readers have/had a happy and blessed Christmas!

2012 will begin with two exciting events on issues which are very much in the headlines...

- on 20th January, Jonathan Chaplin will be in East London (10am to 12 noon, venue tbc) to discuss his recent Theos report, arguing for a 'Christian retrieval of multiculturalism'.  David Ford (Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge has hailed the report as "a superbly perceptive and constructive contribution to the debate about multiculturalism in Britain" and says it "should be read by all who want civil society to flourish."  More details from Angus Ritchie (director [AT] theology-centre.org)

- on 30th January, the Contextual Theology Centre and St Paul's Institute are co-hosting a study day for clergy and the representatives of Christian social justice organisations.  Entitled Where do we go from here? Engaging congregations in effective action for economic justice, it will build on the ongoing work of both Centre and Institute - and the increased energy and focus created by the Occupy Camps.  Speakers include Peter Selby (former Bishop of Worcester), David McNair (Christian Aid) and Angus Ritchie and Sabina Alkire (Contextual Theology Centre).  The event will be at St Paul's; more details from Robert Gordon (institute [AT] stpaulscathedral.org.uk)

Finally, you may be interested in the Christmas letter to Prof Richard Dawkins, penned by our Director in response to his open letter in the latest New Statesman...

O Little Town

A quick mention of resources in relation to the approaching festival..........

From Theos comes a report by Stephen R Holmes on The Politics of Christmas in which he argues that the Vicotrian domesticised Christmas to a family centred feast replacing the previous style of celebration with possible anarchic reversals of autority structures. A closer examination of the texts reveals that the 'silencing of politics' at Christmas is decidedly odd.

A timely reminder to reconsider themes of asylum seeking, taxation, political oppression, occupation and unrest in our Christmas celebrations.

Paperback ISBN 13 978 0 9562182 7 8 £5 Stephen R Holmes is Senior lecturere in Theology at the University of St Andrews Email hello@theosthinktank.co.uk for more.

And if that gets you thinking about church and politics and The Holy Land it may be worth reminding you of the resources on the Anglican Communion website called The Holy Land Information pages.

If you are planning a pilgrimage next year Palestine Initiative for Responsible Toursim (PIRT) is worth a look at.

Communicating the Word

In the All Saints Update we alerted you to the forth coming publication of this book..... subtitled 'Revelation, Translation, and Interpretation in Christianity and Islam', this is the latest publication from the annual Building Bridges Seminar series and is the writing up of the 2008 meeting.

Edited by The Reverend Dr David Marshall with an Afterword by Archbishop Rowan Williams.

"Islam and Christianity alike give a high valuation to the conviction that God speaks to us. Grasping what that does and does not mean ...is challenging theological work." says the Archbishop in his closing reflections.

paperback ISBN 978-1-58901-784-9 £17.25 direct from http://www.press.georgetown.edu/
or via Georgetown University Press c/o NBN International, Airport Business Centre, 10 Thornbury Road, Plymouth PL6 799 Tel: 01752 202301
If I have understood correctly quoting discount code TY62 will get you a 30% discount ( which makes it £12.08) from either of these suppliers - other suppliers are not bound to honour that.

See film clips from the 2011 Building Bridges Seminar, in Qatar, around the theme of Prayer, on the website of the Berkley Center for Religion, peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University who now administer the dialogue.

Three Fast Approaching Events

It's that time of year when it feels like the diary might explode but we wanted to flag these up.....

Tuesday 6th December (Happy St Nicholas Day to Dutch friends) at 1.05pm JustShare Debate at St Mary-le-Bow EC2V 6AU Inequality and Exclusion: Inevitable Consequences of Economic Development?' Speakers: Dr Bingqin Li of the LSE Dr Stephen Davies of the IEA Dr Faiza Shaheen of the nef.

Thursday 8th December same venue 6.45pm A JustShare City talk City Talk: ‘No care plan at the inn: the role of Christian solidarity in homelessness services’ will be given by Alison Gelder (Director of Housing Justice).

Thursday 13th December on a lighter note The Awareness Foundation invite you to their Christmas celebratin of carols, readings and music 7.00pm at Holy Trinity Sloane Square This is a fundraiser and tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for children (5-14). All are most welcome.

Jim Wallis: "terrific" faith & finance resource

Jim Wallis - founder of Sojourners and spiritual adviser to President Obama - has given a warm endorsement to the Contextual Theology Centre's resource pack on faith and the financial crisis:

Bless you for doing this pack. It looks terrific... The protestors are creating space for conversation, so why don't we enter that space and have that conversation with them? Christians have Biblical principles and historical practices - we can help restore the balance that's gone terribly wrong. We can play a critical role to restore some balance to an economic system that's been skewed to the wealthy and powerful against the poor. We can change this. The young people are offering us a chance - let's not be afraid. Let's have a dialogue and play our prophetic role in the issues they're raising. 

Angus Ritchie (Director of the Centre and co-author of the pack) has been reflecting in the Church Times on how faithful Christian witness on these issues can be strengthened and not diluted by engagement with other faiths - in An Advent call to act on the debate about money