Area Deans of Nordic / Baltic and Balkans / Turkey in 10 day theological consultation

The Revd Barbara Moss (left) and the Revd Canon Malcolm Bradshaw
The Revd Barbara Moss of Gothenburg (and Area Dean of the Nordic and Baltic states) and Revd Canon Malcolm Bradshaw of the Greater Athens Anglican Chaplaincy (and Area Dean of the Balkans and Turkey) had a challenging ten days in July as they shared in a consultation with twenty four other senior parish priests at St George’s House, Windsor Castle.

 The consultation was entitled ‘God: Some Conversations. How to speak about God?’ It was a rigorous programme. Each morning began with worship at 7.30 in St George’s Chapel, followed by groups for bible study, facilitated by a theologian. The biblical passage studied was linked to the particular theme explored during the day: Today’s Church, Equality, Childhood, Literature and the Arts, Drugs policy, Finance/Economics or Assisted Dying. By 10.00 am the group was reviewing a book or a film focused on the theme of the day such as ‘Easter’ by Michael Arditti or ‘A Perfectly Good Man’ by Patrick Gale or the BBC programme  ‘Rev’. At 11.00 am a key note lecture was given by such worthies as Baroness Margaret Jay, Dr Nigel Varndell of the Children’s Society, Mr. Roger Howard  Chief executive of the UK Drug Policy Commission, Mr. John Lancaster a commentator and author. By 4.00 pm the groups convened yet again to engage on all that had been spoken about in the morning.  After Evensong an hour was given to receiving and discussing a presentation on a topic of a participant’s choosing and prepared previously.

Fr Malcolm reports that despite the rigour of the 10 day process it was good to talk theologically with peers in ministry on current issues regarding both Church and Society. Barbara and Malcolm express their thanks to the Diocesan Ministry for Vocations and Training for making such an opportunity available to them.

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