Distinctly Welcoming

Greenbelt 2008 Review

Back from Greenbelt, which always symbolises the end of the summer for me. I didn't get to hear much; it was a weekend of bumping into old friends and chatting over tea. Enjoyed Jonny Baker and Yemi from CMS discussing what the emerging church and black-led churches had to learn from each other in the West. This is a hugely significant discussion and it was good to see this vital interaction modelled well. I was sorry to miss Richard Burridge who was apparently brilliant talking about the Bible as inclusive, sharing some of the work he had done in bringing disparate groups together around scripture during the Lambeth Conference. It was a privilege to lead a session on Christian-Muslim collaboration with a friend from Bradford, Wahida Shaffi. The hunger to hear a confident and articulate Muslim woman speak with vulnerability and honesty was palpable. I suspect that for most folk there, engaging with such a positive presentation from a Muslim was a giant step to removing prejudice and fear. My sorry admission, though, is that the real highlight was Sunday evening beer and hymns at the organic beer tent, "The Jesus Arms". 3500 folk jammed in to raise their beers aloft to God singing numbers such as "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Crown Him with Many Crowns". During this "service" I heard the best sermon for a long time. I quote verbatim the entire sermon: "There are many ways to worship the Lord. Singing hymns and drinking beer is one of them.Hurrah" (to shouts of "Amen" and raised beers!) An unreconstructed communal sing-along that had its element of irony but was actually overcome by genuinely moving and sincere worship. Here's to next year.....

Greenbelt 2008

That time of year is approaching fast! Late in the day, there's a music line-up that is beginning to interest me so I'll definitely be making my way over to see Seth Lakeman, Howe Gelb/Giant Sand, Jose Gonzales and One Giant Leap. Looking forward to the usual bumping into old friends, chilling over a cinnamon tea in the Tiny Tea Tent and, should I feel inclined, getting into the odd seminar and talk. I'm on duty in the CMS Main Venue talking about a fresh approach to the theology of religions on Saturday at 4pm (Distinctly Welcome - "No Limits, Just Edges") and talking about faith in the public square (Distinctly Welcome - "Christian Britain or What?") on Sunday at 1pm. Some time on the Monday (!!!) I'm meant to be leading a workshop in the new "Kitchen" venue on Christian community action and collaboration with Muslims. So come and say hello!

I have a belated confession to make that I hit the big 40 a couple of weeks ago. One prezzie was "The Poet, The Warrior, The Prophet" by Rubem Alves. If you like philosophical, poetic works of theology that bring in works of literature, then this is a gorgeous book. It's unclassifiable, mysterious and beguiling, and will be a book I can see myself repeatedly coming back to,