Generous Faith – our Wound is our Word
March 22 @ 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
A one-day conference to ask: what is a prophet and what is prophecy? Where is it being spoken today? How do we recognise it? Why must the church?
Generous Faith – Our Wound is our Word – will
- bring together Christians working for a more prophetic church
- offer a chance to learn from and be challenged by the stories of people from the margins
- reflect on how we can discern and respond to the prophetic voices which are speaking to the church at the moment.
- ask what a genuinely generous faith that is willing to listen and willing to share looks like?
- discern how can we speak better, as a church, into the immensely challenging world around us
Presented by St John’s, Waterloo in partnership with Together for the Church of England and Inclusive Church.
£33/£12 concessions. Includes refreshments and lunch.
Our wounds are our words. Many who have experienced marginalisation or exclusion have reflected deeply on their journeys, bringing liberation and profound insight into the ways God’s love has brought them hope and strength. A prophetic dimension opens up.
Keynote speakers:
Rabbi Elisheva Salamo, York Liberal Jewish Synagogue. With a background in biology and experience within the Jewish community as a teacher, programme developer, and spiritual counsellor, Elisheva creates meaningful ritual, restorative prayer services, hands-on education opportunities, and far-reaching Tikkun Olam (repair of the world – social action).
Born in California, she held posts at congregations in the United States, South Africa and Switzerland before coming to York. One of her favourite activities as a rabbi is creative text study.
Revd Azariah France-Williams, Rector of Ascension Church in Hulme Manchester. Azaraiah is a founder of the In-Solidarity Network a fledgling alliance of local partners working for the common good based in Hulme, South Manchester. Azariah is known as a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2’s Pause for Thought, and BBC Radio 4’s Daily Service. In the multiverse Azariah is a soul singer, a touring circus clown, a wild water wonder, and a professor of peace studies. In this universe Azariah is author of Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England published in 2020 by SCM Press and is also available on Audible.
Revd Chris Howson, Chaplain to the University of Sunderland. Chris grew up on a council estate near Staines. He became a social worker after serving as President of the Students Union in Bradford, where he had responsibility for founding fresh expressions of Church for young people in and around the centre of the city. He has been Chaplain at Sunderland University since 2012 , is co-chair of Sunderland Interfaith Forum and Chair of Sunderland City of Sanctuary and was recently awarded the British Empire Medal for services to higher education
Host:
Canon Giles Goddard. Giles is Vicar of St John’s, Waterloo and Chair of Faith for the Climate. He is a former Chair of Inclusive Church and has many years working to make the church more prophetic and inclusive. His book Generous Faith inspired the conference.
Workshops confirmed to date:
Revd Sharon Moughtin – What is a prophet? – Prophecy in the Hebrew Bible
Revd Chantal Noppen – Storytelling and prophecy
Professor C L Nash – Being an ally to unheard voices
Dr Lauren Stanley – Power and Privilege
Rt Revd John Inge – Prophecy and the established church
Revd Georgia Ashwell and Revd Grey Collier – Prophecy and patriarchy
Cost: £33/£12 concessions. Includes refreshments and lunch.
For people travelling to London and needing accommodation, overnight camping in St John’s Crypt will be available – £10.
Access information
- Access and travel details for St John’s Church are available at AccessAble.
- BSL interpretation will be available in plenary sessions and one workshop. If you need BSL interpretation please let us know.
- We are committed to being as accessible as possible. If you need further info please contact admin@stjohnswaterloo.org
The book Generous Faith, by Giles Goddard, has received very positive responses. In particular many have been moved by the story of St John’s, Waterloo as a place which offers a welcome to many people on the edge of society, whether LGBTQI+, people who have experience of racial or sexual discrimination, people from post-colonial nations, disabled people, homeless people and those who are prophetically active in campaigns for greater social justice.
