Blogs

Michael Taylor, Professor of Social Theology at the University of Birmingham, spoke at the movement's 2010 Conference in February. These are some of his ideas on what living out the gospel means . . .

The big event this week which has many in the UK Christian community talking this week is an amendment to the Civil Partnerships act which allows same sex partnerships to be allowed on religious premises. The amendment is explained fully by Thinking Anglicans.

On the Friday evening of SCM Conference we explored the 'Living it out' theme through four words: spirituality, mission, activism and vocation. I typed up some of the notes from the small groups sessions today. These word clouds give some idea of all that was talked about!

This may be the start of a new feature here at the SCM blog where I link to articles I've found in other places on the internet. If you see an article that you think SCMers would like to read or a site I should be checking then email me or post it in the comments. At the moment I'm heavily drawing from Ekklesia and Thinking Anglicans.

Reposted from my personal blog - http://blissfullyeccentric.blogspot.com

At the weekend I went to the SCM conference (http://www.movement.org.uk) and was hit hard by a wave of challenge. As Coralie (http://coralfrog.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/to-care-is-not-enough/) writes, to care is not enough any more. This time I find myself in demands action as the most effective most startling form of witness, worship and praise.

I spent the weekend near Derby at the SCM (Student Christian Movements) big conference listening to some incredible chat, and contributing some probably less amazing chat myself. At some point, I’m not sure exactly when or in response to what I scribbled a note at the side of a page in my journal. In untidy pencil scrawl I wrote “to care is not enough.”

Step 1 : Find some people

Those of you who were at conference will have already heard Kathy Galloway's message asking for action on this asap :

A professor at Glasgow uni has a 17 year-old foster daughter called Rima.

Rima is an unaccompanied minor from Eritrea who suffered seriously from abuse and neglect in Italy while fleeing persecution.

Following a ruling from the Court of Appeal, finding Italy to be a 'safe country' she is facing deportation.

There is need for a substantial letter campaign for clemency and for her right to remain in the UK.

It's been a busy day!

I have to confess to sleeping through morning prayer, but I was bright-eyed and ready for Michael Taylor's keynote first thing. And I was glad I was. Michael led us gently through a challenging talk based on his many and varied experiences, and left me full of new questions - always a good sign.

The rest of the day has been filled with workshops, a talk from climate personality Tamsin Omond, small group sessions and a lot of chat.