FROM NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST – CLERGY GATHER IN COLOGNE

145 clergy representing churches from Morocco to Finland and Teneriffe to Moscow will be leaving their parochial duties for five days for a rare conference of clergy in Cologne from Monday 22nd September 2009.

It is only the second time that all licensed priests and deacons have been able to meet in the diocese’s 29 year history. Suffragan Bishop, the Right Reverend David Hamid, says that despite the practical challenges of travel arrangements the days should prove rewarding for the participants and for the churches they represent.

The theme is “Entertaining Angels: Hospitality as Mission.” and includes worship, bible study, teaching, and continuing education workshops, to equip clergy further for their work of ministry and mission in Europe.

The two keynote speakers are Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP and Professor Brian Thorne. Fr Radcliffe is the former Master of the Dominicans, a widely-read author on pastoral Christianity with a prophetic edge.
Professor Thorne is Emeritus Professor of Counselling at the University of East Anglia, founder of Norwich Centre for Counselling Studies, and an expert in mediation and person-centred counselling.

Bible studies will be led by Dr Musa Dube, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Botswana and a New Testament scholar. Dr Dube is a highly sought international speaker in academic and ecumenical circles and will bring fresh and challenging readings of the scriptures from outside the traditional European context.

At least 10 workshops will be offered covering a wide range of topics including Liturgy, reconciliation, welcoming different cultures, Godly Play, expatriate ministry, ecumenical ministry, interfaith dialogue, leading bible study in a multicultural context, ministry with the marginalized, environmental and ecology concerns in ministry. 

Each Church’s annual financial contribution for Continuing Ministerial Education is already supporting its clergy in attending this conference.  The first time clergy were enabled to share in such a conference was four years ago and many ministers still recall the benefit and positive effects of that gathering.