Archive
From this archive section you can get the whole story about Safety Net Safe Space and Greenbelt from one of our founder members, Conrad Henley-Calvert <click here> (Word Doc), take a peek at our old (first) website, by clicking here, or keep reading to see what we've been doing at previous festivals and what our plans for the future are.
Our plans for 2004
At the 2004 festival we so far plan to invite Richard Kirker to speak at Safe Space, and George Hopper (author of Reluctant Journey) to come and speak for us again.
2003
- Diving for Pearls
2002 - Kiss of Life
2001 - Eternal Echoes
2000 - heaven@earth.com
1999
Order Seminar Tapes by Clicking Here.
Summary: In 2003 the festival theme was 'Diving for Pearls'. Safety Net's spin on that title was 'It takes Grit to Make a Pearl'. As such we focussed on the grittier side of life, politics, theology and sexuality. Taking inspiration from Robert Goss' book 'Jesus Acted Up: A Gay and Lesbian Manifesto' (HarperSanFrancisco, 1993) we invited key speakers such as Peter Tatchell (well-known Australian-born human rights activist), Adrian Thatcher (who, in 1993 published a book with SPCK titled 'Liberating Sex' in which he was one of the first to argue that sexuality is a gift from God), Sally Rogers (Changing Attitude) and Jeremy Marks (Courage).
Lineup:
Sally Rogers | Diving into the Wreck: Seeking the Treasure Within
Sally Rogers uses the lines in Adrienne Rich's poem, "I came to see the damage that was done/and the treasures that prevail", as a fruitful reference point for a reflection on the journeys of lesbian and gay Christians in the church, and where we go from here.Sally is the Development Worker with Changing Attitude, "working for gay and lesbian affirmation within the Anglican church".
Jeremy Marks | How Can you be Both Gay and Christian?
What is Family? A panel session organised by Safety Net for GB03/30 chaired by Joan King
In wider society new lines are being drawn around the definition of what constitutes 'family'. Meanwhile the phrase 'family values' is still heard being used by some church-based groups to support a whole set of moral precepts about exclusively marital sexual intercourse, patriarchal roles, censoring, the gay issue, childhood - on the basis of what is or is not 'biblical'. What does the word 'family' mean today? What really are the biblical models? Do we have to redefine marriage, betrothal, church, or even our application of Scripture?
This panel session follows on from last year's 'Procreation Prerogative' debate. Among the panellists are Adrian Thatcher, author of 'Living Together & Christian Ethics' and 'Liberating Sex'; Stephanie Gill, lesbian mother married for 23 years with 3 children and one grandchild; Martin Reynolds - Clergyman in the Church in Wales (Llandaff) who has a disabled mother and who, with his partner, fostered a boy with learning difficulties; and Rev. Steve Hollinghurst - Former Chaplain of Nottingham Trent University and Researcher in Evangelism to Post Christian Culture for the Church Army.
Adrian
Thatcher | Living
Together and Christian Ethics (launches PDF summary of the book from
the Cambridge University Press website).
Peter Tatchell
| interviewed by Martin
Wroe | Taking Risks for Human Rights
Summary: In 2002 the festival theme was 'Kiss of Life'. Safety Net's understanding of this theme was that this is something you do when someone stops breathing - when someone is on the edge between life and death - spiritual, mental, physical survival or death. As such, we took stock of what Safety Net is and does, with a Short History, a digital art installation, a debate from the edges of the church, and other events.
Lineup:
Conrad Henley-Calvert | Getting from There to Here: A Short History of Safe Space <download the text in Word>
Beryl Quennell | Weave a Web Worship
Kirsti Reeve | Why would Any Self-respecting Lesbian Christian become Catholic?
Trevor Barton | Digital Video installation - Kiss of Life. Watch a clip from the video and hear some of the music (option given at end of sequence - file size 2.3MB), as well as read a sequence of what some of the visitors to the installation wrote as they participated in the event (a must at only 884kb!), by clicking here.
Visit the artist's homepages at mp3.com and order an album through the Narthex homepage.
Headline Safety Net Forum Debate - "Procreation Prerogative - the Church's reaction to Childless familites, fostering and same-sex parenting?" Jeremy Marks (Courage), Sue Essau (Relate), Beryl Quennell, Tony Petersen. Hosted by Joan King (former Greenbelt board member).
Jeremy Marks | Courage Trust's Journey
Rev. Dave Earl | Communion
This was the year we had Bishop Jonathan Blake, Jim Cotter (author of "Quiverfull"), FFLAG, and Peter Selby (Bishop of Worcester). We also had a worship session run by Narthex.
In 2000, three seminars were held, entitled 'Discussion on Family', 'Spirituality of Singleness, Sex and Sense', and 'LGCM Storytelling'.
In 1999 we ran three Workshops for Poetry, Drama, and Spirit painting. We also met at lunchtimes at the sculpture park. Our Seminars included the following:
Angela Mason, Ex | Why do minorities feel threatened?
Dr Elizabeth Stuart | Faith Versus Religion
George Hopper | A journey of faith from homophobia to embrace of lesbian and gay people.
Other Archive Stuff....
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