2009 February

Durham University is hosting an exciting and innovative conference for teachers of Religious Studies from 3^rd to 5^th April 2009. In order to ensure that the conference is affordable for all individuals/schools we will be asking for a small contribution of £40 towards the cost of the conference which includes two nights, full board accommodation and all social activities at St. John’s College.

Taking place within the historic city of Durham, the main aims of this conference are to support Professional Development by providing enhanced knowledge and resources to take back to the classroom, to extend and deepen Theological knowledge by providing up to date research from a world class Theology department and to enthuse and encourage those working with students with an interest in Religious Studies/Theology.

The Bishop of Durham, one of the world’s leading theologians, will be speaking at the conference, accompanied by an array of excellent speakers including:

• Revd Dr David Wilkinson, Author of ‘God, Time and Stephen Hawking’ and Principle of St. John’s College at Durham University.
• Revd Prof Jeff Astley, Honorary Professor of Christian Education, Department of Theology & Religion, Durham University & Director of the North of England Institute for Christian Education Director of the North East Institute for Christian Education
• Michael Wilcockson, Head of Divinity at Eton College

 This conference is open to all Religious Studies/Education Teachers looking to further their knowledge and will be of most benefit to those teaching at A-Level but those teaching at GCSE are also more than welcome to apply.

To book your place online and for further information please visit our website at www.durham.ac.uk/undergraduate/teachers/religious_studies/ or alternatively you can contact Jennifer Barton on 0191 334 6059 or at jennifer.barton@durham.ac.uk. Due to the limited places available on this conference it is advised to book your place by Friday 20^th March 2009.

The conference is offered by Excellence North East as part of the Young, Gifted and Talented (YGT) programme. Durham University is the lead partner of the North East Excellence Hub.

This February the Centre for Catholic Studies Research Seminar is proud to host Prof. Karen Kilby (Nottingham University) who will be speaking on Tues 24, Cosin’s Library at 5:15 (5:00 drinks) on the topic:  ’Can Balthasar be Criticised’; and the following day, Weds. 25, 11:30, Abbey House, on ‘Balthasar and the Trinity for the Theology and Ethics Seminar.  

Concerning the events and controversy surrounding the lifting of the excommunications on the four Lefebvrist bishops a number of useful aritcals are listed below. First: Robert Micken’s article in last week’s Tablet: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/12612). 
Second: clarification from the Vatican Secretariat of State, courtesy of the ZENIT website for 4th February (ZE090204).  Vatican Clarification on Lefebvrites, Holocaust
Third: a statement from Bishop Fellay of the Society of Saint Pius X.

For those who missed the recent conference:  Receptive Ecumenism and Ecclesial Learning: Learning to Be Church Together, Ushaw College, Durham, 11th-15th January 2009, a virtual conference has now been posted on the web.  Follow the link by clicking here, or alternatively go to the conference page and click on the right had tab entitled Receptive Receptive Ecumenism and Ecclesial Learning: Learning to Be Church Together. 

A full program of the events is given, downloads of many of the parallel papers, and a limited number of audio links for the pleanary speakers.  Full recordings of the plenary lecutures are available from www.agapeministries.co.uk