Contributors
Diana Francis, a Quaker, is a former President of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and current Chair of the Committee for Conflict Transformation Support. As a freelance facilitator, trainer and consultant, she works with people trying to address political/inter-ethnic conflict - in the European post-communist world (especially the former Yugoslavia and the Caucasus region), in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. She is also an activist at home and has worked all her life for demilitarisation, justice and peace.
Diana describes and discusses her work in her book, People, Peace and Power: Conflict Transformation in Action, which was published by Pluto Press in 2002. Her new book, Rethinking War and Peace comes out in June this year.
Tina Beattie lives in Bristol and lectures in Christian Studies at the University of Surrey Roehampton. Her teaching and research interests include Christian ethics, Catholic theology and gender, religion and human rights, and Christian mysticism. She is involved in interfaith dialogue, and in running study days and workshops on themes of spirituality and gender. Tina's latest book is Woman, which is part of the New Century Theology series published by Continuum. Her other books include God's Mother, Eve's Advocate: A Marian Narrative of Woman's Salvation (London and New York: Continuum, 2002).
Fernando Beltrán Llavador is currently serving his fourth term as an ITMS International Advisor. He is author of an introductory book on Merton, La contemplación en la acción: Thomas Merton and a translator of various Merton books into Spanish. He teaches Education at Salamanca University in Spain. As a Catholic he has worked alongside Cistercian monks in Spain and has been involved in a number of Merton retreats, particularly aimed at young people. He has also undertaken formal instruction in Zen under the tutelage of Sr. Ana Maria Schlüter of the Catholic Bethany Community. At the Fourth General Meeting and Conference of the TMS in 2002 Fernando presented a stimulating paper on economic globalization, religious universality and Merton’s dialogue with the world.
ACROSS THE RIM OF CHAOS
Peace and Plenty … War and Destruction
These words are drawn from Merton’s ‘Prayer for Peace’ read in the House of Representatives in Holy Week of 1962 in the midst of the Cold War and on the brink of war in Vietnam. After more than forty years Merton’s words resonate with truth more now than ever as the world again faces the choice between peace and plenty on the one hand and war and destruction on the other, poised on the rim of chaos – perhaps beyond it.
The Fifth General Meeting of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain & Ireland seeks to engage with the major issues facing the world at the beginning of the 21st Century drawing on Merton’s writings but developing and reinterpreting his insights for a new generation.
The Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham, England is based in the former home of Sir George Cadbury, himself a Quaker, and has, since 1903, provided education for those of any faith or none from around the world. Guests often comment on the atmosphere at Woodbrooke, which is peaceful, calming and enriching. Woodbrooke is easily accessible by road, rail and air and there are ample parking facilities. More details about Woodbrooke, including pictures, can be found by visiting their website at www.woodbrooke.org
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The Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain & Ireland was founded in 1993 and is an affiliated society of the International Thomas Merton Society.
The aims of the Society are:
· To promote interest in and study of Thomas Merton and his concerns.
· To encourage the formation of local groups.
· To encourage publication of works by or about Thomas Merton
· To organise national meetings of the Society.
· To issue twice yearly The Merton Journal.
Membership subscription is £10 per year, £15 per year overseas. Contact: Thea van Dam, 21A The Retreat, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 0JG,
UNITED KINGDOM (or e-mail: )
Fifth General Meeting and Conference of the
Thomas Merton Society
of Great Britain & Ireland
Woodbrooke Study Centre
Birmingham, England
June 18-20, 2004
Keynote speakers
Diana Francis
Tina Beattie
Fernando Beltrán Llavador
Cost:
£175 (Members) £185 (Non-members)
Late booking charge of £15
for bookings after April 1, 2004.
Student bursaries available
(email: )
www.thomasmertonsociety.org
REGISTRATION FORM
Please detach and return this form, together with a cheque or postal order (for non-refundable deposit of £25 or, preferably, the full amount) made out to ‘The Thomas Merton Society’ to:
Gary Hall, 51 Clumber Road, Leicester LE5 4FH
UNITED KINGDOM
Non-UK participants ONLY may pay by credit card provided booking forms are received by 1st April and payment is made in full (your card will not be debited until after 1st April 2004). Please tick:
□ Visa □ Master Card
Card No.
Expiry date /
Please indicate dietary or other special needs:
Conference fees
Registration, room and board:
□ TMS/ITMS Member £175 (£190)
□ Non-member £185 (£200)
Amount in brackets if booking after 1st April 2004
Single day (lunch & registration) £35
□ Friday □ Saturday □ Sunday
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Address:
Telephone: Fax:
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Total enclosed:
Signature:
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
Keynote Speakers
Diana Francis
War, Peace and Faithfulness
Tina Beattie
"Vision in Obscurity":
Discerning Peace In Fearful Times
Fernando Beltrán Llavador
Unbinding Prometheus:
Thomas Merton And The "Patient Architecture Of Peace"
Concurrent Papers
David Belcastro
Chanting on the Rim of Chaos:
Sane Language in an Insane World
Mary Frances Coady
Thomas Merton and Alfred Delp
Patrick F. O'Connell
The Civil Rights Poetry of Thomas Merton
Larry Culliford
Faith and Courage:
Vital Christian Remedies Against Terror And Fear
Donald Grayston
Stranger, Bystander, Hermit:
Transcendent And Political Dimensions Of Exile In Thomas Merton
Gerald Grudzen
Thomas Merton & Martin Luther King
Nigel Martin
Beyond The Politics Of Peacemaking -
Retrieving The Mystery Of Hospitality
Paul M. Pearson
The Artist in a Time of Crisis:
Thomas Merton’s Artistic Response
Joseph Q. Raab
A Naked Emperor at The Rim of Chaos:
The War on Terror and the Crisis of Language
Workshops
Fiona Gardner
The Crucible Of Experience:
Contemplative Prayer And Free Association
Judith Hardcastle
Thomas Merton: Social Critic, Prophetic Voice
Amaara Raheem & Gillian Hipp
Across the Rim of Chaos Dramatic Reflection
Miggy Scott
Circle Dance
Mary L. (Bunny) Stewart
Merton and Me At The Rim of Chaos
General Meeting
The conference includes the Fifth General Meeting of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain & Ireland with reports on activities, finance, membership and the appointment of the committee. This is an opportunity for members to share their thoughts and ideas regarding the Society.
Worship
As with previous conferences there will be opportunities for worship and meditation throughout the course of the programme culminating in a celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday.
Art & Recreation
A programme of cultural activities is currently being put together to include music, poetry and film.
Conference Dinner
To include an address from our President, Canon A.M. Allchin
This is an outline programme only. Full details of the programme will be included in the conference packs you will receive at registration.