~ Church Weekend 2003 ~

Reconciliation is a basic task or calling for the Church. We might say that if God's business is salvation, ours is reconciliation. It is a process which demands constant struggle, and we look to the church to provide resources for this struggle. We propose that the Church Weekend 2003 could form the centre-point of a process of creating such resources.

We know reconciliation as a struggle - an emotional and threatening process. We see the need for this struggle around the world. We come across many people whose beliefs and practice we believe to be misguided and dangerous (such as the Cardinal and the Condom -a church's dogmatic position on contraception in the face of HIV affecting marriage partners).

We know other people and groups of people who don't want to be reconciled with us. For example, unlike some fundamentalists, we reject an interpretation of God as seeking retribution (Ezekiel, as quoted in Pulp Fiction). So how do we relate to them? Union Chapel is relatively disconnected and isolated. Are we engaged in the struggle for reconciliation, or are we avoiding conflict? Do members of the church address differences? Do we have to define ourselves as the opposite of others? How do we put reconciliation into practice within our own church?

One way to focus on this could be to create symbols of the struggle for reconciliation - to look at, listen to, sing, move through. We envisage rock music, poetry, art, drama... There are many examples that we might bring to life. Relationship counselling, Irish peace process, etc. There are stories of reconciliation which might be presented in different ways. Role-play within the church weekend - and beforehand, a process of making connections. We suggest a session of reflection through creative art towards the end of the weekend.

Some products of the weekend might be the starting point for a series of resources for worship on a regular basis. Inventing new liturgical elements: liturgy for communion, banners, music, dance, ritual, etc. In general these would help us to make connections in worship with our part in the struggle for reconciliation.

David Garner, Andy Howes and Lorna Richardson