What happens beyond 'organised religion'?

You are invited to join a discussion of 'moving beyond organised religion' on Sunday 21 October, from 12.30pm – 5pm, in the Hall at St John’s Church, Edinburgh, starting with a pot luck lunch (please bring a food contribution).

Many people today feel an instant disconnect or disinterest in ‘institutional’ or ‘organised’ religion. There is a sense abroad that faith, not least Christian faith, has been turned into a self-perpetuating bureaucracy which operates out of self-interest, refuses difficult questions, and suppresses alternatives.

This afternoon event, led by Simon Barrow from Exploring Anabaptism in Scotland, who is also co-director of the think-tank Ekklesia, revolves around the new and experimental shapes Christianity might take in a world where ‘top-down religion’ (along with ‘top-down economics’ and ‘top-down politics’) appears to be in crisis. More information here.

This event is sponsored by the new Centre for Living Christianity (CLiC) in Edinburgh.

The Canadian connection

As part of an Anabaptist Network visit, we are welcoming tow friends from the Mennonite Church Canada to Scotland (specifically Glasgow and Edinburgh) this week - to talk about collaboration and the future development of the Network, here and in other parts of these isles.

More to follow on this, another recent visit from Winnipeg, and also on the the brief visit to Glasgow next year of Anabaptist Network UK coordinator Stuart Murray Williams, who is also editor of the groundbreaking and well-regarded Paternoster Press 'After Christendom' series of books.

The green dove logo, incidentally, was developed by the Mennonite Church in North America.

Centre launches with 'First Supper'

You've heard of the Last Supper. How about the First one? The new Centre for Living Christianity (CLiC for short) based in Edinburgh is holding a 'First Supper' at Henderson's Cafe at St John's Church (on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road) to mark the launch of its new venture.

There will be food and refreshments, plus an opportunity to hear about the vision and plans for the new initiative, which describes itself as “exploring faith at the crossroads.”

The Centre for Living Christianity aims to take traditional faith very seriously, but in an open and engaging way that recognises the fears and doubts many people have about “organised religion” and unthinking dogmatism. “CLiC is for those interested in exploring how to live out Christianity in the modern world, in a way which is thoughtful and faithful,” says the Rev Donald Reid. “It is about how to understand Christianity from the margins of a society which is both diversely spiritual and secular.”

Exploring Anabaptism in Scotland aims to be involved in this new venture, which will establish learning events for those within the churches, those on the margins and those exploring from the outside. Its style aims to be thoughtful but open and informal.

has been founded by a range of organisations, including Edinburgh City Centre Churches Together, the religion and society think-tank Ekklesia, the Cornerstone Bookshop, and the Episcopal Diocese of Edinburgh’s Adventures in Faith programme, alongside St John’s Church where its main base will be.

The full CLiC programme can be viewed and downloaded on the Centre’s new website.

The ‘First Supper’ at 7pm on Sunday 7 October is open to all. There will be a charge of £5 to help cover costs. Those planning to attend are asked to drop a note to: donald.reid@stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk

You can find out more here.