Earth: Grounding
Many believe that the ideas and concepts that frame a progressive perspective on Christianity are “throwing the baby out with the bath water.” Perhaps, if one’s faith is grounded in the liturgies and language that have been used over many hundred years, that might be true. But if it is grounded in the capacity of the human heart to love and the human mind to explore and find ways to do so, then the roots are still very deep and much of the best of what Christianity has ever been is still firmly in place.
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Roots
Are these “progressive Christianity ideas” a new, modern, unprecedented departure from traditional thought? Not really. Actually, not at all. Come meet your heritage, your roots, and the pioneers who paved the way. Renew your conviction that “it’s time!” – in light of the hundreds of people over hundreds of years that have spoken out for change.
They challenged the truth claims, requirements, and promises made by the Church, based on the Bible and their view of it, usually at great risk – sometimes forfeiting their lives and often at least their social standing. With integrity and courage, they took on the establishment, using the findings of history and science and quite often simply their own ethics and common sense.
We’ll take a look at some that stayed in the church, some that left, and some that were escorted out. Explore your roots; meet the family.
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Leading Change
According to a recent survey, 83% of organisational leaders said the change initiative they had instituted had failed to achieve the intended outcomes.
Leading change is a complicated business.
It’s even more complicated when the changes touch on people’s fundamental beliefs, values, and sense of the sacred.
In this dynamic and interactive workshop, participants will first learn about the four dimensions that must be addressed for organisational change to achieve its desired objectives. Following this, participants will learn about a framework for instituting, guiding, and sustaining change.
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“Upon this rock……”
As we recite these words, what thoughts arise in our minds? In this workshop we will explore the “value imperatives” that form the foundation – “the rock” – for how we choose to live our lives. We’ll share thoughts and ideas about what values frame and influence our life decisions.
We’ll also look at one organisation’s approach to capturing these values and engaging its members. We’ll try to uncover some of the obstacles and the high points that were encountered on this journey.
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Unitarian Universalist Christianity:
Roots of Progressive Christianity from the Early Church to Today
Progressive ideas have been with us since the early church. Origen in the 3rd century spoke of universal salvation. Michael Servetus wrote a book, On the Errors of the Trinity. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a Transcendentalist. Unitarian Universalist Christians (www.uuchristian.org) are affiliated with a religious movement whose roots include many of these “heretics”. Convergences with the CCPC abound!
