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(We will send a zoom link round the day before)
A practical and theologically grounded training for church leaders, this session aims to help churches respond with courage, clarity, and compassion to Christian nationalist ideologies & the impact it may have in our churches and communities.
We will be joined by Revd Dr Helen Paynter. Helen is Director of Theological Education at Bristol Baptist College, and founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. An Old Testament scholar by training, she works on the interpretation of biblical violence, and the weaponisation of the Bible in a violent world. Since 2022 she has been leading a project looking at the use of Scripture and Christian imagery by far-right groups.
Her most recent publication in this area is as co-editor (with Maria Power) for a collection of essays: The Church, the Far Right and the Claim to Christianity. Her new edited book: Faithful Presence in a Fractured world: a church toolkit for far right resistance – is published in June.
This 1.5 hour webinar will explore:
- what we mean by Christian Nationalism
- exploring recent history & current context
- the theologies and ideologies which mark this movement & why it appeals
- why this matters in our churches
- how we as church leaders we can be equipped theologically
There will be room for some Q&A with Helen; and then we’ll have some time to move beyond theory to focus on practical action we can take in parishes. Helen will outline some ideas how we might as churches and individuals behave, speak, and act in our local communities as we seek to build the Kingdom of God together.