St Mark’s Centre for Radical Christianity (CRC) is one of a growing number of national liberal-minded Christian organisations and networks exploring a fresh expression of Christianity relevant to the world we now live in.
CRC has its home in St Mark’s Church but is a separate ecumenical organisation, with a national membership of 200 plus. Established in 2003, its mission is ‘to explore the meaning of the Christian faith in the 21st century and to offer a fresh vision on an inclusive and open Church’.
Central to the work of CRC are day conferences and other meetings, held each year in the excellent facilities of St Mark’s. Previous speakers include leading contemporary theologians (such as Marcus Borg, Dominic Crossan and Jack Spong), philosophers and environmentalists. Conferences are open to the public and attract between 150 – 300 delegates from all over the UK. They bring together like-minded people who are thirsting for a radical re-expression of Christianity and provide an environment of exploration and mutual support.
2013 CRC conferences:
11 May – Gerd Lüdemann: Christian Beginnings: Why Jesus didn’t die out.
14 September – James Crossley: The Legacy of Mark’s Gospel.
16 November – Ann Pettifor: A ‘Just’ Economics.
Seminar and Library Evenings:
10 April – Dr Mark Finney: Jesus for everyone? The Western search for the elusive Nazarene.
10 July – Jan Berry:Changing Times, Changing Rites?
16 October – Revd Drs John Vincent & Ian Wallis: A fresh look at the Gospel of Mark.
The CRC also offers an extensive range of resources, including a lending library at St Mark’s alongside the church library. Books can be loaned directly or by post and CRC members can borrow from either library. For more information, visit the CRC resources web page.
CRC Council Officers are currently: Chair, Ian Wallis; Secretary, Tanya Ralph; Treasurer, Robin Saunders; Vice Chair, Helen Fisher. The CRC website has information on the constitution.
For further information on CRC, please visit the website, www.stmarkscrc.co.uk, or contact the CRC Administrator, Anne Padget, by telephone on 0114 2663613, or by email: info@stmarkscrc.co.uk.