Course Description
Church and Christian faith practices are in the midst of critical sea-change made all the more intense and unsettling by the Covid 19 pandemic. Navigating this contemporary cultural change presents opportunities and challenges for effective Christian discipleship, to re-imagine and experiment in both ancient and new vessels. This course will use biblical and theological perspectives combined with insights from history and the social sciences to provide portals through which to understand and engage with an increasingly disruptive environment. It will include exploring a range of creative expressions of Christian life for both individuals and communities this Advent, and equip people for spiritual renewal in diverse local contexts.
This is an open access course available as a 10-credit course (accredited by the University of Glasgow) or audit-only for those who just wish to engage with the learning programme for their own personal benefit.
Church and Christian faith practices are in the midst of critical sea-change made all the more intense and unsettling by the Covid 19 pandemic. Navigating this contemporary cultural change presents opportunities and challenges for effective Christian discipleship, to re-imagine and experiment in both ancient and new vessels. This course will use biblical and theological perspectives combined with insights from history and the social sciences to provide portals through which to understand and engage with an increasingly disruptive environment. It will include exploring a range of creative expressions of Christian life for both individuals and communities this Advent, and equip people for spiritual renewal in diverse local contexts.
This is an open access course available as a 10-credit course (accredited by the University of Glasgow) or audit-only for those who just wish to engage with the learning programme for their own personal benefit.
Track Information
EventBrite now closed. Please email TrinityCollegeGlasgow@gmail.com to register
Our Active Tracks:
Our active tracks will be led by experts in the fields of Art, Activism, and Worship. They will take the form of creative and engaging workshops. At the start of our course, church groups will have the option to select a track of their choice which they will then commit to over seven weeks.
Through teamwork activities and teaching materials, our track leaders will provide church groups with the tools for local action within your churches and wider communities. Larger church groups can either choose to stay together or divide themselves among the tracks - its up to you!
Track 1: Art
Carol Marples is the artist, teacher, creative liturgist and development worker for the Soul Marks trust. This work has included creating large-scale artworks with local and international communities and leading a variety of workshops, projects and worship in conference centres, church halls, barns, cathedrals and tents in many other unexpected places. Since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art: BA (Hons.) in Tapestry, (1988) she has continued to exhibited her own work, teach, and lead workshops for all ages and abilities in textiles, drawing, painting and installation art in Scotland, and beyond its shores. Carol completed an MLitt in Theology, Imagination and the Arts (2012) and a PhD (2019) from the Institute of Theology, Imagination and the Arts, St. Mary’s College, University of St. Andrews. Her PhD research topic explored Contrasting Examples of Liturgical Installation Art in Christian Worship in England and Scotland from the 1980s to Present Day. Most recently she led the Trinity College short course: Contemporary Visual Art and Worship, 2021.
The Rev Peter Gardner is a visual artist based in Glasgow, an ordained Church of Scotland minister, and the Kirk’s pioneer minister to the local visual arts community. With a background in Theology, Peter has attended the University of St Andrews, Edinburgh University, and the Leith School of Art. For the past couple of decades, Peter has served as one half of the Gardner & Gardner duo. Alongside his wife, Heidi Gardner (also an artist), the pair develop site-specific installations and interventions within local Glasgow and church communities. Much of the Gardners’ work invites viewers to reflect and often contribute to the pieces using low-cost or recycled materials to ensure accessibility. Their recent Hope Glimmers installation at the Mayfield Salisbury Church (Edinburgh, UK) used imitation gold leaf and one hundred and twenty-six, eight-foot bamboo canes to represent themes of hope and renewal as the pandemic restrictions begin to ease across Scotland.
Track 2: Activism
Fiona Buchanan is the Campaigns and Advocacy Coordinator for Christian Aid Scotland, and is passionate about campaigning for change on a range of justice issues including poverty, gender, and climate. She is chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s Public Campaign group, a diverse coalition of over 50 civil society organisations in Scotland campaigning together on climate change. As a Co-President of the Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women, Fiona works with women from across Europe to promote initiatives for peace, justice and reconciliation, and in her spare time enjoys escaping to the Scottish mountains and lochs.
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Jess Hall is Campaigns and Organising Officer at Christian Aid. An International Development graduate, Jess spent four years in the public sector focussed on community and sustainability projects. She joined Christian Aid in 2009 working directly with churches to campaign on tax and climate justice. Following a short stint in the disability rights sector Jess returned to Christian Aid leading on campaigns training. Jess trained in organising and community leadership with Citizens UK and has been co-chair of the Waltham Forest Citizens Affordable Housing Campaign. Jess loves seeing ordinary people working together for the common good and global justice.
Track 3: Worship
Jo Love is a Resource Worker with the Wild Goose Resource Group, a project of the Iona Community. She is a Deacon of the Church of Scotland and served for many years in urban team ministries, latterly with a remit in worship development. With WGRG since 2009, Jo works to equip and enable churches in exploring and forming creative and participative ways of worshipping and living as people of faith in today's world. She loves walking, beach combing and a myriad of playful experiments with art and words.
Wendy Lloyd commissions, curates and creates worship and theology content for a number of charities including Christian Aid and the Guild of Health and St. Raphael, she recently co-edited Rage and Hope: 75 prayers for a better world (SPCK). She has a keen interest in pilgrimage and has recently been supporting pilgrim's plan and journey to and from Iona across the Ross of Mull, where she lives. She completed an MLitt in Bible and the Contemporary World through University of St Andrews (2012).