This weekend STETS weekend so I have been cloistered away in Salisbury Cathedral precincts since Friday.

If you had to ditch one defining episode of church history which would it be and why? That was the challenge we were issued last night. Having spent the entire day looking at the significance and importance of five particular events, The Conversion of Constantine, The Council or Nicaea, the Great Schism (or split between the Roman (West) and Eastern Churches), the Reformation and the Enlightenment, we then held a balloon debate to decide which had the least influence on the church today and could therefore be unceremoniusly dumped over the side of our hot air balloon. I think some of our answers caused our lecturer's hair to turn grey but the exercise was deeply challenging as we tried to work out the implications of 2000 years of Church History for our doctrine and current faith and practice. Why is any of this important? It helps to remind us of the truth of the reading which began the weekend (Hebrews 11 and 12). We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who challenge, enlighten, inspire, and at times infurriate us but ultimately cheer us on as we strive towards the goal.

If you are interested in any of the church History I've refered to Wikipedia has some basic info, or ask me next time you see me (I'll try and remember!)

What's the point?

Well I've been quiet for a week or so whilst I struggled to get my latest MA assignment done - 4000 words on the Old Testament and poverty.  It went in yesterday but today I have been struck by so many things I would like to have included.  There are no second chances.  I can't go back and write into my essay the things I've seen and heard and realised today but then I guess that is the point.  This essay, all my essays are not intended to be simply an academic exercise for my classmates and I - they are meant to help change the way we think, the way we grapple with scripture, the way we interact with the world, as we prepare for ordination.    At the end of every module I am supposed to fill in a module review that says what I have learned from my studies, but what I learned doesn't fit neatly in the box! 

I hope my assignment makes the grade, but today I feel, whether it does or not, perhaps it has achieved its objective.