What sort of Britain do we want to build for the 21st century?
A St George’s House Consultation.
Thursday 1st to Friday 2nd June 2017
On the 1st and 2nd of June 2017, a major consultation involving global thinkers from across all sectors of public life and belief traditions, as well as grassroots practitioners and activists, will be hosted at St George’s House, Windsor. The consultation, devised and instigated by the William Temple Foundation, Culham St Gabriel’s, University of Chester, University of Worcester, Saltley Trust and the University of Warwick, aims to curate a deep and strategic conversation about nation building and the role of institutional faiths and belief (both religious and nonreligious) in that task.
You can find a list of confirmed attendees here.
The conference is called Malvern 2017 in direct reference to the original Malvern conference of 1941, entitled the Life of the Church and the Order of Society, which was instigated by Archbishop William Temple to reconstruct British Society both morally and physically after the second World War. It was held at a time when the future of Europe, and indeed the global world order, was deemed to be under the greatest threat from war and the breakdown of democratic governance.
Our current consultation also takes place in the context of a profound sense of fragmentation which was highlighted by the Brexit vote. The stability and security of Europe once again feels under threat – not so much from global war as from a series of destabilising global trends, including terrorism economic uncertainty and the resurgence of nationalism. Professor Chris Baker, Director of the William Temple Foundation and convenor of the planning group says, ‘With the first anniversary of the Brexit vote looming, the time is ripe to develop a deep and critical sense of multiculturalism about what it means to be British and European in the 21st century’.
You can download the consultation briefing document below:
Faith and Public Sphere 2017 Background paper
The consultation, held under Chatham House rules, will produce a 40 page report which it is anticipated will be the basis for future public debates that will take further the important questions being considered. A full list of participants will be released in due course.
For further comment and information please contact either:
Professor Chris Baker – chris.baker@chester.ac.uk on 07779 000021
Professor Stephen Parker – s.parker@worc.ac.uk on 01905 542165
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