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· What is St.Mark’s CRC? · Aims & objectives · Who’s who · Constitution ·

What is St. Mark’s CRC?

During the late 1990’s and into the present decade, St. Mark’s Broomhill hosted a series of autumn

conferences whose speakers have been leading thinkers in the field of biblical studies and theology for example, Professors John Rogerson, Marcus Borg and Dominic Crossan, the former Bishop of Newark, New Jersey, Jack Spong and the former Primus of Scotland, Richard Holloway.

These conferences have attracted large numbers of people from all over the region, thirsting for a radical re-expression of Christianity. Such a strong interest in promoting an open and inclusive Church, unafraid to ask the big questions led to the launch, at the October conference in 2003, of a Centre for Radical Christianity, based at St. Mark’s. The Centre promotes conferences and other meetings, using the excellent facilities at St. Mark’s. Furthermore there is a resource library for members, links with other such groups are fostered, and we are playing a part in a network of liberal minded Christians working together for a new vision of the church of the 21st century.

The patrons of the St Mark’s CRC are Dr. John Vincent and Professor Marcus Borg.

John Vincent is a former Chairman of the Methodist Conference and has been Director of the Urban Theology Unit in Sheffield, where he has based his ministry for much of his life. John is keen to ensure that radical Christianity means expressing the radical concerns of Jesus in social action on the streets of our towns and cities. St. Mark’s CRC does not intend to be solely a talking shop but a resource and support for the individuals and groups working for change in the Church and in their communities.

Our other patron Marcus Borg is Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon

State University. He is the author of some amazing best selling books, Meeting Jesus for the First Time, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time, The God We Never Knew and The Heart of Christianity. Marcus shows us how we can live passionately as Christians in today’s world whilst critically evaluating the traditional teachings of the Church.