"God speaks, and God is to be heard, not only on Sinai, not only in my own heart but in the voice of the stranger ... God must be allowed the right to speak unpredictably."

Thomas Merton wrote these words in the early 1960s but they are clearly relevant to our lives and to the events of today. Merton invites us to listen for the presence of God in challenging places: in the mystery of the natural world; in an internal silence beyond language; and, perhaps most difficult of all, in the words and behaviour of those people whom we think of as different, alien, or even the enemy.

How can we really listen to the voices of 'strangers'?

How can we be open to understand and explore their meaning?

How can we engage in authentic and life-changing dialogue?

'The voice of the stranger' is the theme for the seventh General Meeting of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland  to be held from 4th to 6th April 2008. Our venue is once again Thomas Merton’s old school at Oakham.

Oakham School

In 2008 we return to Oakham School for the fifth time. Built over 400 years ago and set in some of the most beautiful countryside in England, Oakham is the school which Thomas Merton attended between 1929 and 1933. The school has grounds covering over 60 acres and is easily accessible by road and rail.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Keynote Speakers

James Conner, OCSO:

"'The Voice of the Stranger' - A Manifesto for the 21st Century."

David Scott:

"The Poet as Stranger."

Bonnie Thurston:

"'Brothers in Prayer and Worship' - Islamic Concepts in the Merton-Aziz Letters."
 

General Session Presentation

Tony Bannon: "Merton and His Contemplative Photography."

Concurrent Papers

Concurrent session speakers include:

Mario Aguilar: "Towards a Common Contemplation: The Stranger in Thomas Merton and the 14th Dalai Lama."

William Apel: "Learning to Listen: Merton, Chakravarty and the Smith College Students."

Nassif Cannon: "A Stranger No More."

Kathleen Deignan: "Thomas Merton and the Shakers."

David Golemboski: "Life of a Stranger: How Thomas Merton Pitched In by Dropping Out."

Daniel P. Horan: "'Those Going Among the Saracens and Other Nonbelievers': Thomas Merton and Franciscan Interreligious Dialogue."

Erlinda G. Paguio: "Merton and the Stranger at Emmaus."

Paul M. Pearson: "Hospitality to the Stranger: Thomas Merton and Benedict's Exhortation to 'Welcome the Stranger as Christ.'"

Malgorzata Poks: "The Prophetic Voices of the Maya and Merton's 'The Early Legend that Returns.'"

Katharine West: "Bonding 'Self' with 'Other': Applying Merton's Compelling Word in Resolving Contemporary Ethnic Conflicts."

Saturday Evening

Morgan Atkinson will be screening the U.K. premiere of his new film Soul Searching: The Journey of Thomas Merton.

 General Meeting

The conference includes the Seventh General Meeting of the Thomas Merton Society of Great Britain and Ireland with reports on activities, finance, membership and the appointment of the committee. This will be an opportunity for members to discuss ideas for future conferences and activities.

 Worship

A programme of worship and meditation is provided throughout the conference culminating in a celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday.

 Conference Dinner

This takes place on Friday evening and will include an address from our President, Canon A.M. Allchin.

 Bookshop

The conference bookshop will have books provided by Christian Resources, Leicester.

 Bursaries

Bursaries are available for people on low incomes, primarily students, and those on income support. For further information please contact Thea van Dam. (See registration form.)

Registration

Conference Fees

Registration, Room and Board

Cancellation Policy

If you have to cancel your place before January 31st a full refund of money will be paid to you, less the non-refundable deposit of £25.
If cancelling between February 1st—29th, 50% of your fees will be payable.
If cancelling between March 1st—24th, 75% of your fees will be payable.
If cancelling after March 25th, full fees will be payable.

Registration Form

 

Travel

Rail routes to Oakham
Oakham is on the Midland line from Birmingham, through Leicester and Oakham to Peterborough and Cambridge. From London or the North East, frequent connections can be made at Peterborough. From the West or North West, connections are made at Birmingham or Leicester.

Information about train times and prices is available at: National Rail Enquiries

Airports
Approximate driving times from the various airports are: East Midlands (one hour); Birmingham, Luton, Stansted (one and a half hours); Heathrow (two and a half hours); Gatwick (three hours).

A map of Oakham School is available at: http://www.oakham.rutland.sch.uk/map/school/index.htm and registration will take place in Barraclough. (A printable PDF map is available at: http://www.oakham.rutland.sch.uk/map/school/images/School_Print.pdf)