post-oxford

The Oxford Institute was an amazing experience. The time together included an opening lecture by Will Willimon, plenary addresses by Methodist leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America, a reflection on the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley's birth, a cantata based on Charles' treatment of the parable of the good samaritan (luke 10), worship in the Christ Church Cathedral twice, eucharist both times, late night sessions at the Eagle and Child (the old haunt of Lewis and Tolkien), touring the gardens on the north side, crossing the Thames, reports on the ecumenical movement by Geoffrey Wainwright, Nestor Miguez and Billy Abraham, a serving of blood pudding (which I bypassed), and our working group, which wrestled with issues related to faith, technology and science. All of the information, including most of the papers (including an amazing one by Randy Maddox of Duke on Wesley's ecological thought) can be accessed at The Oxford Institute, under "Institutions and Foundations". And I have to mention that all of our meals were taken in the Christ Church dining hall, better known more recently as the dining hall filmed in recent Harry Potter movies.