FFF Update                   Issue 5 October 2001

News & Information from FaithFutures Foundation, Inc.

 

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In this issue—

 

1. Haunted Halloween

2. Review: A New Christianity for a New World

3. No Terra Sagrada

4. JESUSdatabase update

5. Charter Membership

6. Financial Information

7. Education Resources

8. What’s happening?

 

 

1. Haunted Halloween?

 

Paschal Baute reflects on the observance of Halloween after September 11:

 

Could Halloween, our annual fun, scare, and satire on the horrible and death, seem this year to be a bad joke? Can we dress ghoulishly like a corpse when they are still pulling the bodies of many innocent fellow Americans and the 300 firefighters out of the WTC wreckage? Can we dress up for trick or treat, engage in masked parties in a time of terror, and "war," when bombs being dropped by our countrymen on another country? Is it okay for us to be pretending not much is really different this year when everything has changed?

 

Continues at http://faithfutures.org/Other/halloween.html

 

 

 

2. Review: A New Christianity for a New World

 

Greg Jenks reviews the latest book from Bishop John Sheby Spong:

 

Many will find this an unsettling book. It raises more questions than it answers, and yet it also maps a path into the religious future. It addresses important issues that lie close to heart of the challenges facing Christians. It deserves to be considered carefully and studied in local clusters of people interested in the future of the Christian religious tradition in our global era—more so, rather than less, since the tragic events of September 11 in the United States.

Will this be the last Spong book? His many readers and friends will hope not, although we realise there must be a final Spong book some day. More importantly, can we build and sustain faith communities that will enable the radical reformation that so many voices are announcing?

 

Full text at http://faithfutures.org/Education/NCNWreview.rtf

 

 

 

3. No Terra Sagrada

 

No Terra Sagrada is a poem by Marie Butcher, inspired by her 4 year old child. The full text is reproduced on the FFF site with the permission of the author:

 

http://faithfutures.org/Other/sagrada.html

 

 

 

4. Jesusdatabase

 

Following the introduction of the new “Help File” format developed by Don Spencer, work has continued on development of the database. As the number of clusters increases, the material will be cross-referenced to related materials elsewhere on the site. This will make the growing set of information more accessible to those seeking ideas for classes, liturgies or sermons. The notes are also being expanded to provide more information, including brief citations from major scholars on specific issues.

 

Bookmark the JESUSdatabase at http://faithfutures.org/Jesus/Jesus.htm

 

 

 

5. Charter Membership

 

A reminder that the category of “Charter Member” has been created. Individuals who join the Foundation by 30 June 2002 will be recognised as Charter Members. 

 

Join Online at http://faithfutures.org/Admin/join.html

 

 

6. Financial Information

 

The first of our regular public financial reports, for the period June/September, is now available.

 

Full details at http://faithfutures.org/Admin/FRsep01.html

 

As noted in that report, income to the Foundation so far has been sufficient to cover the essential overheads involved with an organization whose major activities are web-based, but we need additional funding if we are to achieve our goals.

 

Priorities for the future include:

 

 

Donation Form: http://faithfutures.org/Admin/give.html

 

Your continued support is greatly appreciated. Gifts to FFF are tax-deductibe within the US.

 

 

7.  What’s happening?

 

Check the FFF web site for information on coming events, including the public schedules for Marcus Borg, Dominic Crossan and John Shelby Spong. Tell us about other events that should be listed.

 

SnowStar Institute of Religion events.

 

The Spring 2002 Westar Institute meeting is scheduled for February 27 to March 2. Full information including program and registration details are available from Westar Institute.

 

 

Postal addresses for FaithFutures Foundation

 

Canada and United States                                      All other countries

Robert J. McElwain, FFF Treasurer                        FaithFutures Foundation

P.O. Box 6728                                                   P.O. Box 822

Shawnee Mission, KS 66206                                 Kenmore, Qld 4069

USA                                                                 Australia

 

Your interest and support is greatly valued. 

Please help make FFF known among colleagues and friends.

 

Prepared by Gregory C. Jenks

Executive Trustee, October 2001

 

© 2001 FaithFutures Foundation, Inc.