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Canada & United States: All other countries: P.O. Box 6728, Shawnee Mission, KS 66206, USA P.O. Box 822, Kenmore, Qld 4069, Australia |
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FFF Update Issue 6 December 2001
News & Information from FaithFutures Foundation, Inc.
In this issue-
1. At Year's End
2. STUDY GUIDE: A New Christianity for a New World
3. New Niagara Conference
4. JESUS database update
5. Charter Membership
6. Financial Information
7. Education Resources
8. What's happening?
1. At Year's End
The Foundation has now completed the first six months since its formation. The last half of that period we have all been under the shadow of the violent attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the subsequent military and political responses.
As the dust clears, and we gain some perspective on the tragic events and their implications, one priority is to strengthen opportunities for people to explore their own religious traditions and to increase their appreciation of other traditions.
We need new levels of religious literacy. We need more tolerance and understanding. And we need grassroot cells at the local level that provide safe places for dialogue, exploration and joint action that transcends traditional divisions.
It is our hope that FaithFutures Foundation can play a constructive role as an international interfaith organization that supports individuals and local faith communities in these changes.
2. STUDY GUIDE: A New Christianity for a New World
The study guide for John Shelby Spong, A New Christianity for a New World, is now available for order through the FFF web site.
Ø Download sample: http://www.faithfutures.org/Education/NCNWguide1.pdf
Ø ORDER FULL TEXT: http://www.faithfutures.org/Admin/NCNWorder.html
The study guide has been prepared by Gregory Jenks, Executive Trustee of FaithFutures Foundation, and draws on his experience preparing adult education materials in a variety of settings. The guide is designed to support a group working through the text of A New Christianity for a New World over a six week period, but can be adapted to a longer time frame as well as being used by people reading the book on their own.
The study guide materials are integrated with online resources available through the FFF site:
· Supplementary materials for participants and leaders
· Discussion of common concerns and insights through FFForum
· Resources for discussion group leaders
There will be a convenient gateway to these online resources at:
Over time, these additional materials are expected to include supplementary information relevant to issues canvassed in A New Christianity for a New World, liturgical resources, information about audiotapes and videos, and contact information for organizations with similar interests.
This is the second study guide to be published by FFF, and follows the study guide to John Dominic Crossan, The Birth of Christianity, that was prepared by Susan B. Curtis.
Other study guides are planned, and potential contributors are encouraged to contact the Foundation with proposals. See http://www.faithfutures.org/guidelines.html for information on materials intended for publication.
3. The New Niagara: Celebrating Human Diversity & the Search for Meaning
SnowStar Institute of Religion in Canada has announced details of the New Niagara Conference to be held at Niagara Falls, Ontario in March 2002.
Check the SnowStar Institutue web site <http://SnowStarInstitute.org/Events/events.html> for full details, including registration information.
The number of clusters within the database continues to increase. The notes are also being expanded to provide more information, including brief citations from major scholars on specific issues. In addition, surviving traditions about Jesus from Islamic sources are now to be incorporated into the collection.
Bookmark this site: http://faithfutures.org/Jesus/Jesus.htm
Our major need at this stage is to upgrade the software used for developing and managing the web-based collection.
We would also welcome further collaborators as the task expands and we seek to cross-reference the clusters to other materials on the FFF web site.
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 available on the FFF web site. The report to December 2001 should be available around the end of January.
Full details at http://faithfutures.org/Admin/FRsep01.html
Income 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 to achieve our goals.
Priorities for the future include:
- Software upgrades for website management
- Electronic commerce facilities
- Funds for scholarships and research grants
- Support funds for projects such as the JESUSdatabase
- Funding for administrative and leadership tasks
Donation Form: http://faithfutures.org/Admin/give.html
Your continued support is greatly appreciated. Gifts to FFF are tax-deductibe within the US.
7. Education Resources
In addition to links to material on other sites, the following educational resources are available on the FFF site:
FaithFutures Study Guides
1. John Dominic Crossan, The Birth of Christianity (Susan B. Curtis)
2. John Shelby Spong, A New Christianity for a New World (Gregory C. Jenks)
Overhead Projector Masters
Keep an eye on the growing collection at http://www.faithfutures.org/Education/oht.html
Video Resources
Check out the materials already listed at http://www.faithfutures.org/Education/video.html
8. What's happening?
Check the FFF web site for information on coming events, including the public schedules for Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan and John Shelby Spong.
Tell us about other events that should be listed: events@faithfutures.org
SnowStar Institute of Religion: http://SnowStarInstitute.org/Events/events.html
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 at http://westarinstitute.org
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, December 2001
© 2001 FaithFutures Foundation, Inc.