I ask not to see the distant scene, a step enough for me - Cardinal Newman
Spaces of Hope is engaged in gatherings, networks, events and campaigns both on the margins of society and across the public square. This has been the case since our inception in 2016 with over 80 such engagements taking place since then. You can find out more about our interventions here and in the drop down menu, with gatherings detailed chronologically from 2016 to present, each offering a next step, following the inspiration of Cardinal Newman.
If you want to engage with us, you can by contacting Matthew.
If you want to engage with us, you can by contacting Matthew.
2024
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October 2024 - April 2025 with Virginia Theological Seminary and the William Temple Foundation - Launch of the Radical Hope Podcast
In this series we explore the contours of communications faith based organisations and dialogue in the public square. We will draw on stories and experiences from both sides of the Atlantic and consider what these might mean for people and institutions who are seeking to contribute to public life in the UK, US and around the world. This podcast is hosted by Dr Matthew Barber-Rowell, and Vice President for Communications at Virginia Theological Seminary and the General Theological Seminary in New York, Nicky Burridge. Series 1 comprises 7 episodes, opening two interviews, including with Professor Martyn Percy, and a series of 5 live episodes which offer for free and in full, the paper's given at the Communicating Radical Hope conference at the Inner Temple in April 2025. https://open.spotify.com/show/2oCyuCiVWl4RcKQrYrU3CU |
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June 2024 - Virginia Theological Seminary - Author in Residence
In summer 2024, Dr Barber-Rowell was invited to become a Dean's Scholar of Virginia Theological Seminary - this honour followed the delivery of the Radical Hope Roundtable at Liverpool Hope University in April 2024, and was in recognition of the development of Curating Spaces of Hope in the previous 3 years, culminating in the first Spaces of Hope monograph, Curating Spaces of Hope:Transformational Leadership for Uncertain Times. |
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May 2024 - Manchester Cathedral - "Eco Stepping Stones - Serving others"
Matthew delivered the final part of the Eco Stepping Stones series to lay leaders from the Diocese of Manchester, hosted in the Library of Manchester Cathedral. The dialogue explored what it meant to serve through practical action. |
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April 2024 - July 2024 - Diocese of Manchester - Ecology and Creation Lay Leadership Training
As co-convenor of this course, I offered an introduction to and a guide through the Climate Crisis, and supported students to develop theological resources to respond in their context. This course offered an entry level point of access to climate policy, eco theology and terminology, and addressed questions of measurement and legacy from eco projects, as part of the Church's commitment to reach Net Zero by 2030. The course comprised 12 sessions across a 4 months period, including the Eco retreat, run by Dr Barber-Rowell |
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April 2024 - Liverpool Hope University - "Discerning Radical Hope - a Roundtable".
This eBook is the outcome of a Roundtable hosted at Liverpool Hope University on the 26th April 2024. The gathering addressed the question of how we might find Radical Hope in an election year? This volume is both a record of the proceedings of the day and should be taken up as a basis for a possible agenda of Radical Hope for the future. The election year of 2024 is an important marker for the enactment of democracy at the voting booth. However that is in itself only one expression to which we believe Radical Hope might be applied. Case studies are given from across the Spaces of Hope work completed in the previous 3 years. Papers are given by partners with which Spaces of Hope has worked, too. We commend this volume to anyone seeking change in this time of crisis, which is rooted in hopeful alternatives to the status quo. |
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