Booking now: 36th Annual National Justice & Peace Network Conference

"Called to Life in All Its Fullness: accepting the responsibility of our baptism" is the theme of this year’s annual conference of the National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales. It will be held at the Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, 18 - 20 July 2014.

The conference aims to: Empower lay people to accept the responsibility of their baptism; Provide an opportunity to bring our life experiences and relate them to our baptismal call; and Be a celebration of life and a renewal of vision.

Speakers will explore how lay people can live out their mission as priests, prophets and kings in today's world. They are:

Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP and former Minister of State for Children and Families. She voiced opposition to the Welfare Reform Bill and has spoken out against negative attitudes to refugees. She has announced her intention to stand down at the next General Election.

Gemma Simmonds CJ, Senior Lecturer in Pastoral and Social Studies and Theology at Heythrop College. As well as teaching and spiritual direction, she has worked with women and street children in Brazil and as a chaplain at Holloway Prison. She is Vice-President of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain.

Mary Colwell, an award winning TV, radio and internet producer makes programmes for the BBC and the independent sector, mainly on nature and the environment. She is a presenter and public speaker, and a consultant on the relationship between religion and the natural world.

Clare Dixon OBE has many years of experience of working with people in Latin America as head of CAFOD's Latin America desk and is also a Trustee of the Archbishop Romero Trust. She was awarded the Silva Henriquez Medal by the Chilean Church, an award for human rights and solidarity work.

Revd Ruth Gee, President of the Methodist Conference 2013/2014 will chair the conference.

Planned workshops include: Praying with Icons: Prisoners; Community involvement; UK Poverty/Living Wage; Peace—Pax Christi; CAFOD; Human Dignity (Progressio); Fairtrade Foundation; Ethical Investment; Human Trafficking; Food Sovereignty; Reconciling communities (Corrymeela); Environment—water; A Call to Action Plus: An Eritrean Coffee Ceremony

There will be a programme of activities for children and young people, and a Just Fair with information and resources from many organisations.

Booking forms from admin@justice-and-peace.org.uk or 020 7901 4864