Durham: Major international conference inspired by St Francis

Source: CoR

Durham University Centre for Catholic Studies recently hosted a conference entitled: 'Assessing the Continuing Significance of St Francis and Franciscan Traditions of Theology, Spirituality and Action.' The event was sponsored by the Franciscan Families of the UK and Ireland and included speakers and delegates from around the world. Of the nearly 200 participants, around 100 were Religious, including 13 Anglicans: three Community of St Francis sisters, one Order of St Clare nun, and nine professed and novice brothers of The Society of St Francis, with two postulants. The other Anglicans were members of the Third Order, The Society of St Francis.

The particular stimulus for the Conference occurring at this time, was the 800th anniversary of St Francis' meeting with Sultan Malek Al-Kamil, which is being widely celebrated and used as a focus for joint activities and events to increase mutual awareness and understanding between Muslims and Christians. However, the broader more long-term aim was to explore the possibility of establishing an appropriate structure to enable a permanent Franciscan studies presence, located within Durham University's Department of Theology and Religion. At the end of the conference leaders from a number of the Franciscan bodies met with academics from Durham and elsewhere to consider possibilities, and some of these are currently being explored further.

Much of the Conference was held in the splendid setting of Ushaw College now being run as a Conference and Events Centre, with the final day in the Students Union Debating Chamber near Durham Cathedral. One session was held in the University's Calman Learning Centre, which provided the equipment for us to have a live session with Richard Rohr OFM, speaking from New Mexico on "Living Franciscan Spirituality Today: Digging Deep for Contemporary Renewal."

The Conference encompassed a wide range of speakers and topics. We had lectures by Professors from various universities in the UK and abroad, including such authorities as Professor Ilia Delio OSF speaking on "Living Creation Theology in the Context of Contemporary Science: The Distinctive Contribution of the Franciscan Theological Tradition", and Professor William Short OFM on "Bartholomew of Pisa's Liber de Conformitate". There were panel sessions on the meeting between St Francis and the Sultan, and on The Future of Franciscan Studies. In addition to the plenary sessions there was a Short Paper Programme where six different threads of Franciscan study were explored simultaneously in half hour sessions. This meant that we had over 40 such presentations to choose from which focused on aspects of Francis and Clare, but also included vignettes of Franciscan history in various countries and centuries, aspects of theology and spirituality from Bonaventure, Duns Scotus, Grosseteste and Angela of Foligno, Franciscans in English literature, and Franciscan insights relating to contemporary concerns such as ecumenism, interfaith and international relations, scandal in the church, and some of Pope Francis' characteristic emphases.

The speakers were friars, sisters, church employees, established and newer academics, including an encouraging number of Ph. D students who are studying Franciscan themes in Durham, and other UK and European universities. A few of the speakers were Anglican Franciscan tertiaries, or lay members of Protestant churches. Although on paper the programme looked tightly packed and perhaps potentially confusing, I found the wide range of subjects and approaches very stimulating and surprisingly mutually enriching, and I think others shared that experience. The days were long, full and inevitably quite tiring, but full of energy and enthusiasm. The logistics were quite complex but the hospitality and organisation were excellent, and nearly everything ran without a hitch.

It was uplifting to be part of such a large and diverse Franciscan gathering, with a good number of younger people, and a powerful reminder of the crucially important resources of the Franciscan heritage, for the church and for the world.

During the conference an FMDM sister referred to their Congregation as very small, having around 200 sisters. I found myself reflecting that in Anglican terms that is huge. We in CSF are 23 in three continents, and our SSF brothers are about 140 worldwide. However, despite the disparity in numbers and resources, and differing ecclesial allegiance, I and my Anglican sisters and brothers are very aware of our shared Franciscan heritage, and eager that new and effective ways be found to pass on that vital tradition.

The senior staff from Durham University were clearly impressed by the numbers attending, and by people's positive energy and enthusiasm. We wait with prayerful hope for a good outcome from the ongoing explorations regarding the possibility of some permanent presence for Franciscan studies in the university.

Sr Sue Berry CSF is the Anglican representative on the Conference of Religious Executive Committee.