23.10.2015
Wide Range of Themes to be Considered at Fourth Rubicon Gathering
The big questions surrounding culture and the Gospel will be up for discussion at Rubicon which takes place in the Chapel of the Church of Ireland College of Education in Rathmines on Saturday November 14. Tickets are on sale now for the fourth day–long gathering of people eager to explore how God’s intention is showing up in the lives of their peers and in the cultural projects they create.
Rubicon is a yearly event to intentionally collaborate and explore ideas about how people of faith can continue to engage in all spheres of influence. The contributors are numerous and varied; all but one are Irish practitioners from the areas of media, arts, sports, politics, entrepreneurism and philosophy, gathering with 130 new influencers to chat in a “TED”–esque format with interaction, table discussion and tea. The event was co–founded by Greg Fromholz and the Revd Rob Jones as a Holy Trinity Rathmines initiative and is open to all.
The keynote speaker this year is author of Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those who are Tired of Taking Sides, Scott Sauls. He is senior pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He will speak around the theme of Kingdom Narrative – one that builds trust and encourages collabouration. He will also talk about LGBT conversation and practical mission. He writes a blog at www.scottsauls.com.
Other guest speakers include Irish Times columnist and Irish teacher, Breda O’Brien and Gladys Ganiel, author and Research Fellow in the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University, Belfast. Her blog, ‘Building a Church Without Walls,’ is at www.gladysganiel.com. Scholar and human rights activist, Senator David Norris, will also contribute as will executive director of Evangelical Alliance Ireland, Nick Parke.
Also at Rubicon will be Scott Evans who will talk about Paradoxology at Electric Picnic, Ruth Garvey Williams of VOX magazine who will highlight the results of their recent young adults survey and Senior Registrar in Adult Psychiatry, Mater Hospital, Dr Richard Duffy who will speak about the practicality of living out faith.
There will be an in depth interview with Fr Peter McVerry on homelessness. Sharan Kelly of Tearfund will speak about persecution and Philip McKinley of Discovery Gospel Choir will address the topic of integration. Photographer, David Cavan, will talk of his experience in Syrian refugee camps, author, Greg Fromholz will address the subject of his latest book Broken: Restoring Trust between the Sacred and Secular. Entrepreneur and government advisor, Daniel Ramamoorthy will address the gatheringand there will also be an LGBTQI panel. The Revd Rob Jones, Vicar of Holy Trinity Rathmines will be interviewing and moderating.
“Rubicon is less a yearly gathering and more of a shot in the arm when hopefully we need it most,” explains co–founder Greg Fromholz. “The hope is that those who come along engage in challenging conversation. We might not come to any conclusions but sometimes conversations without conclusions are exactly what we need.”
Further information about Rubicon and booking is available on the website: www.wearerubicon.com. All are welcome to attend and tickets cost €20.