Conferences
God is at Work
Over 200 people attended this year’s CMF National Conference at Swanwick on 25-27 April. A wonderful time of teaching and fellowship was had with the highlights being Karl Martin’s excellent practical Bible teaching on Colossians and Chris Richard’s challenging Rendle Short Lecture on ‘Harm Reduction’. Tapes are available from the CMF Office. Thanks to Ken Toop and the North-East team for all their hard work in organisation. Next year’s conference will be organised by the West Midlands.
CMF Autumn Conferences
Publicity for these will be mailed soon. Please check the dates on page 8 and get them in your diary now. See events information.
European Leadership Forum
The European Apologetics Network (now the European Leadership Forum) was launched with 110 Christian leaders from 25 countries at the Hope 21 conference in Budapest last year and has just had its second annual conference from 30 May - 6 June 20 03 in Sopron, Hungary with 250 from 20 countries. 12 CMF members attended. CMF General Secretary Peter Saunders, a member of the ELF steering committee, taught CMF’s Confident Christianity and Answering Other Faiths courses at the conference as half-day seminars. Both were very well received – and also videoed.
Getting God to Work
is the theme of the annual men’s conference of ‘Christian Viewpoint for Men’. Issues of faith and the workplace are explored in talks and seminars with the aim of ‘equipping the saints to be godly at work’. 7-9 November 2003, Britannia Royal Court Hotel, Coventry. Details at www.CVMen.org.uk or email: conference@CVMen.org.uk
Ministry of Healing
Francis and Judith MacNutt will be speaking on spiritual healing through prayer at this year ’s Church of Scotland conference. 17-19 November, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. Details from Maggie Chalmers. Tel: 0131 657 2000 Email: mchalmers@charis.org.uk
CBPP Conference: Cloning and the Biotech Future
This highly topical conference will be chaired by Prof John Wyatt, chair of the CMF Study Group, and features an international line-up of controversial speakers including Nigel Cameron (Chairman of CBPP), Baroness Warnock, Lord Alton, Calum MacKellar (Scottish Council of Bioethics) and Brigitte Boisellier (Director of Clonaid). Monday 24 November. Royal Society of Medicine, Wimpole Street, London W1. Registration fee: £95. Early bookings before 15 September £70.00. Friends: £70.00. Students: £40.00. Information from: Fiona Gregson, CBPP, 51 Romney Street, London SW1P 3RF. Tel: 020 7233 0455
Courses
Media Training Days
CMF’s training in radio and television interview techniques has enabled over 100 Christian doctors to approach media interviews with confidence. Further one-day training courses will take place this autumn:
Bristol Fri 17 October
Cardiff Sat 18 October
Local members are being mailed, but if you are out of area and would still like to come please contact Judy Wilson at the CMF Office. Early booking is appreciated. A new advanced media course focusing on ‘end of life issues’ is being planned for 5-6 December.
Saline Solution
This innovative course in integrating faith and practice was developed by our US sister organisation CMDA. Two pilot conferences for CMF members will be held this autumn leading up to a road show tour of many more venues in Spring/Summer 2004:
Birmingham Wed 8 October
Sheffield Thu 23 October
Healthcare Sunday
This year focuses on the hidden health needs of many in our communities and their carers. Sunday 19 October 2003. www.healthcaresunday.org.uk
Forum for European Philosophy
Founded in 1996, the forum aims to promote dialogue between philosophers and ethicists working in different traditions across Europe. Details can be found at www.philosophy-forum.org
New Masters Course in Bioethics
Five CMF members enrolled for this new course at St Mary’s, Twickenham, last September and more are enrolling for this September. Based on Judeo-Christian and Hippocratic principles, it has proved very popular. If you are interested in doing it next year please contact Michael Hayes at hayesm@smuc.ac.uk If you would like to be put in touch with someone who is currently doing the course for an ‘inside opinion’ contact Peter Saunders at the CMF Office.
Wellcome Trust Biomedical Ethics Programme
This is a funding programme providing up to £15 million in research support over the next five years. In the UK it will support research into the ethical, legal, social and public policy aspects of advances in biomedicine, particularly in neuroscience, mental health and genetics (including reproductive medicine). Schemes examining the ethics of biomedical research in developing countries will be supported. Further information from Dr Bella Starling, the Wellcome Trust. Tel: 020 7611 8651 E mail: marketing@wellcome.ac.uk Website: www.wellcome.ac.uk/biomedicalethics
Cooperation, Complicity and Conscience
A conference at Queen’s College, Cambridge from 24-26 July 2003, organised by the Linacre Centre. It will explore moral problems in healthcare, science, law and public policy. Details from Bob Bell, Tel: 020 7806 4088. E mail: admin@linacre.org
St Francis Hospice Education Centre
holds a number of study days throughout the year relating to palliative care. Details from St Francis Hospice, The Hall, Haveringatte- Bower, Romford, Essex, RM4 1QH. Tel 01708 758646.
Resources
Doctors’ Support Network
DSN has a new phone number: 0870 321 0642. The network is a self-help group for doctors with mental health problems. It offers monthly meetings, a newsletter, phoneline, website and email discussion group. Website:www.dsn.org.uk Email: lizzie@dsn.org.uk
CMF General Practice Bureau
At present there are no doctors registered with the bureau looking for practices, reflecting the current situation of difficulty recruiting to general practice. Anyone seeking a practice to join can still write to Dr Greg Folwell (Personal), Ian Gow Memorial Health Centre, Milfoil Drive, Langney, Eastbourne, E.Sussex, BN23 8BR. Enclose a SAE for a questionnaire. A new register will be started when there is a response, in the meantime practices looking for partners can advertise in CMF News adverts.
New websites
D avid McFarland, a church pastor in Northern Ireland, has set up a website called 2hearts offering support, prayer and encouragement to all who face the trauma of heart surgery. Printed posters are available for waiting rooms etc. Email:david@2hearts.org.uk Website: www.2hearts.org.uk The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity (based in USA) operates two websites. www.cbhd.org consists of its internal work and publications. The other, www.bioethics.com brings together articles and opinions from beyond the Christian spectrum if they are in sympathy with it.
