THE Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace (EICSP) is hosting an online forum on ‘Truth, forgiveness, healing and reconciliation’ at 7pm on Wednesday 29 March, chaired by Ekklesia’s Director, Simon Barrow.

The aim is to bring spiritual, social and policy perspectives to bear on this highly topical concern in a wounded and divided world. The sub-title of the event is ‘Moving towards understanding, trust and respect’.

There will be four talks, each of 10 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of discussion among the speakers, the chair, and the audience, followed by a question-and-answer session.

The Speakers are:

The Rev Bonnie Evans-Hills is a priest in the Scottish Episcopal Church with considerable experience in inter-religious dialogue, working with organisations such as the EU Commission on Foreign Affairs and Security, the World Council of Churches, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, the Anglican Communion, and the United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG). Bonnie has been involved in contributing to the UN Office for the Prevention of Genocide’s Global Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors. Alongside several other publications, she is co-author of Engaging Islam from a Christian Perspective, published by Peter Lang. She was recently awarded the Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Professor Richard Roberts is Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies (Lancaster University), and held the Chair of Divinity at the University of St Andrews during a time of dramatic change in university governance. Currently, Richard is Honorary Fellow at New College, University of Edinburgh. His research interests include ‘managerial modernity’; the interface between music, performance and ritual; place and identity; shamanism and altered states of consciousness; critical interrogation of the polarisation between theology and religious studies; and theological issues concerned with sexuality and embodiment.

Croilán Pattison MBACP has been working as a psychotherapist, bodywork therapist, trainer and yoga teacher for over 25 years. Her early career was in contemporary dance performing and teaching. In her journey of personal healing and search for understanding of holistic health, she has engaged in 25 years Shamanic experiencing, including Dzogchen (Tibetan Buddhism), Atman teachings (Hinduism/Yoga Philosophy) and has latterly found roots in Celtic consciousness as an Initiate of Brigid of Ireland.

Phyllida Anam Aire lived through ‘the troubles’ in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s. She was known as a peacemaker and reconciliation enabler during the 26 years she lived in ‘the North’. “Nearing my 80th birthday is such a rich and splendid privilege, one that fills me with deep gratitude to life Itself”, Phyllida says.

Chair Simon Barrow is Director of Ekklesia, an author and editor of many books on politics and religion, and a former Assistant General Secretary of the ecumenical body, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI). His forthcoming book is entitled Against the Religion of Power: Telling a Different Christian Story.

An archive recording will be made for the EICSP archive.

* Booking details can be found here.

* Contact: Neill Walker. For late inquiries on the day, please email [email protected].

If you book on the day of the event, you will be emailed the Zoom sign-in details 1-2 hours beforehand. Suggested contribution £5.00. There will be no refund if you cancel your booking.