Thirtieth Anniversary Conference
April 2, 2017
The Ecclesiastical Law Society’s thirtieth anniversary conference was held 31 March – 2 April 2017 at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, on the topic of “The Nature and Diversity of Authority in Anglicanism”. Around 120 members of the society– ecclesiastical lawyers, clergy, academics and others– gathered for the weekend, representing the highest attendance at a residential conference in the society’s history. The presentations and workshops ranged from the parochial to the international, from the historical to the topical and contemporary. Delegates judged the conference to have been a great success, and the Society is already looking forward to the 2018 day conference (on the subject of Education) and the 2019 residential conference (on the subject of Establishment).
Watch this space as additional photographs and papers from the conference will be posted over the coming days.
Downloads
- Conference Booklet
- Themes and Variations: Conference Report and Reflections – The Revd Dr Catherine Shelley
- Chairman’s Report – Mark Hill QC
- Natural Law and Legal Positivism in the English Church c. 1200 to 2000 – Professor Norman Doe
- Forms of authority in today’s Church: Legislative authority and soft law in the Church of England – Stephen Slack
- Empowering Authority in the Anglican Communion – The Revd Canon Dr Philip Groves
- Recent Developments in Ecclesiastical Law – Chancellor Ruth Arlow. Download Powerpoint.
- Evolving Models of Authority: Church Plants, Bishop’s Mission Orders – The Rt Revd Ric Thorpe [Powerpoint]
Photo Gallery
- The Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields, giving the introductory address on “The Theology of Authority”.
- Canon John Rees introducing Canon Phil Groves, who discussed “Authority in the Anglican Communion” in conversation with the Revd Dr Catherine Shelley.
- The chapel of Trinity Hall, used for the daily offices during the conference.
- Chancellor Ruth Arlow updating the Society on Recent Developments in Ecclesiastical Law
- The Rt Revd Ric Thorpe, Bishop of Islington, speaking on “Evolving Models of Authority: Church Plants, Bishop’s Mission Orders”.
- Visitors from the Diocese of Edmonton, Canada, ready for the Chairman’s reception and dinner.
- Breakfast at Trinity Hall
- Trinity Hall, the venue for the conference, was founded in 1350 for the study of civil and canon law.
- The panel for “Authority in Practice and Ministry”: Neil Petersen, the Revd Canon Lucy Winkett, the Ven Jane Steen, and Chancellor Charles Mynors.
- The Revd Russell Dewhurst, the Worshipful Professor Mark Hill QC, Chairman of the society, and the Revd Dr Catherine Shelley rejoicing that the conference has been a triumphant success.