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Common Awards (Theology, Ministry and Mission)
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Theological Educator’s Conference 2023:
Theological Education and the Environmental Crisis

3rd - 5th July 2023

High Leigh Conference Centre, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 8SG

Bookings are now open for the 2023 Annual Conference for Theological Educators. See below for how to book your place.

 
Conference theme

The theme of the conference is ‘Theological Education and the Environmental Crisis.’

We will be exploring the roles that theological education can play in enabling churches and wider society to face the multiple overlapping crises, including the climate crisis, that form the environmental crisis. We will explore

    • the scale of the challenges facing us,
    • the ways in which the environmental crisis might shape TEIs’ curricula;
    • the changes in culture and practice that it might demand of TEIs, and
    • the ways in which theological education and the churches might help foster deeper responses.

 

Speakers will include:

 

Norman Wirzba, author of This Sacred Life

Ruth Valerio, author of Saying Yes to Life

Martin Hodson, co-author of A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues

and Anupama Ranawana, author of Liberation for the Earth

 

We held a preparatory symposium on this theme back in 2022, and brief videos from that event are available here. 

 
Conference format

Having experimented with a hybrid conference last year, we have decided this year to hold the conference onsite only, but then to run a series of webinars over the following academic year covering similar material, and where possible with the same speakers. The conference sessions themselves will not be recorded.

The conference is for staff; the webinars will be for staff and students.

 
Conference Timetable 2023

The provisional conference timetable is available here: Provisional Conference Timetable 2023.

Please note it may be subject to change, but the start and end times are fixed.

How to register

Conference booking is open until 9th June 2023. The booking form may close early if we receive the maximum number of bookings; in this event we will open a reserve list. 

Before registering to attend the conference, please read our Privacy Notice (you will need to confirm that you have read this when completing the registration form).

  • Common Awards staff, including core and associate staff who are or expect to be involved in teaching, assessing or administering Common Awards programmes in the designated Common Awards TEIs, and staff from Ministry Development Team, please use this booking form:

Common Awards Registration Form

  • Other staff, including members of TEN and CMD who do not teach, assess or administer Common Awards programmes, please use this booking form:

TEN/CMD Registration Form

Booking options
  • There are several package options available when booking for on-site attendance. We anticipate that the majority of delegates will choose the ‘2-night package’ for full conference attendance, which includes accommodation on the Monday and Tuesday nights, plus all meals and conference sessions;
  • other options available include a ‘day delegate package’ for those who are local and may wish to attend during the days only;
  • all of the rooms are single occupancy. If you require a double occupancy room for yourself and another conference guest, please contact us.
  • Adapted rooms for those with access requirements are available (you can specify your requirements on the booking form);
Conference cost
  • the conference is free for Common Awards staff (all core and associate staff who are or expect to be involved in teaching, assessing or administering Common Awards programmes in the designated Common Awards TEIs);
  • for other attendees, including members of Theological Educator's Network (TEN) and the Continuing Ministry Development networks (CMD) who do not teach, assess or administer Common Awards programmes, there is a charge for board and lodging. You will be able to pay by credit or debit card when booking your place:

 

    • Full Conference 2 Night Package (£253.00): Includes meals, two nights' bed & breakfast accommodation, and registration fee
    • 1 Night Package (£149.00): Includes meals, one nights’ bed & breakfast accommodation, and registration fee
    • Day Delegate Full Conference Package (£145.00): Includes catering, and registration fee
    • Day Delegate One Day package (£70.00 for Monday or Tuesday, £45.00 for Wednesday): includes catering, and registration fee
Conference FAQs

We have created some FAQs to hopefully answer some questions you may have about the conference and the venue. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to contact us on common.awards@durham.ac.uk

Where is the conference located?

The conference will be held at High Leigh Conference Centre, Lord Street, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 8SG. This is located just north of London, and the location benefits from excellent travel links by road, rail and air. 

 

How do I get there?

By Road

Postcode – EN11 8SG
what3words – ///lived.being.pure

High Leigh is seven miles from the M25

  • From Junction 25, take the northbound A10 dual carriageway towards Hertford.
  • Leave the A10 at the junction for Hoddesdon and follow the road towards the town.
  • At the roundabout take the third exit signed 'Town Centre' (alongside Morrisons).
  • Turn right at the church into Pauls Lane and bear left into Taverners Way.
  • Take the first right into Lord Street and continue up the hill for just under a mile.
  • High Leigh is on the left.

By Rail

The local railway station is Broxbourne. There is a regular service from London Liverpool Street, which also connects with the Underground Victoria Line at Seven Sisters or Tottenham Hale. The station is two miles from the Centre, but there are plenty of taxis at reasonable rates (typically £6).

By Air

Stansted Airport is 40 minutes away by road or a 35 minute train journey from Broxbourne.

 

Is there parking available?

High Leigh offers ample complimentary car parking spaces, including designated disabled bays. 

Electric car charging facilities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The chargers can be found at the end of the accommodation block near the Chapel Barn.

What time is check-in and check-out?

Guests can check-in from 3pm. Luggage storage will be available until then.

Bedrooms must be vacated by 9.30am on the day of departure. 

What facilities will be available at the conference venue?

  • A bath towel and hand towel are provided for each guest in their bedroom.
  • Hairdryers are provided in all bedrooms.
  • Soap, shower gel and shampoo will be provided in your bedroom/bathroom.
  • High Leigh has professionally installed Wi-Fi network available in all common areas and bedrooms, providing a high speed and reliable internet connection free of charge to our guests.

Is the venue disability friendly?

The conference centre is accessible for delegates with disabilities and features hearing aid loops.

There are a number of accessible bedrooms available; please let us know your requirements on the booking form.

Will there be much walking involved?

No, all of the conference facilities are close by one another. 

Can I attend as a day guest? 

Yes, if you are local to the area you can attend as a day guest if you prefer. Please select this option on the booking form.

If I can't attend will the sessions be made available afterwards?

Sessions will not be recorded, but we plan to run a series of webinars over the following academic year covering similar material, and where possible with the same speakers. 

What happens if I am no longer able to attend the conference?

Please let us know by 16th June otherwise we may not be able to fill your place, which comes at a considerable cost to the University. We usually have a waiting list of delegates who would love to take your place, but need to provide them with enough notice.