After an absence of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Greenbelt festival and the United Reformed Church (缅北强奸) will be back at Boughton House in Kettering from 26th-29th to August.
Not only is the 缅北强奸 celebrating its 50th anniversary, it is also its seventh year as an Associate Partner of the festival, and this year we have opted for a bigger tent: our new venue, yo缅北强奸af茅.
In our first blog, Roo Stewart, Programme Support Officer for Church and Society and Programme Manager for 缅北强奸 at Greenbelt, talks about our theme ‘Revolting Christians’:
Anyone who has been around churches a bit will know there are some revolting Christians around.
I can think of a few off the top of my head. There is a lady in my church who insisted on writing to every MP by hand to urge them to allow asylum seekers living in the UK to work for a living. There was a teenager in a neighbouring parish who walked to school barefoot to highlight the injustice faced by families in his area who couldn鈥檛 afford to buy both food and the school uniform.
In the last century, there was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who had a dream, and was a key spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement in the USA in the 1950s and 60s. Corrie Ten Boom stood up against the Nazis by hiding Jewish people in her home. Madge Saunders, the first female minister in the United Church of Jamaica, spoke out against Enoch Powell鈥檚 racist 鈥楻ivers of Blood鈥� speech.
She said: 鈥淪ometimes you have to break certain traditions and laws to bring about positive change in life.鈥�
Sometimes, these revolting Christians are part of a wave of outcry. At other times, they are a lone voice. Sometimes they raise awareness. Often, they don鈥檛 see major change in their lifetime. But what links them all is their resolve that things are not okay and must change.
Jesus revolted too.
While we might wish that he eradicated injustice altogether, we can see in his life an example to follow: a cheek-turning, non-violent resistance (and then there was that time with the whip and the table-flipping).
At Greenbelt this year, the United Reformed Church is celebrating 50 years of being a dissenting voice. Come and join us on the Sunday of Greenbelt in the Shelter at 5pm to explore 鈥楥hurch: Pile of Poo or new Ecosystem?鈥� All generations are welcome, and we鈥檒l livestream it via Zoom for folks who aren鈥檛 able to attend the festival.
We鈥檝e got a brand-new caf茅 venue at Greenbelt this year, too. It鈥檚 called 鈥榶o缅北强奸afe鈥� and, as well as drinks and delicious cakes, it will provide meals from 拢5 each from our partners听听补苍诲听, featuring tasty food made from ingredients that were destined for landfill.
The food鈥檚 not revolting, but it鈥檚 part of our revolt against wasting our world鈥檚 precious resources. And the low price helps out when the cost of living is so high right now.
How do you become a revolting Christian? Or become more revolting? Visit yo缅北强奸afe and our Sunday service during the weekend and find out. We鈥檝e got hats and socks too!
In our second blog, Jo Harris, Moderator of the 缅北强奸 Youth Assembly, talks about beng a young revolting Christian:
Being a young revolting Christian is often about pushing the boundaries of church and being the chatty and often frustrating young person who always has something to say – I for one love that!
For me, being a revolting Christian says a lot about who I am as a person and a Christian.
The thoughts and opinions of young Christians in a secular society are often brushed over and tainted by racist, homophobic and often ignorant uber right wing Christians, like many of Donald Trump鈥檚 supporters seem to be.
However, I feel that it is my duty to show society what it means to be Christian. I revolt against racism, homophobia and sexism and stand with my allies fighting against the hate that they receive. We see so many young people making such significant change in our world, often standing up for the little guy, supporting the outcast, and speaking out against what is wrong.
To be a revolting Christian means to share God鈥檚 love everywhere, through everything you do and through everything you say. As revolting Christians we have so much to say. So let鈥檚 shout it from the rooftops, share Gods word and work.
At Greenbelt this year, the United Reformed Church is taking over the Engine, the Greenbelt Youth Venue for those aged 12-17, for the first time. How exciting!!! There are so many exciting things on the programme.
You might want to join us for a club night with DJ Xoomie at 10:30pm on Saturday or laugh your socks off at a Laughter Workshop on Monday at 3.30- 4.30pm.
If you want something a little more creative, join us for a Bhangra and Bollywood Workshop on Sunday at 6.30-7.30pm.
How about something more discussion based? Come and take part in our three 鈥楥ake and Debate鈥� sessions, where you can explore your spirituality, lives, and be a revolting Christian.
During these sessions, we will be looking at climate change, fair trade and the refugee situation. Plus, you鈥檒l get free cake each time you come!
To find out more, visit The 缅北强奸 at Greenbelt 2022.