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Theologians, ecologists, artists and poets will be coming together for a special three day conference next Autumn in Southwell, that will focus on the relationship between Christianity and the Green debate. Southwell Minster and Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst Campus will be the settings for the ‘Green as a Leaf’ conference, running from September 16th to 19th 2010, which has been jointly organised by the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, and the Cathedral. The stunning building of Southwell Minster itself, and in particular its renowned leaf and animal sculptures in the Chapter House, will be an integral part of the conference and used as a lens through which to understand humanity in relation to the natural world. One of the conference organisers and Canon Pastor, the Revd Canon Nigel Coates said, “Both the form and subject-matter of medieval architecture can offer a critique of modern attitudes to nature. We will also be using Brackenhurst Campus - the home of Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, where we can learn at firsthand about cutting-edge research in this area.” Some of the guest speakers will include, palaeontologist and lay theologian, Simon Conway-Morris, Michael Northcott who combines theology, ecology and practical husbandry, and Nottingham University’s John Milbank, renowned for his work in the fields of religion, social science and ethics. The Dean of Southwell, the Very Revd John Guille said; “The conference aims to cross disciplinary divides to challenge us all to live and flourish in a new way. It will be unique in bringing together students of religion and ethics from around the world to convene with artists, poets, those engaged professionally with horticulture and the environment, and the clergy and people of the local diocese. Rarely are such disparate groups brought into conversation, and yet they have much to offer each other.”
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