The cusp of a transformation

by Geoffrey Dice
National Representative (elected co-chair of SCM)
April 6, 2009

Coffee tonight with a great friend, youth minister, and sometime-SCMer was quite fantastic. Together, our conversation spanned a number of issues, but what was most poignant for me was the realization that both of us felt that something is changing within humanity right now – like we’re on the cusp of a transformation, at the eve of God’s revolutionary reign. Sometimes it is really amazing to see how the Spirit is working through so many avenues to create pockets of resistance, to bring about revolutionary transformation.

It brings me a great deal of hope to know that as broken as the world is, as much as the world is crucified by systems of oppression, we are not alone, and the force of life which can even undo death is working to unravel all injustice.

Of course, I’m not naive enough to believe that this is an easy journey we are undertaking, or that the transformation will be without a massive struggle against an empire that at times seems undefeatable. But I really do believe that something powerful is moving amongst us, and that it is the Holy Spirit recreating the world once again. I hope that SCM can continue to be a part of the Spirit’s prophetic and transformational action in the world.

In the spirit of that transformation, conference is coming and excitement is building. We are quickly approaching Shine! (this year’s national conference and – this year – our Queer and Christian Without Contradiction gathering), and there is a huge flurry of activity associated with this important event. We’re in the process of developing two amazing resources – a book study for Somewhere Else by Jan Braun, and an issue of Epistle that will feature queer theology. As well, this upcoming edition of All Things New will be an awesome issue, filled with all sorts of interesting and challenging articles. Planning for worship for Shine! is underway (any who wish to be involved in it should contact ShineAndWorship (at) gmail (d0t) com), and all the arrangements for speakers and workshops are now coming together. This promises to be an amazing conference, and I personally am very pumped to be attending. As well, with the reduction of travel fees and registration fees, we really hope to be able bring a new group of excited, talented individuals together, and increase the diversity within our movement.

Hope to see you all at Shine!