The Brethren movement has developed and continues to exist in a wide range of social, national and local contexts. From elite circles of Irish aristocrats to the mining villages of southern Scotland, from the Catholic contexts of Spain and the communist contexts of Eastern Europe to the primal religious environments of Zambia, Brethren have responded to their host cultures in a variety of ways, resisting and adapting to the outside world and while creating distinctive cultures in their own assemblies Brethren have made important contributions to ‘high’ culture – art, music and literature – but have often regarded these cultural products with deep suspicion. Brethren have also been impacted by ‘counter-culture’ – and the worshipping norms of many assemblies and fellowships have been profoundly affected as a result.
Meeting in Liverpool Hope University during 5-7 July 2007, the conference of the Brethren Achivists and Historians Network will examine the means by and purposes for which Brethren have related to their social, national and religious environments. Keynote speakers include Mark Sweetnam on Don Crawford, John Allan on Brthren and society 1950-2000, and Ward Gasque, who will give the F.F.Bruce memorial lecture in an evening reception at the Christian Brethren Archive, University of Manchester.
The organisers of this conference invite proposals for papers from anyone with an interest in Brethren history. Brief summaries of papers (no more than 250 words) should be sent by post to Crawford Gribben, English and American Studies, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, or by email to Crawford.gribben@manchester.ac.uk