The main theme of this Day Conference is mindful formation, or spiritual formation through mindfulness. This will be explored by five Christian mindfulness practitioners and teachers who will answer this question: how has practising mindfulness impacted my spiritual formation? Spiritual formation is about how we become more Christlike, it is another word for discipleship. Each of our speakers will reflect on their own story.
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Keynote Speakers for June 2024 Day Conference
Rev Dr Shaun Lambert
Session Title: Mindful Formation Introduced
Shaun is a writer, psychotherapist, mindfulness researcher, Baptist minister, and honorary mindfulness chaplain to the Scargill Movement. He is currently pursuing a training pathway in mainstream mindfulness with The Mindfulness Network, with a particular focus on interpersonal mindfulness. He loves flat whites, newts, walking and the idea of wild swimming, and lives in Hampstead with his family when not in Yorkshire with the Scargill community. Shaun's new book Mindful formation is published on 17th May 2024
Titles by Rev Shaun Lambert - Mindful Formation; A Book of Sparks; Putting on the Wakeful One; Flat earth unroofed;
Richard H H Johnston
Mindful Formation & the Holy Spirit
Richard is the pioneer Director of christianmindfulness.co.uk Christian Mindfulness offers Online Courses, Guided Meditations, Workshops and Retreats. It has featured at the UK Association of Christian Counsellors Biannual Conference, New Wine Scotland (CLAN Gathering), Christianity Magazine, Premier Christian Radio, the Church of England Newspaper, Mind & Soul website and Turning the Page (New Zealand).
Titles by Richard H H Johnston - Introducing Christian Mindfulness; Christian Mindfulness: Are You Living On AutoPilot?; Mindfulness of Body, Soul and Spirit;
Prof Amy G Oden
Right Here, Right Now: The Good News of Embodiment
“I will share my awakening to the “God who is” (Exodus 3:14) in every moment with me. For me, this has meant learning to accept what is, even when I’m struggling, as a place of Holy Presence and Love. Through panic attacks to pregnancy loss to life-threatening heart attacks and accompanying my husband through dementia, mindfulness prayer practice has anchored me in the wider Love that holds my life. I’ll share my story of becoming more mindful of my own body as a place of God’s presence and life (John 1:14).”
Amy G. Oden is Professor of Early Church History and Spirituality at Saint Paul School of Theology at Oklahoma City University and the author of Right Here, Right Now, In Her Words and And You Welcomed Me, all published by Abingdon Press.
Titles by Prof Amy G Oden - Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness; And You Welcomed Me; In Her Words.
Paul Bane
Mindfulness & the Presence of God
“I want to share my experience of learning to practice the presence of God, which helped me to find peace and rest for my troubled mind and soul. It was a journey of being mindful that taught me to live in the present moment and release the thoughts and anxieties that kept me from the intimacy I desired with God. I learned how to invite His presence into the stillness of my life and live fully alive in the moment and truly alive in Christ. I discovered the contemplative practice of transferring the knowledge of God in my head to the transformation of my heart, which enabled me to live out the loving reality of Christ living through the Holy Spirit in me.”
Paul Bane is the founder of Mindful Christianity, an online community helping people discover the lost contemplative and meditative tradition of practicing the presence of Jesus in our daily lives. Founded in 2015, Mindful Christianity now reaches over a million people a day, and its message has connected with faith leaders in every denomination of Christianity as well as mental health professionals and counseling organizations. He co-authored "In the Presence of Jesus: A 40-day Devotional Guide to the Intimacy with God You've Always Wanted." Paul is the retired Pastor Emeritus of New Hope Community Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. He and his wife, Cathy, have two children and six granddaughters.
Beverley Walker
Title : Mindful Formation & the Desert Fathers and Mothers
“Mindfulness books and courses often remind us that mindfulness is based on over two thousand years of contemplative wisdom. At the Mindful Formation Conference on 15th June, I will be looking at one aspect of our rich Christian contemplative heritage : how the lives and practices of the Desert Mothers and Fathers are forming my mindful Christian beliefs and attitudes. These desert dwellers, who came to Egypt from North Africa, Asia and Europe, were steeped in the Old Testament, especially Psalms, and the life and teachings of Jesus and apostles. We will look at the relevance of many of their teachings for life in the 21st century, using themes such as
- Dealing with Difficult Thoughts
- Solitary Meditation and Meditation in Community
- Embodied Mindfulness
There will be an opportunity for meditation based on the teachings of one of the Desert Mothers. I hope you will join me as we bring to life some of these fascinating women and men.”
Bev Walker is a retired history teacher and high school senior leader who became interested in mindfulness after diagnosis with chronic illness. During the pandemic, Bev completed the “Associated Certificate in Christian Mindfulness”, followed by the “Certificate in Christian Contemplation.” Since 2020 Bev has been researching the lives and teachings of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, tracing their influence on the Celtic Saints, particularly in South Wales, where she now lives. She leads Christian meditation groups and regularly speaks and leads at Mindful Church, often exploring the Desert Mothers and Fathers.
Conference Programme (may be subject to change)
Saturday 25th May 2024
9.30am to 10.30am - Session 1 - Speaker: Rev Dr Shaun Lambert
10.30am to 10.45pm - Break
10.45am to 11.45am - Session 2 - Speaker: Richard H H Johnston
11.45am to 12.00pm - Break
12pm to 1pm - Session 3 - Speaker: Bev Walker
1pm to 2.00pm - Lunch
2.00pm to 3pm - Session 4 - Speaker: Prof Amy Oden
3.00pm to 3.15pm - Break
3.15pm to 4.15pm - Session 5 - Speaker Paul Bane
4.15pm to 4.30pm - Break
4.30pm to 5pm approx - Session 6 - Question & Answer