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Spiritual Companionship in a Secular World
Brian Thorne & Caroline Kitcatt
Joint Lecture in St Giles Church, St Giles Street, Norwich
Friday 27th April 2007 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
The decline of institutional religion in Britain and throughout Europe is clearly indicated by statistics. Extrapolating forward from present figures, it would seem, for example, that there will be virtually no Christian institutional presence in Britain by the year 2050. And yet alongside this decline there is an astonishing rise in those who profess themselves to have undergone significant spiritual experiences and who view themselves to be spiritual seekers.
A joint lecture in St Giles church will be followed by a seminar/workshop at the Norwich Centre, which will seek to explore the current state of affairs and to examine what it means to offer spiritual companionship in such a changing context. There will be both presentations and the opportunity for participants to draw on their own experience and reflections. The event will be of interest to those outside the churches and other faith communities as well as to those who continue to embrace institutional religion.
Convenors: Professor Brian Thorne and Caroline Kitcatt who will draw on their current involvement with the Diploma in Spiritual Accompaniment offered by the Norwich Centre since September 2006.
Brian Thorne, besides being a co-founder of the Norwich Centre, is Emeritus Professor of Counselling at the University of East Anglia, Norwich and Professor of Education with the College of Teachers in London.
Throughout a lengthy career, Brian has maintained a dual allegiance to Christianity (as a liberal catholic Anglican) and to the person-centred approach to counselling and psychotherapy. His many books reflect this dual allegiance which in recent years has found a focus in the exploration of person-centred therapy both as a spiritual discipline in itself and as a major constituent to spiritual accompaniment.
In 2005 Brian was made a Lay Canon of Norwich Cathedral in recognition of his work as a bridge builder between the worlds of psychotherapy and pastoral theology.
Caroline Kitcatt is Centre Director of the Norwich Centre and Managing Director of Norwich Centre Projects Ltd. She is also a tutor on the Diploma in Counselling at the University of East Anglia where she has responsibility for the module on spirituality and counselling. Caroline is studying for a Doctorate in Education and her research is currently focussing on the contribution of the person-centred approach to spiritual accompaniment. Her interests include spirituality and women’s issues. She is a somewhat ambivalent member of the Anglican church, positioning herself on the edge of the liberal catholic tradition.