CDs and DVDs
A complete listing of audio compact disc recordings and DVDs available featuring various speakers and conferences arranged by the Progressive Christianity Network - Britain, Free To Believe and others during recent years. All discs are attractively cased, tracked and labelled for easy access to any section.
"I am delighted with the recordings of the Sept meeting of the Sea of Faith – many thanks. Your discs are wonderful for me as I cannot get to meetings now, and quite possibly I shall be ordering others in the future!" Jane, Dorset
"Thank you for your wonderful service." John, Notts
"You are doing a remarkable job recording all this material – thank you so much." Christine, Glamorgan
"SoF Conference recordings are really excellent. Sounds even better than the event itself!" Carol, Norwich
Prices include postage and packing, with discounts for larger simultaneous purchases (any mix) as follows:
Two items – deduct 10%; three items – deduct 15%; four items or more – deduct 20%
Please print your name and address clearly, make cheques payable to
C. Avis and post to 51 Westabrook, Ashburton,
Newton Abbott, Devon, TQ13 7QT
or use Paypal to order and pay to chrisavis80@outlook.com
Items are shown in reverse chronological order.
Religion and Atheism – Beyond the Divide?
The French Protestant Church in London's Soho Square was the unusual and very welcoming venue for this PCN Britain day conference in June 2019 featuring talks by Harriet Harris, Julian Baggini, Fiona Ellis and Richard Holloway. Is it possible to go beyond that divide? Listen to these excellent speakers for some answers! Talks and discussion on three tracked and labelled audio CDs.
[Please note that if you were present that day and had difficulty hearing some of what was said, you should find it much easier listening to these digitally enhanced recordings]
3-CD set £8.00
Radical Faith
After initial conference planning disasters 'never before experienced in the history of the human race' (Camroux), the revamped 2018 Free to Believe National Conference on 'Radical Faith' came up trumps with enthralling speakers and a resulting general agreement that this was one of the best ever.
Topics included 'Radical God' (Martin Camroux); 'Radical Jesus' (John Churcher); 'Radical Communities' (Kate Gray); and 'The Bible can be Bad/Sad/Funny' (Trevor Dennis). All talks are available on a set of four DVD videos plus one CD audio disc.
All 5 discs £15.00
Redeeming Gender
Professor Adrian Thatcher of Exeter University speaking to the Exeter PCN Britain group in October 2017 about his new book on the way knowledge of human gender variations has developed over the centuries, and the continuing refusal of many churches to accept or honour any sexuality beyond a 'binary' form. The nature of gender is far more complex than often assumed and this CD will broaden your mind, in the widest sense!
Single edited CD in clear jacket, with index £4.00
'...beyond Beliefs that Divide'
A weekend in Birmingham with Gretta Vosper and Scott Kearns at The Church at Carrs Lane and the Unitarian New Meeting Church. A chance to see and hear Gretta, the courageous (or reckless?) self-declared atheist minister of West Hill Church in Toronto, Canada, as she and her husband/partner in crime Scott engagingly articulate their backgrounds and current ministries to West Hill. Hear how the United Church of Canada, reputedly a progressive governing body, is agonising over these thorns in the theological flesh and how to proceed.
Four DVDs including samples of Scott's original, inspiring songs and extracts from the concluding Sunday service led by Gretta at a nearby Unitarian Church.
4.5 hours of honest to godless value at £20.00
Heretics, God and Spooky Interconnectedness
In this 2017 Marcus Borg Memorial Lecture organised by PCN Britain, keynote speaker the Rev Dr Robin Meyers from Oklahoma moved notions of God up to a whole new level as he talked about quantum physics and entanglement. With contributions also from Rev Dr Val Webb (Australia) and Paul Onslow (PCN Vice Chair), this was a day to remember.
The mind-boggling concepts of God revealed in Robin Meyer's talks may shock you, as they urge a major rethink of traditional Christianity. You have been warned!
3-DVD set £15.00
Out of our Minds
This startling title for the 2015 Sea of Faith annual conference was concerned with 'What can we offer towards a healthier world?' Keynote speakers were author and broadcaster David Boulton on Utopia and Unitarian minister Andy Pakula on Oneness without the One. The ever popular Speakers' Corner and Desert Island Discs plus plenty of Q&A produced another successful event, here preserved on three audio CDs and one DVD, all tracked, packaged and labelled.
3-CD+1-DVD set £15.00
Walking Forward
with Bishop John Shelby Spong
Videoed at Holy Trinity Church Windsor, these two DVDs contain the very essence of Jack Spong's approaches to the Bible and Christianity. If you have not experienced this world renowned progressive Bible scholar before, here is an ideal introduction to Bishop Spong's ethos for Christian living. If you're familiar with much of his work already, here is an ideal refresher course!
2-DVD set £10.00
A Day in the Fountain with Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley was Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral and loves poetry. At Bloomsbury Baptist Church in London he emphasized the intertwined nature of poetry and religion in thought provoking, entertaining talks laced with humour and emotion. Later feedback from many of those present indicated that for them this was one of the best PCN events ever. The day ended with members reciting poems discussed earlier in groups and then commenting on them - a great day.
2-DVD set £10.00
With or Without God
Gretta Vosper is a minister of the United Church of Canada. She writes:
'After I spontaneously preached a sermon in which I completely deconstructed the idea of a god named God, rather than fire me, the congregation chose to step out on an unmarked path. With them, I’ve laboured, lamented, lost, and loved. It’s a hard road but a worthy one with no finish line in sight. Let’s walk this road together. I promise you’ll be inspired.'
See and hear Gretta talk about this bold, courageous adventure with her church, and the inevitable challenges it is creating. Two packaged DVDs (total time 90 mins+) contain the talk and resulting Q&A at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London on 24 Sept 2014.
2-DVD set £10.00
Hear the Overtures!
Rarely are seasoned Free To Believe conference goers shaken by new ideas, but this 2014 event with John Dominic Crossan stimulated much new thinking and debate about the Christmas and Easter stories.
‘The Challenge of Christmas and the Meaning of Easter’ is an invitation into the ‘matrix’ to experience overtures and other surprises. Four audio CDs include the talks and Q&A sessions, plus worship extracts led by Carla Grosch-Miller and Dom’s sermon during the closing worship.
As usual, all discs are boxed, tracked and indexed for speedy access to any section.
4-CD set £12.00
Quaker Faith and Practice
An Exeter PCN meeting about the history of Quakerism and its members' variety of theological perspectives, focussing on a way of life rather than assent to forms of words or creeds. Maggie Cartridge (retired Family Law solicitor) and Gerald Conyngham (Family Mediator) revealed many little-known facts about Quakerism – did you know Quakers had received the Nobel Prize?
Single CD £4.00
Leaving Alexandria
Richard Holloway's 'memoir' is an intensely powerful and moving book in which he attempts to come to terms with himself and his life's journey. This Free To Believe reading party at Windermere was a privileged and inspiring opportunity to discuss Leaving Alexandria in the delightful company of the author. Here is a chance to listen anew (or again) to this remarkable, approachable man. The four CDs in this set include Richard's talks, plenty of Q&A, and extracts from the Closing Celebration service led by Kate Compston.
4-CD set £12.00
Marcus Borg on ‘Being Christian in the 21st Century
Recorded at St John’s Church Edinburgh in September 2010, here is another engaging series of talks by this ‘gentle-man’ of contemporary Christianity, now sadly missed. Marcus spoke of the need to ‘redeem’ the present barriers of Christian language and literalism, urging with his own quiet passion the need for a faith that realises the earthly Kingdom of God through distributive justice and compassion. I was commissioned by PCN Britain to record this weekend, including Marcus’ sermon on Sunday, and offer the set of 4 edited/tracked CDs at a very attractive cost.
4-CD set £12.00
Special Offer - Eternal Life for a Fiver
As with most advertising, all is not necessarily what it seems, though this is still quite a bargain! The Exeter recording during Bishop ‘Jack’ Spong’s lecture tour in October 2009, when he spoke about his latest book ‘Eternal Life – a New Vision’, is now available on an audio CD. Included is a second disc containing a total of 13 questions and answers from sessions at the Exeter and Colchester venues. The discs are packaged in a single case with an attractive cover including photographs and a detailed track index. As someone remarked after Jack’s visit to our church,
“That was classic Spong!” - I couldn’t agree more!
2-CD set £5.00
Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings and Relevance
of a Religious Revolutionary
In April 2008 Marcus Borg travelled to the UK from Oregon to speak at St Mark’s Church, Sheffield. The result was a memorable weekend from this world-renowned teacher whose considered, thoughtful style well leavened with humour captivated his 300+ audience. The talks, Q&A sessions and Marcus’ Sunday sermon are now available on a 4 CD set, including the original supporting notes. This was one of the best conferences I have ever been privileged to record and edit on to discs. In our present troubled churches and a divided, violent world there is a crying need for the Borg ‘gospel’, so spread the (recorded) word!
4-CD set £12.00
"There are some who find Jesus appealing and Paul appalling"
So began John Dominic Crossan’s wonderful series of three talks on Paul and the Justice of Equality in November 2007 at the Centre for Radical Christianity in Sheffield. Dominic is a world-renowned authority on Paul, with the ability to communicate his subject in an accessible, absorbing and entertaining way. A 4-CD set of the talks, including Q&A sessions and Dominic’s sermon at the Remembrance Day service, is available. As always, the discs are fully tracked, cased and labelled for easy access to any section. There is a wealth of fascinating and informative material on the enigmatic Paul in these talks and an enriching, sometimes surprising experience is guaranteed!
4-CD set £12.00
Jesus for the Non-Religious
A conference in June 2006 recorded at The Hayes Swanwick featuring Bishop John Shelby Spong. These recordings have proved the most popular of all and are still in demand.
4-CD set £12.00
For an encore, listen to Jack giving a talk in Exeter later the same month entitled
The Challenge of Christianity in the 21st Century
More words of compassionate wisdom from this master of appealing Bible scholarship.
Single CD £4.00