Welcome to the 5th European Godly Play Conference.
The Best Gift - Sept. 16th - 19th 2016
Godly Play in Europe is expanding and is now playing a significant and exiting role in the daily life of many different churches. Wouldn’t you like to know who those who use GP all are, and where and how we work? The best way to find that out is probably by attending a three day conference.
Next autumn this extraordinary happening will take place once again, prepared for you by Godly Players of Latvia and Norway. Take this opportunity to search for the gift that Godly Play can represent to children as well as to yourself, and join!
programme main speakers practical information prices location and venue
Programme & lectures
The programme will be filled with a variety of plenary and group sessions, lots of story-telling, worship, seminars, and leisure and social time, giving you plenty of opportunity to learn, explore and enjoy the Godly Play way of being together. There will be a wide range of workshops and seminars to choose from, led by people from several countries. More information about this will be published later. For the first time we will also offer an optional ACADEMIC SYMPOSIUM Thursday, September 15th., open for “active listeners”. There will be several papers presented, one main lecture, and also a marketplace, where people can present their work on posters, and those interested can mingle and discuss it.
Main speakers
REBECCA NYE
PhD, is a researcher and author in children’s spirituality. She lectures in child psychology and childhood studies for the UK’s largest university, The Open University, and supervises of post-graduate theology students at both Cambridge and Oxford. However her passion lies in leading the training and development of Godly Play UK since she first brought it and Jerome Berryman over from the USA in the late 1990s.
HENRIK SYSE
is a philosopher working at the Peace Research Institute of Oslo. With major interests in ethics of war, and philosophy vs religion, to some he may be better known as their local Sunday School teacher. The working title for his speech is: Playful wondering about existential questions – our best gift to children. He is also a member of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee – which, shortly after he is back from Riga, will announce the laureate for 2016.
RUNE ØYSTESE
“midwifed” GP into Norway in 2006 and has been vice president of the GP International Advisory Board since 2014. He teaches at NLA University College in Bergen.
He will present a lecture about the Bible story as a best gift.
KNUT TVEITEREID
teaches at NLA University College in Oslo. In 2015 he finished his Phd on the impact of youth ministry. His best- selling book for youth and children, Word Bytes: The Completely Manageable Bible in 365 Readings, has been translated into several languages. The title of his lecture is: Jesus’ best gift to us.
MIRJAM ZIMMERMANN
Professor of Religious Education at the University of Siegen/Germany, will be our
keynote speaker at the academic symposium. She is one of the most productive and respected researchers in the area of “childrens theology” in Germany with special emphasis on methodological questions of research with children. Prof. Zimmermann will address the ethical issues affecting research into Godly Play.
Practical Information & Registration
The conference begins Friday, Sept 16th, 13:00, starting with lunch. (Registering from 11:00) and ends Monday, Sept 19th, 12:00. Meals will be served in a reserved area of the hotel restaurant. Any special needs in regard to food or accommodation should be reported with your registration.
The conference language will be English, but some of the time may be divided into language/regional group sessions.
There will be some free time, to explore the beach and the neighbourhood of Jurmala with its interesting architecture, have some time for quiet retreat, or try the hotel’s swimming pool or even the waves of the Baltic. Depending on interest there will be an optional guided tour of Riga immediately following our concluding session on Monday.
programme main speakers practical information prices location and venue
Conference prices
Conference
€ 310
Double Room- All scheduled conference activities
- Accommodation and all meals at Hotel Lielupe
- Access to wellness centre, including swimming pool, gym and sauna
Conference
€ 350
Single Room- All scheduled conference activities
- Accommodation and all meals at Hotel Lielupe
- Access to wellness centre, including swimming pool, gym and sauna
Academic Day
€ 120
Double Room- Reduction for those presenting an academic paper or a poster.
Academic Day
€ 140
Single Room- Reduction for those presenting an academic paper or a poster.
Conference
€ 330
Double Room- All scheduled conference activities
- Accommodation and all meals at Hotel Lielupe
- Access to wellness centre, including swimming pool, gym and sauna
Conference
€ 380
Single Room- All scheduled conference activities
- Accommodation and all meals at Hotel Lielupe
- Access to wellness centre, including swimming pool, gym and sauna
Academic Day
€ 120
Double Room- Reduction for those presenting an academic paper or a poster.
Academic Day
€ 140
Single Room- Reduction for those presenting an academic paper or a poster.
Conference
€ 350
Double Room- All scheduled conference activities
- Accommodation and all meals at Hotel Lielupe
- Access to wellness centre, including swimming pool, gym and sauna
Conference
€ 400
Single Room- All scheduled conference activities
- Accommodation and all meals at Hotel Lielupe
- Access to wellness centre, including swimming pool, gym and sauna
Academic Day
€ 120
Double Room- Reduction for those presenting an academic paper or a poster.
Academic Day
€ 140
Single Room- Reduction for those presenting an academic paper or a poster.
Location and venue
Semarah hotel Lielupe, a recently completely renovated spa hotel, is situated only a short walking distance from the magnificent Baltic Sea beach, Bay of Riga. The hotel can be easily reached by bus or train, and is only half an hour from the airport.