Challenging Hope

Is hope always an unequivocal good? Should we be wary of it? Can it survive amidst the seemingly intractable and impossible issues we face globally and individually? Is there any evidence to suggest that we should be hopeful? What does it mean to carry hope and how can it inspire us to action? And what is the place for anger, justice and lament in all this?

The Susanna Wesley Foundation’s annual conference, on June 18th, 2024, will explore the ambiguous title ‘Challenging Hope’, both challenging the concept of hope and examining how the practice of hope can be challenging. In considering some of these questions, we will look at what different disciplines have to offer – political psychology, theology, philosophy – and also at the lenses brought to bear by those whose relationship to conflict and crisis have had profound effects on their actions and perspectives.

Along with presentations there will be drama, dialogue and discussion, as well as a choice of workshops. Difficult concepts will be brought to life by our conference artist throughout the day.

Alphabetical list of contributors (more to be added in due course):

Dr Munyurangabo Benda is a Tutor at the Centre for Black Theology at the Queen’s Theological Foundation in Birmingham. While studying law, the genocide against the Tutsi broke out in Rwanda and it led him to study theology to ask what a person seeking to do right ought to do when the foundations of law and order have been shattered. His PhD thesis from the University of Manchester used postcolonial analysis to critically compare the agency of Muslim and Christian communities in the genocide of 1994.

His current research interests in theology revolve around the various intersections between active/practical faith and the public/political sphere.

Rachel Griffiths is a participative theatre-maker, working in socially engaged practice, using theatre as a way to enable communities, often those on the social margins, to articulate a message, or a story that they want to tell, using the Theatre of the Oppressed methodology of Augusto Boal.

Dr. Oded Adomi Leshem is a political psychologist who has been fascinated by the concept of hope for at least a decade. His interest in hope (and its absence) began in 2012 with his first experimental studies on hope inducement. Since then, he has published numerous articles and book chapters on hope and despair as political phenomena and lectured on hope to a wide range of academic and non-academic audiences. His new book “Hope Amidst Conflict” was recently published by Oxford University Press.

Oded teaches and conducts his research at the Hebrew University, where he serves as a Senior Research Associate.

Places are free of charge and includes lunch, refreshments and post conference drinks. Registration closes on 11th June 2024

· Registration/pastries and coffee from 09:15

· Opening Session 09:45

· Closing Plenary concludes at 17:00 followed by drinks.

The Susanna Wesley Foundation has adopted a 'default veg' policy, whereby vegetarian food will be offered by default at catered events. 'Default Veg' is an initiative by CreatureKind.

For further information please contact Liz Pickett at [email protected]

Host or Publisher Susanna Wesley Foundation