Art and Theology

I have just spent 48 hours at Belsey Bridge Conference Centre (Ditchingham) for the annual get-together for ministers in the United Reformed Church's Eastern Synod.  Our keynote speaker was Neil Thorogood, Principal of Westminster College, Cambridge.  Neil helped us to see the contribution that art can make to life, and specifically to theology.  Pictures, of all sorts, can enhance our view of life.  Of course it is true that images can get in the way sometimes - but there are many examples of their enriching our experience.  It is worth thinking how we can connect to art as part of our mission in the church.  Can we, for example, offer space for exhibitions?  Some have.  Are there ways in which we can engage in little art projects that enable us to encourage folk to think about God?