This one-day workshop will be an opportunity to develop understanding and think through a Christian response to living with chronic pain.
Hosts: Revd Peter Ball & Dr Andrew Perrett
Speakers include:
Dr Andrew Perrett, Dr Alison Gray, Mrs Louise Robinson, Revd Dr Preston Parsons, Becca Bryant (the Senior Young Carers Project Worker at Centre 33)
Timing: 9.30am to 4.15pm
Cost: £40 in person, £35 for students, £25 online
A day course in collaboration with Westminster College.
Programme:
There are frequent short breaks planned within the schedule and attendees are expected to drop in and out of sessions (both in person and online) as needed. A quiet room is available for the use of those attending in person, adjacent to the meeting room. For accessibility information at Westminster College see https://www.westminster.cam.ac.uk/urc/about-us/building-accessibility. We will be using a ground floor meeting room.
9.30 In-person meeting opens
9.50 Zoom meeting opens
10.00 Introduction:
10:15 Living with pain: Louise’s story
10:40 A Carer’s perspective
11.30 Responding as a church
11:55 A doctor’s perspective
12:20 Living with pain: Preston’s story
12:45 Theology of chronic pain: a discussion
1:00 Lunch
2:00 Seen and Unseen: a conversation
2:25 Q&A
2:45 Small group discussions
3.40 Reflections
4.00 Zoom meeting closes; refreshments available
4.15 End of in-person meeting
Speakers
Revd Dr Preston Parsons
Revd Dr Preston Parsons is a theologian and pastor, currently deployed as the rector of the parish of St. John the Evangelist in Kitchener, Canada. A 40 foot fall from a tree in 1993 resulted in a significant spinal cord injury, and Preston lives life as a paraplegic and wheelchair user. The spinal injury means that Preston lives with worsening neuropathic pain in his lower body, and the daily use of a wheelchair has led to a repetitive strain injury in his shoulder.
Mrs Louise Robinson
Mrs Louise Robinson is a wife and mother, just returning to work after a break with young children. She is a Primary School Teacher and has lived in Cambridge all her adult life. She has lived with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome for the last 15 years, after a workplace injury. She has received a range of treatment, including a residential Chronic Pain Management programme at St Thomas’ hospital in London. Whilst her nerve condition is not visible, it impacts most areas of daily life. She is an active member of her local church. She enjoys outdoor adventures, craft and sewing, as well as time with family.
Dr Andrew Perrett
Dr Andrew Perrett studied medicine at the University of Cambridge and qualified as a GP, before spending 18 years working in clinical practice and medical education in China. He now works as a GP and GP Trainer in Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education from the University of Dundee, a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Spurgeon’s College, and a Masters in Bioethics and Medical Law from St Mary’s University, London.
Dr Alison Gray
Dr Alison Gray is the Director of Studies at Westminster College, Cambridge, and Tutor in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Alison is a Lay Preacher and an Elder in her local URC church in Fulbourn. She studied Theology at Cambridge University, where she completed her BA, before training to be a secondary school teacher in Religious Studies. She later returned to Cambridge to complete her MPhil in Old Testament and PhD on Hebrew metaphors in the Psalms.
Alison’s research interests include biblical interpretation and biblical theology, Hebrew linguistics, and metaphor studies. She has experience of being a child carer for someone living with chronic pain and is keen to help churches explore their theological responses to pain, suffering and pastoral care.
