RLC UK Book Club & Panel Discussion: Parenting for a Better World

Have you ever found yourself wrestling with the relationship between your faith, your calling for justice, and your commitment to parenting? How do we balance investing in our communities and in our families as we aim to live for Jesus and justice in every aspect of our lives?

Red Letter Christians UK are thrilled to be hosting an online panel discussion with four author/activist/parents who have contributed to the new book Parenting for a Better World: Social Justice Practices for Your Family & the Planet.

You aren’t alone in your struggle to be a parent who makes a difference. Like many of you, these authors juggle commitments to caregiving, activism, and faith. Their stories offer solidarity and support.

This RLC UK Book Club & Panel Discussion will be a mixture of hearing from our panel, discussion and a time for Q&A. You are more than welcome to join the conversation whether or not you've read the book (in whole or part) and whether or not you consider yourself a parent. We recognise and honour the fact that families come in all shapes and sizes - many of us experience or provide parental investment as part of chosen family.

About the panel:

Susanna Snyder (Co-Editor & Contributor) is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at Ripon College, Cuddesdon. She lives in Oxford, UK, and has two children.

Ellen Ott Marshall (Co-Editor & Contributor) is Professor of Christian Ethics & Conflict Transformation at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and has three children.

Leah Gunning Francis (Contributor) is Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Christian Theological Seminary. She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and has two children.

Luke Larner (Contributor) is an Assistant Curate at St. Paul’s in Bedford, where he lives with his wife Jeni and their son Jared. Passionate about social justice and solidarity, Luke has previously supported local organizations through work in the areas of homelessness, support of refugees and people seeking asylum, violence affecting young people, peace-making, and interfaith collaboration. Luke is currently studying for a doctorate in Practical Theology. He is also involved with international ecumenical social justice network Red Letter Christians UK and has trained in Community Organizing through Citizens UK.

About the book:

Parenting for a Better World: Social Justice Practices for Your Family and the Planet offers spiritual resources for reflecting on the relationship between your faith, your calling for justice, and your commitment to parenting. In these pages you will find encouragement from fellow parents and practical strategies to help you integrate caregiving and justice work into your daily lives.

Parenting is an act of faith and an everyday opportunity to change the world. Parenting for a Better World weaves together spiritual practices, family life, and activism. It highlights the ways that your parenting practices contribute to justice and your justice work informs your parenting. And it affirms the presence of God in the midst of it all. Without pressing you to do it all, Parenting for a Better World provides spiritual and practical resources for connecting your beliefs, your calling to justice, and your commitment to parenting.

Parenting for a Better World: Social Justice Practices for Your Family and the Planet is available via the publish (Chalice Press), your local bookshop or from online retailers. Details here.

Red Letter Christians UK is a relational network for those who want to live for Jesus and Justice. Our focus is connecting and supporting Christian activists and community leaders across the UK. We aim to provide practical tools for developing advocacy and organising skills alongside deepening spiritual resilience. We seek out spiritual and tactical resonance, creating opportunities to pursue justice together. We aim to amplify prophetic voices from the margins who bring spiritual depth, experience and a healthy dose of challenge to national conversations.