As the 6am Kings Cross train hummed to life at Newcastle Central Station, the chief steward came over the speakers and apologised that, owing to a signal failure ahead, we would be leaving the station travelling backwards. Since it was pitch-black outside (ah, Newcastle in November), this made little difference, except perhaps to those of us hoping this was not a metaphor. I stuck my coat behind my head, and inadvertently eavesdropped on two fellow travellers behind me.

“Did you SEE how much booze she had with her, I know you drink on the train, but it’s only a one-hour journey!”
“…I’m having a nap.”

Ah, Geordies, gotta love ‘em. Like my fellow traveller, I nodded off and awakened in the grey light of early morning at Kings Cross, just in time to hop off, wander past a picture of a labyrinth (the metaphors were coming thick and fast) and get the Tube to the Thames and Essex Hall.

‘Seeds of the Future’ was a workshop comprising about 15 Unitarians from across England and Wales, led by Nick Butler-Watts of the Innovation Fund, and Liz Slade, our Chief Officer. After coffee (of course), a chalice lighting and check-in, we began with a short roleplay, in which we formed groups of three who each discussed a situation one might encounter in a church – to move the pews out of the meeting hall, or keep them? from the perspective of three different ‘types’ of people one tends to encounter in a congregation; the manager, the entrepreneur, and the idealist.

After that, we moved on to discuss what we saw emerging in our movement, and what excites us. I thought of the joy of Hucklow Summer School, and the increasing number of groups such as Heart and Soul, Facilitators Network, Administrators Network, and what I see as greater connection between Unitarians across the UK. Are we seeing a more national Unitarianism emerge, that can help us pool our resources to survive in the new world? I hope so.

At lunchtime we nibbled bagels, and I went for a walk to the riverside, ending up with ‘Waterloo Sunset’ stuck in my head. It could have been worse. (It could have been the ‘Salmon Dance’.)

As we progressed into the afternoon, we considered how Unitarianism might spark spiritual renewal and social change in the UK (may as well aim big!). I came up with the strapline “With heart, soul, and rolled-up sleeves”, which I was quite pleased with.

We drew a matrix, and placed factors on Post-It Nots affecting us and our congregations along the axes ‘Inside / Outside Our Control’ and ‘Energising / Draining’. We closed out our session with a check-out and benediction, then we ambled off for a pint and a chat at The Olde Cheshire Cheese before returning home after a long, but productive, day.