Category: PeaceBang PR and Appearances

A Conversation with the Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein
of Beauty Tips For Ministers

Friday 22nd July 2011
Newport Pagnell Methodist Church, Milton Keynes
6pm for Dinner, 7 – 9pm Conversation

Victoria, the brainchild behind beautytipsforministers.com who sees herself as the stage mother of American clergy, is visiting the UK this summer and invites all ministers, ordained and lay, to gather with her for conversation.

This is the gospel of Beauty Tips For Ministers: if clergypeople believe that religious life is vital, relevant and beautiful, they should look the part.

Victoria, who writes as PeaceBang, is fond of saying that if we do not project an image intentionally, we will project one unconsciously. She believes that God has made a good gift in you, and you don’t bring an unwrapped gift to God’s party. She strives to remind us that that although we work from our hearts and our souls, we are also incarnate beings, and that our appearance does matter.

Men and women are welcome to this gathering. It will start with a brief, informal presentation by Victoria, and then she will open the floor up for conversation. If people want to they can bring specific outfits with them or photos, or questions about specific image issues that they are struggling with. The conversation, which is sure to be full of joy and laughter, will begin at 7pm.

This conversation will be proceeded by a bring and share meal to which all are invited. If you come to the meal please bring a dish of food to share.

There is no cost for this event, though donations will be taken to cover the cost of Victoria’s travel expenses to and from London.

Newport Pagnell Methodist Church is on the High Street in Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes next to the Town Council Offices (No. 80 High Street). The Church’s postcode for SatNavs is MK16 8AQ. We are close to Junction 14 on the M1 and our nearest train station is Milton Keynes Central.

For more information please contact Rev. Mindy Bell at mindybell@gmail.com or 01908 614411. If you are planning on attending it would be helpful, but not necessary, to RSVP.

Details here!

http://www.peacebang.com/2011/07/03/moving-through-the-liturgy-residential-retreat-for-uk-clergy-july-25-27/

PIGEONS! I will be preaching and offering programs in the following locations in London and the area. We are currently in the process of organizing a special BTFM gathering at Milton Keynes in a Methodist Church, so stay tuned for details on that!!

The PeaceBang Blog has working links to locations. Follow me on Twitter @PeaceBang for updates at #PBLondon.

Sunday, July 10, 11:00 AM: “The Way Of Love (Is Not a Subtle Argument)” Newington Green Unitarians.

Monday, July 11: “Conversation with the Unitarian Christians” Golders Green Unitarian Church in North London. 7:15 pm.
Jim Corrigal, coordinator http://www.ggu.org.ul

Sunday, July 17: “From Tourists to Pilgrims” Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel
Afternoon Workshop: “Moving Through the Liturgy: Embodied and Embodying Worship” 2:30-5:30 pm

Wednesday, July 20: Consultation with lay pastors and ministers. District Office

Saturday, July 23: “Nurturing a Ministry of Activism” – Workshop. 1-5 pm
Unity Unitarian Church in Islington

Sunday, July 24: 11 AM “From Tourists To Pilgrims” Essex Chapel, Kensington Unitarian Church.

Residential Retreat for UK Clergy: July 25-27 [Details forthcoming! – PB]

Sunday, July 31: Preaching. “Gladys and Honkamiller: Naming the Unnameable” Rosslyn Hill Chapel

Dearests,
Having just created this blurb for an upcoming seminary speaking engagement I thought I would post it here to see if there is some interest in hosting me while I am in London from July 6-August 6th. I am spoken for on the weekends with the Unitarians but I do have some weekdays open.

Contact me via the “Need PeaceBang’s Help” button above if you’re interested in booking me. Cheers.

“Authenticity in Ministry: From Pious Servants To Honest Sojourners”
The Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein has studied the popular image of the American clergyperson from Puritan times through to our own. She believes that if the mainline Church is to survive, its ordained leaders must lead the people through a painful transition from “savior” expectations of their (heavily scrutinized) ministers to a missional model, where the minister and the laypeople use the church as a place of discerning and strengthening before being sent forth to do the work of love and justice in their communities and in the world. In this new model, clergy must dismantle old paradigms such as Martyr, Enigma, or Saint and help the church – one congregation at a time — mature beyond its unsustainable expectations of its ordained leaders.

TUESDAY EVENTS:

“Here I Am, Lord… Now What Shoes Do I Wear?” Clergy Image in the 21st Century

The Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein, known as “PeaceBang” by readers of her popular blog Beauty Tips For Ministers (www.beautytipsforministers.com) is a pioneer in the subject of clergy image and self-presentation. In her words, “You can either project an image intentionally you will most certainly project one unintentionally and unconsciously.” We live in a visual age, and the old attitudes that equate spirituality with lack of concern for outward appearance are naive and damaging to the Church. Modern ministers must understand their context, understand themselves as those who represent the church visually as well as spiritually, and be camera-ready and media savvy. In our first session we will address such topics as the calling to ministry, our self-esteem as incarnate beings, the deep resistance to attention to personal beauty as either an expression of frivolity or vanity, and self-care. Our second session will deal with presentation of self: voice, body, hair, grooming, clothing, vestments and clericals, how to dress for the various duties of ministry, and where to find comfortable shoes for CPE.

Participants are asked to dress professionally, either for a day of general parish duties or for preaching. Willing volunteers will be solicited for an image “read” by Dr. Weinstein.

Sweetnesses,

I thought it would be fun to have din-din together at the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I am going to reserve a table at a local joint (whose name I now forget) for 5:30 Friday night, June 24th.

Please holla if you’d like to include yourself on the guest list.