Hope in an uncertain world.
The past three years have brought many unknowns and challenged what we thought were certainties. With a global pandemic, economic crisis, political division and war, we have a heightened sense of fear, anxiety, depression, unrest and uncertainty.
In a world that is asking “is everything going to be okay?”, how can we find, hold onto, and radiate hope to those that have none? How can we display and defend our certainty in the thing that gives us hope: the Gospel.
If you are a Christian who wants to grapple with the complex questions of today’s culture, this conference is for you! Join the OCCA team at the beautiful Merton College, Oxford, from 9th – 14th July 2023 for our Summer Conference.
We will be discussing some topics with which you may have felt reluctant to engage and raising questions to which you may feel ill-equipped to respond. The topics include:
- Global Unrest & Political Discourse
- Identity, Gender & What It Means To Be Human
- Anxiety, Trauma & Mental Health
- Religion, Race & Nationalism
Together, in the beautiful seat of learning that is Oxford, we will examine these important issues and seek to gain insight and understanding for ourselves, while also learning how we might have meaningful conversations about such topics in our own spheres of influence. We will look at a framework for thinking through challenging questions, and we will discover how we can best respond with sincere, credible, and helpful answers.
Conference format
This is a 5-day conference running from 08:30 – 17:00 (ending at noon on Friday). Each day will begin in devotions, followed by a variety of lectures, workshops and Q&A sessions. A detailed schedule will be shared closer to the time.
Event speakers to include: Os Guinness, John Lennox, Sam Allberry, Max Jeganathan, Sharon Dirckx
Schedule
Click here to download the full schedule.
Event Cost
Standard Ticket – £850
We would not wish to see cost be a barrier for someone who might otherwise find this a helpful experience. So do please let us know if you – or someone you know – might need bursary support. Limited bursaries are available by application.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not included in the conference rate. Merton College offers student-style accommodation based on the rates below. Pricing is per night and includes breakfast. If you are interested in this option, you can book here using code OCCA2023.
We recommend staying at the college for your convenience, however you are welcome to source alternative accommodation as per your preferences. A list of some suggested alternatives can be found on the FAQ document.
£ 80.00 – B&B single standard (shared bathroom)
£ 100.00 – B&B single en suite
£ 145.00 – B&B twin en suite
Pre-event Oxford Gathering
While the conference officially begins on Monday 10th July, we are excited to gather together for a welcome dinner on Sunday 9th July at the TS Eliot theatre at Merton College. Join us at 17:00 for registration, a drinks reception and a welcome talk where you will hear what you can expect for the week to come, followed by dinner.
Activities to enrich our time together in Oxford
Our time together will also include worship, devotions, sharing and prayer, and an opportunity to feedback on how we can better equip you for the future. We also have a number of exciting activities throughout the week:
- Welcome dinner on Sunday 9 July
- A tour of Oxford, unpacking the rich Christian heritage of this city
- Farewell dinner on Thursday 13th July
We encourage you to take in all that Oxford has to offer including from museums to punting and walks through university parks to visiting the many historical colleges.
Further Enquiries
Please review our comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions document.
If you need any additional information, please email Julia at events@theocca.org.
