Sunstone

We want everyone to arrive well and leave the Birmingham Sunstone event in good health. An early and ongoing Latter Day Saint value is communal responsibility for each other’s well-being. Therefore, in order to minimize Covid-19 risks at in-person gatherings/events, we highly recommend the following precautions:

• double vaccination
• Masks for the unvaccinated
• regular sanitation of hands
• lateral flow test the day before

Do not come if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.

At the venue we will have masks, hand sanitizer and will plan movement, scheduling and grouping to minimize risks - practices already used at other Sunstone events. We will be informed by the latest advice by Public Health England and Wales. Please read through this event's prepared risk assessment for more information.

The Greswolde Arms, 1657 High St, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0LL which is a 17 th century former coaching
Inn, transformed into a casual restaurant and cosy bar. The venue has 3 function rooms which we
will be using.

Officially Sunstone UK 2021 will begin at 08:15hrs on Saturday 18 th September, however this year we
have an extra keynote speaker, the fabulous Natasha Helfer Parker, kicking it all off on the evening
of Friday 17 th September with a live broadcast at 1800hrs. For those arriving on Friday evening, we
can get together at the venue for an informal gathering in the bar/restaurant area and live stream
our discussion with Natasha to kick the weekend off.

Owing to Covid restrictions, our international speakers are sadly not able to be with us in person, however Natasha Helfer Parker and Community of Christ first presidency member, Stassi Cramm will be dialing in as our keynote speakers. We will also be joined in person by home grown talent Peter Bleakley, Nemo the Mormon, Andrew Bolton, 21 st Century Saints, Priesthood Dispatches and Mormonmad who have U.K blogs, podcasts, Instagram pages and youtube channels that are viewed both nationally and internationally and have been gaining traction over the last 18 months. We have presentations on Mormon history, discussion on Post-Mormon parenting and relationships and a community room for people to engage in non-Mormon related fun while forging a new community support base. We have a hybrid Sunday service and a yoga and meditation session. There will be chances to sit quietly and create a new friendship over a board game and there are opportunities to show your hidden talent of hip-hop karaoke.

We can eat, drink and be merry together, but help us do it safely so we can do it again!

Sunstone is one of the only forums that accommodates Mormon thought and expression across the restoration and spectrum. This year is unique in that you can truly tailor your experience, whether you want to listen to church history (warts and all), engage in post Mormon conversation or detach from Mormonism altogether and learn a skill with those that have walked a similar path. Come in a group or on your own, you will leave having made more connections and gaining social support. Also unique to this year is that the venue is in the middle of the U.K which makes it slightly easier for everyone to get to. The correct question is why wouldn’t you come?

Only your eternal soul! If however, you have already parted with this, the ‘in person’ event is very reasonably priced at £50 per person for the entire weekend (including a catered lunch!!). The presentations will be recorded and made available in digital form after the event at £15.

12 presentations, 2 keynote speakers and a panel session, 8 community sessions including games, yoga and meditation, woodwork, a jamming session and a thoughtful hybrid ecumenical service between CofC and LDS members. The cost also covers tea/coffee/juice on both Saturday and Sunday breaks and a Saturday buffet lunch.

‘Reconstructing Zion’. If you are an active/semi active member but are treading nuance waters, you most likely already have your own ideas of how the church can improve and move towards a more progressive community. Conversely, if the word ‘Zion’ now makes you wince and break out in a PTSD sweat, try to imagine it as the new life you have now chosen and are navigating in a less prescribed way. Sunstone is all about there being More Than One Way to Mormon and is purposefully broad. Ex-Mormonism is the fastest growing Mormon expression in the UK at the moment and we also want to create a space for people who have left the church, but still want to connect.

Anyone with either an interest in or history with Mormonism. We have tried to make Sunstone as inclusive as possible with space for everybody wherever they sit on the faith spectrum. If you feel that you are not represented at Sunstone, then get in touch with us and we will do our best to remedy that.

Sunstone sees attendees from all across the restoration spectrum, from never-Mormons, polygamous Mormons, active faithful Mormons, post-Mormons, and everyone in-between. Regardless where you fall, there's a place for you at Sunstone!

Whatever you feel comfortable in as long as it’s legal. There is no formal dress code and comfort should be your guide. Sunstone is designed to bring you new ideas and introduce you to new people, and we want you to be comfortable so you have the best experience possible!

There is an ecumenical service available on Sunday for those who want to dress smart and also a yoga session if you have the gear and want to bring it.

We have heard a rumor that Peter Bleakley will be sporting a fabulous collection of avant-garde headwear, but don’t feel that you need to compete.

Owing to the fact that Covid-19 is still an issue and some people might not feel comfortable attending an in-person event, we are looking to record as many sessions as possible to be made available at a later time. The two keynote speakers, Natasha Helfer Parker and Stassi Cramm from
Community of Christ will be live streamed through our facebook page.

Unique to this Sunstone is the heavy emphasis on community and much of the weekend will be best experienced in person, so if you're able to and it's safe for you to come, please do!

The venue (The Greswolde Arms, Knowle) is a hotel, bar and restaurant, so there are rooms available at the venue itself.

Click here to book a room at the venue.

There are several other places to stay in Knowle and the venue is about a 10 minute drive from Solihull where there are many other options. The postcode for the venue is: B930LL

More affordable options are Premier Inn and Travel lodge in Solihull where those who want to dance Saturday night away will be able to walk a short distance home to their bed while singing ‘Abba’. For anyone hardcore and optimistically anticipating that long promised heatwave, there are lots of local caravan and camping venues within a couple of miles.

I think we need to remember that Peter is a real person, with real feelings and not a piece of meat to
be paraded around for our enjoyment – but if you ask him, he will probably say ‘hell yeah’!

Only if they belong to you. If you do want to bring children please be aware that all of the presentations and activities are aimed at an adult audience, so they may well be bored stiff and subject to Nemo’s foul language (just kidding, he’s a gent!)

You don’t really need to bring anything. You may want to bring a pen and notebook for the presentations, you may want to bring a drink and some snacks. A buffet lunch will be provided on the Saturday and there will also be drinks available at breaks. We have a community room that is mostly for hanging out, making new friends and maybe learning a skill.

You may want to bring a towel or matt if you want to do the yoga/meditation session. Or if you play a portable instrument,
bring it along and start a jamming session!

The best thing for you to bring would be your friends and an open mind.

Sunstone has a Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct that we expect all attendees to follow. Please take a moment to read through these policies. Attendees violating these policies will be asked to leave the conference.