They are an interdisciplinary organisation, including applied disciplines, who are keen to promote interdisciplinarity and inter-professional understanding in this field.

At this point in time, the work of BASS is being carried forward by a working Executive with a view to moving to the election of officers in 2010. At that stage membership fees will be requested. However, for the time being they are interested in gauging interest and establishing some key events and facilities as follows:

1. An international conference, Spirituality in a Changing World, is scheduled for 4-6 May 2010, to be held at Cumberland Lodge in the Windsor Great Park. Full information on abstract submission and conference booking forms will be sent out later this month. They are currently seeking additional members for the Scientific Committee to assist in the drafting of themes and review of abstracts.

2. They have been negotiating with publishers for a new journal (working title Spirituality) and are pleased to announce that Pavilion Publishing is keen to add this to their growing journals portfolio. The journal will be linked officially to BASS and a reduced subscription rate included in the membership package. Pavilion plan a first edition to coincide with the conference. This is quite a tight time-scale and we shall be looking for articles for this first copy. We should also value your views/suggestions on the title – Pavilion are worried that it does not sufficiently indicate its intended readership and may need a strapline.

3. They are exploring the possibility of a Launch event in London in November 2009, but as they do not have any of their our own funds as yet, they are approaching possible sponsors from the Houses of Parliament. However, it is important to know whether sufficient people would attend such an event. They anticipate one speaker but its main purpose would be to put BASS formally on the map and initiate the networking which they hope will be one of the benefits of membership.

4. BASS is in the process of setting up a web-site. For the time being, however, all communications will be handled by Jane McAteer, the administrator from the Centre for Spirituality Studies at Hull (j.mcateer@hull.ac.uk; 01482 462011). Jane will post BASS updates on the CSS web-site until the BASS web-site is fully operational.