189Th Convention Workshops

189th Convention Workshops

Friday, November 11th

Schedule:

1:30-3:00 — Plenary Keynote Session

3:00-3:15 — Break and Move to Next Workshops

3:15-4:15 —Workshop Session #1

4:15-4:30 —Break and Move to Next Workshops

4:30-5:30 —Workshop Session #2

5:30-6:00 —Break and Prepare for Convention Eucharist

6:00 —Convention Eucharist

Workshop Information:

Plenary Keynote Session (All Gather in the Nave) - 1:30-3:00

Setting the Context for the Work of Reconciliation: Training in Active Listening

The Diocesan Task Force for Racial Reconciliation invites Chandra Irvin, Spalding University Director for Peace and Restorative Services, to facilitate training in active listening in preparation for planned diocesan engagements concerning racial reconciliation in the Spring of 2017.

Chandra Irvin is the president and founder of Irvin, Goforth & Irvin LLC, a consulting firm committed to advancing peace, purpose, and performance in the lives of individuals and organizations. She is a certified coach, facilitator, and minister for peace with expertise in cross-cultural relations and conflict resolution; and a certified master consultant on Polarity Thinking, a breakthrough strategy that combines “either/or” and “both/and” thinking to supplement traditional methods of creative planning and problem solving. Employing these skills, Chandra has helped individuals, leaders and organizations in the U.S. and abroad to: simplify complexity; overcome chronic difficulties; resolve conflicts; and build meaningful relations across diverse groups.

In ministry Chandra journeys with individuals and groups, providing resources and space to answer such questions as, “How can I exercise individual freedom while demonstrating my commitment to the well-being of all?” and “How can we relate ethically and spiritually with one another across our diverse cultures?” In the answers to such questions, they clarify their purpose, align their values, discover possibilities, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. Chandra has previously led racial reconciliation facilitator training at Trinity Church Wall Street and shared work with Heidi Kim, Missioner for Racial Reconciliation for the Episcopal Church.

Workshops Session #1 (Locations TBA) - 3:15-4:15

Justice Ministry: Micah 6.8 outlines what God requires of us: ‘He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.’ Most of us are familiar with and deeply involved in ministries of mercy and faithfulness. They are well-represented in our parishes. Justice ministry is less common. In this workshop, we will talk about what justice ministry is, how it is different from more familiar forms of service, and how we can all be involved. - Presenter: The Very Rev. Joan Pritcher

Asset-Based Community Development for the Church: Too often when approaching congregational need for vitality and viability, churches focus on what is wrong and requires fixing. Now there is a better way. Instead of occupying ourselves with a congregation's deficits, forward-thinking churches are identifying and building on assets that already exist within the congregation and the surrounding neighborhood. After all, even the most troubled congregations and communities have strengths and resilience within them. Once people’s eyes are opened to their congregations and assets of surrounding communities, a positive energy for change takes over. From this position of strength, new possibilities and pathways forward emerge. - Presenter: The Rev. Canon Jason D. Lewis

Workshop Session #2 (Locations TBA) - 4:30-5:30

Action and Contemplation for Today's Jesus Movement - The Baptismal Covenant as Guide:

The Presiding Bishop has called our Church the Episcopal Way of the Jesus Movement. This workshop will explore how the Baptismal Covenant provides us a way of living the core values of the Jesus Movement using our Anglican tradition. It will offer a process of developing disciplines of prayer and action as the foundation for our ministries to guide us in a time of major transition in our churches. - Presenter: The Rev. Karl Rattan

Creation Care as Witness to the Gospel of Reconciliation: At the House of Bishop’s meeting last Fall, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry revealed the top three priorities of the church for this triennium: Evangelism, Racial Reconciliation and Environmental Stewardship. In this workshop we will discuss Resolution A030, the priorities of The Episcopal Church for Creation Care, and explore how to move from lightbulbs and recycle bins onto a deeper faith that speaks about following Jesus into a loving, liberating, and life-giving relationship with God, with each other, and with creation. - Presenter: The Rev. Jerry Cappel

Daughter of Privilege:The Rev. Whit Stodghill will reflect on her family's history, focusing on the legacy of slavery at Farmington, the Speed family's hemp plantation. This Daughter of Privilege will invite her listeners to get past White Fragility, grapple with White Privilege, and consider evidence of Systemic Racism in America. She will share her plan of action, defining her own racism and suggesting ways to move toward greater justice and equality in response to past and present social injustice and racial oppression. - Presenter: The Rev. Whit Stodghill