wfn.org | Synod of The Pacific Prepares For 24th Annual Ethnic Concerns

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Committee Conference 1-October-1996 
 
 
96390         Synod of The Pacific Prepares For 24th 
           Annual Ethnic Concerns Committee Conference 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Officials in the Synod of the Pacific's Sierra Mission 
Area are gearing up for the 24th Annual Ethnic Concerns Committee 
Conference, scheduled Oct. 11-13 at Zephyr Point Presbyterian Conference 
Grounds at Lake Tahoe, Nev. 
 
     The theme for this year's conference is "Live in Harmony," taken from 
1 Peter 3:8, which states "... [Y]ou must all have the same attitude and 
feeling; love one another as brothers and sisters, and be kind and humble 
with one another."  
 
     According to the Rev. Leslie L. Sauer, associate for justice and 
social concerns for Synod of the Pacific, the Sierra Mission Area (the 
presbyteries of Stockton, San Joaquin, Sacramento and Nevada) is in the 
process of forming its vision and mission statement. During the conference, 
he said, participants will be able to voice their thoughts and concerns to 
Sierra Mission Area staff. 
 
     Last year, Sauer said, conference participants examined their 
individual prejudices and intolerance and sensitized themselves to the 
importance of diversity. This year's program will focus on how churches and 
presbyteries in the Sierra Mission Area can learn to work together more 
effectively. 
 
     Sauer said he believes this year's conference will be significant, 
particularly in light of the General Assembly mandate to increase 
racial-ethnic membership in the church by 10 percent by 2005 and 20 percent 
by 2010. 
 
     "This will certainly be one way of our trying to figure out how 
churches and presbyteries in the Sierra Mission Area are going to move 
toward those goals," Sauer said. 

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