wfn.org | Racism Is Focus of 1997 Presbyterian Peacemaking Conferences

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11-December-1996 
 
96492          Racism Is Focus of 1997 Presbyterian 
                     Peacemaking Conferences 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--As issues of race continue to divide American society, the 
urgency of building inclusive communities is calling the church to action. 
So the building of a "beloved community" is the theme for the 1997 
Peacemaking Conferences: "Facing Racism: In Search of the Beloved 
Community."  
 
     The conferences will be held July 12-21 at Estes Park, Colo., and Aug. 
10-14 at Montreat, N.C. 
 
     "These conferences offer our church a significant opportunity to deal 
with the issues of race at a critical time in the history of our church and 
nation," said the Rev. Eileen Lindner, one of the conference co-directors. 
"The biblical notion of a  beloved community,' which so shaped the Rev. 
Martin Luther King's vision, still lays claim to our lives." 
 
     Speakers will include Mac Charles Jones director of the Burned 
Churches Project of the National Council of Churches (at Montreat); Bishop 
Leontine Kelly the first African American woman to be elected bishop of any 
major denomination (at Estes Park); the Rev. Lonna Chang-Ren Lee, associate 
pastor of Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco; and Dr. Joseph 
Barndt, executive director of Crossroads Ministry, which provides education 
and training to dismantle racism and build anti-racist, multicultural 
communities. 
 
     A daylong workshop called "Understanding and Dismantling Racism" led 
by Crossroads Ministry and more than 27 in-depth courses and workshops will 
offer training and tools for growing toward the vision of  "the beloved 
community." 
  
     Children will have a program especially designed for them. "Peaceful 
Beginnings" will be the program for infants through three-year-olds. "The 
Peaceful Kingdom" will be the place where children three through those 
entering fifth grade will gather to explore stories, play games, engage in 
crafts, discover our world and learn to share and appreciate each other's 
differences. 
 
     Younger youth and older youth will meet separately with theme 
presenters Mac Charles Jones, Bishop Leontine Kelly and Lonna Lee. They may 
have their own small groups and evening activities.  Youth may choose from 
any of the workshops for adults or from those especially designed for them. 
 
     Young adults will have their own small groups, opportunities to meet 
separately with conference leaders, and special activities. 
 
     The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program is encouraging presbyteries to 
send racially diverse groups to these conferences and is offering a limited 
number of registration scholarships (one per presbytery) to the first 
presbyteries registering a diverse group. For more information contact 
Ervin Bullock, associate for conference planning of the Presbyterian 
Peacemaking Program at (352) 694-7995. 
 
     Registration brochures (# 70-270-96-004), posters (# 70-270-96-006) 
and promotion packets (# 70-270-96-008) are available from Presbyterian 
Distribution Services at 800-524-2612. The registration deadline is June 
10, 1997 with discount fees for those registering before May 31, 1997. 

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