wfn.org | Christian educators will 'Journey to the Borders' in October

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Aug. 24, 2000 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.   10-71B{382}

By United Methodist News Service

More than 600 Christian educators are expected in San Diego Oct. 2-6 for the
biennial convocation of the Christian Educators Fellowship (CEF).  

Combining a reference to the city's location near Mexico and a verse from II
Corinthians, conference planners will be asking participants to examine the
"borders" they face in daily life: "As we journey forward into the future,
we are called ... to move ourselves and the church beyond these borders by
our faith and not by our sight." The Scriptural theme for the conference
will be "Walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7).

CEF, with offices in Nashville, was organized in 1968 and currently includes
43 chapters in the United States. It has more than 1,200 members, ranging
from local church volunteers and staff members to seminary professors. The
organization includes members from several denominations in addition to
United Methodists. 

Guest speakers for the San Diego event will include:
·	The Rev. Philip Wogaman, pastor of Foundry United Methodist Church
in Washington.
·	The Rev. Minerva Carcano, director of the Mexican American Program
at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
·	The Rev. Marjorie Suchocki, professor of theology at Claremont
(Calif.) School of Theology and professor of religion at Claremont Graduate
School.
·	The Rev. Lynne Westfield, assistant professor of Christian education
at Drew University Theological Seminary, Madison, N.J.
·	Bryan Smith, chaplain and assistant professor of theology at Friends
University, Wichita, Kan.

The event will include daily Bible studies and worship experiences, learning
options, a learning center with mini-workshops, a bookstore, reflection
opportunities and off-site experiences, said the Rev. Bradford Motta, pastor
of the Morristown (N.J.) United Methodist Church and chairman of the
conference's design team.

One day will focus on the future of Christian education with a workshop at
First United Methodist Church in San Diego. Motta said the closing day will
include a variety of spiritual renewal experiences, including many
approaches to prayer and worship, study, meditation, walking a labyrinth,
counseling, massage, journaling and more.  

The conference will be headquartered at the Town and Country Conference
Center in San Diego.  For program and registration information, contact the
CEF office in Nashville at (615) 749-6870 or by e-mail at CEF@CEFUMC.org, or
check the CEF site at http://www.cefumc.org on the World Wide Web.

President of the 10-member CEF Board of Directors is Cheryl Luce, director
of Christian education at First United Methodist Church in Portland, Ore.
Director of services for CEF in Nashville is Kerry Blackwood.
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United Methodist News Service
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