wfn.org | Peacemaking Program Prepares for 1998 Peacemaking Conference

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

4-February-1998 
98037 
 
    Peacemaking Program Prepares for 
    1998 Peacemaking Conference 
 
    by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program's 1998 conference, 
"Life in All Its Fullness: A Human Rights Mandate," will be held July 15-19 
at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and will commemorate 
the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 
 
    Following World War II, the declaration asserted that recognition of 
the human rights "of all members of the human family is the foundation of 
freedom, justice, and peace in the world." The 1998 conference will 
celebrate the movement that has grown out of this concept and will explore 
the biblical vision of a world in which human needs are met and people 
flourish. 
 
    Plenary and worship leaders will include the Rev. Katie Cannon, 
associate professor of religion at Temple University; the Rev. Virstan 
Choy, associate professor of ministry at San Francisco Theological 
Seminary; Andaye de la Cruz, a psychotherapist and board member of MADRE (a 
20,000 member multiracial, cross-class, national women's organization), and 
Jim, Jean, and Michael Strathdee, internationally known songleaders, 
composers and musicians. 
 
    More than 40 workshops will be offered with themes such as "Human 
Rights of Women," "Human Rights of Children," "Human Rights and Race," 
"Human Rights and Religious Freedom," and "Spirituality and Human Rights." 
Among the leaders will be the Rev. Otis Turner, associate for racial 
justice policy in the National Ministries Division; the Rev. Dick Watts, a 
Presbyterian pastor and national peacemaking leader; David Little, senior 
scholar, United States Institute of Peace; Rogelio Nunez, executive 
director, Casa de Proyecto Libertad and many others. 
 
    Children ages 4 to 11 will participate in their own "Camp Peace," where 
they will learn how they can make a difference in the world as Christians. 
Young people will participate each day in their own mission experience 
called "Just Doing It," working with other diverse Presbyterian youth 
groups in the Los Angeles area. Young adults will have their own small 
groups and special activities. 
 
    Evening worship and activities will include "The Three Tenors" 
(Hispanic opera singers), the Hanmi Presbytery Pastors Choir, "Hollywood 
Sings for Human Rights Night: An Actor/Director Talk-Back Session," and a 
special presentation by Jennifer Delora, a professional actor in more than 
20 feature films and director of the Bridges Sign Choir, an 
all-deaf-children's sign language choir. 
 
    The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program is encouraging presbyteries to 
send racially diverse groups to the conference and is offering a limited 
number of registration scholarships (one per presbytery) to the first 
presbyteries registering a diverse group. Due to last year's tremendous 
response, presbyteries wanting to participate in this year's scholarship 
program are encouraged to respond early. For more information, contact 
Ervin Bullock, associate for conference planning for the Presbyterian 
Peacemaking Program, at (352) 694-7995. 
 
    Registration brochures (#70-270-97-018), posters (#70-270-97-026) and 
promotion packets (#70-270-97-024) are available from Presbyterian 
Distribution Service at 1-800-524-2612. The registration deadline is June 
5, 1998, with discounted fees for those registering before May 15, 1998. 

------------
For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

--