wfn.org | 1,800 Church Educators to Meet Feb. 2-6, Chicago

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2252
Email: news@ncccusa.org; Web: www.ncccusa.org

9NCC1/26/99      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1,800+ CHURCH EDUCATORS TO WRESTLE WITH 21ST CENTURY ISSUES
At "Faith Odyssey" Feb. 2-6, Hyatt Regency, 151 E. Wacker St., 
Chicago

 CHICAGO, Ill., Jan. 26 - What are the challenges of handing on 
the Christian faith in a global electronic era?  How can "Sunday 
School" be relevant to the "turn-of-the-century" culture?  What does 
it mean to be "Christian" in a multi-cultural, multi-faith world?  
More than 1,800 professional church educators from across the United 
States and Canada will meet in Chicago Feb. 2-6 for an event called 
"Faith Odyssey" to explore these and other 21st century issues that 
are affecting the way churches form faith in people of all ages.

 "Faith Odyssey" is sponsored by 14 denominations and five 
professional associations, cooperating through the National Council 
of Churches.  The last such ecumenical church educators event drew 
1,400 people to Cincinnati in 1993. Story and photo "ops" will be 
plentiful during the five days of plenaries, worship from diverse 
traditions and cultures, Bible studies, denominational and 
association meetings, celebrations -- and more than 200 workshops.  
The site will include a bookstore 10,000 feet square, playground, 
interactive exhibits hall and "cybercafe."  Among program 
highlights:

  A look at faith communities' presence, witness and leadership in 
our modern world, led by Dr. Elizabeth Caldwell of McCormick 
Theological Seminary and Dr. Linda Vogel of Garrett Evangelical 
Theological Seminary (plenary, 8:30 to 10 a .m. Thursday, Feb. 
4).
  The challenge of conveying religion in an electronic era 
(plenary, 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5 and the technology 
"learning track" Thursday through Saturday).
  Conversations with writers on six "hot button" issues (8:30 to 10 
a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6), including Christian ethicist Dr. Emilie 
M. Townes on churches and health, theologian Dr. Marva J. Dawn 
on "worship for the turn-of-the-century culture," hymn writer 
Rev. Dr. Brian A. Wren on the language of worship, theologian 
Dr. Tex Sample on faith in the electronic age, political analyst 
Dr. Charles Y. Chai on Korean immigrant churches, and theologian 
Dr. Mary Elizabeth Mullino Moore on churches and the 
environment. 

 Visit the Faith Odyssey website (http://www.faithodyssey.org) 
or phone NCC News (212-870-2252) for more information.

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