wfn.org | Conference focus: dealing with diversity

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Note #7100 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

22-March-2002
02113

Conference focus: dealing with diversity

Participants to share insights on shepherding multicultural flocks

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - Learning how to build a fully inclusive church for worshippers from a variety of races and cultures will be the principal goal of participants in next month's third annual Presbyterian Church (USA) Multicultural Church Conference in Detroit, MI.

The theme of the April 25-28 meeting, sponsored by the PC(USA)'s Office of Evangelism and Racial and Cultural Diversity (ERCD), part of the National Ministries Division, is Claiming the Vision: A Multitude of All Nations Praising God.

The program will bring together members and pastors of multicultural churches from throughout the denomination.

"This conference is (intended) to equip, inspire and empower people of all ages, both those who currently serve multicultural churches and those who want to expand their ministries," said the Rev. Raafat Girgis, associate for ERCD. "It is to embrace multicultural ministry  (and) diversity in our church."

The conference will be a time for celebrating, networking, skills-acquisition, sharing and worship, Girgis said. Evangelism officials believe the denomination has about 350 "multicultural" churches - those incorporating the cultural traditions of more than one ethnic or racial group in their "lifestyles." Several hundred others are closely attuned to one ethnic or racial culture.

"Our neighborhoods are changing, and newcomers are coming," Girgis said. "We need to reach them.  We need somebody to understand their language."

Organizers hope to draw about 250 people to the event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. About 180 turned out for last year's conference in Houston, TX. 

The conference will offer 20 workshops on a variety of multicultural-ministry topics. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Justo Gonzalez, a noted Hispanic scholar and author, a native of Cuba. Bible study will be led by David D. Daniels III, an associate professor of church history at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.

The Rev. Fe Esperanza B. Ayap, organizing pastor of a Filipino-American Presbyterian New Church Development in Detroit Presbytery, will lead a special worship service one evening. A seminar titled Interactions: From Prejudice and Racism to Effective Multicultural Communication will be conducted by the Rev. Mark Smutny, pastor of Pasadena Presbyterian Church, a large multicultural congregation in Pasadena, CA.

Among the workshops:

Think Globally - Worship Locally, which will explore the theological and Biblical foundations of "globally-conscious worship," will be led by Corey Nelson, an associate for special projects in the Worldwide Ministries Division and producer of the Thuma Mina Mission Theatre Company.

How Can We Help? Immigration Justice Ministry, on strategies that congregations can employ to serve diverse immigrant communities, will be led by the Rev. Rose Niles-McCrary, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, of Mount Vernon, NY.

Leadership Models for Multicultural Congregations, about creative staffing models for multicultural congregations, will be conducted by the Rev. Linda Culbertson, general presbyter of the Presbytery of the Pacific.

Valuing Differences: A Cross-Cultural Learning Experience, which will explore ways of helping individuals and groups to engage in authentic dialogue across "cultural divides," will be led by Robyn Brown-Manning and Lawrence Mack, human-services consultants experienced in working with religious organizations.

For more information, contact Dana Dages, administrative assistant for ERCD, by phone (toll-free) at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5246; by mail at 100 Witherspoon Street, room 3621A, Louisville, KY 40202; or by email at ddages@ctr.pcusa.org.
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