wfn.org | [ENS] Christian formation focus of two-day workshop in Chicago

["Matthew Davies" <mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

Daybook, from the Episcopal News Service

August 16, 2005 - Tuesday to Note & To Read

Christian formation focus of two-day workshop in Chicago

[Episcopal News Service] The Diocese of Chicago, in conjunction with
Province V is offering a unique learning opportunity for those working
with
adults, youth and children in lifelong Christian formation, called
"Whose
Church is it Anyway?"

This two-day event, held August 26-27 at the conference center of the
University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois, is geared
towards
adult formation leaders, church school teachers, catechists, clergy,
youth
ministry coordinators, youth group leaders, religious education
directors,
youth ministers, Journey to Adulthood (JTA) leaders,  and others.

Those in attendance will participate in interactive workshops, hands-on
use
of resources, and brainstorming sessions for exploring questions and
exchanging ideas and experiences. The Rev. Linda Grenz, director of
LeaderResources, will conduct the plenary sessions and serve as the
event's
narrator.

"Whose Church is it Anyway?" will offer more than 50 learning
experiences on
topics related to adult learning, youth and young adults, children,
technology and stewardship. Participants will leave with a notebook of
handouts from each of the learning experiences.

Registration fee includes lodging, meals, and materials: single $150;
double
$125; commuter $40 per person, per day (fee includes meals and
materials.)
Scholarship assistance is available.

For information call Anne Cothran in the Office of Christian Formation,
Diocese of Chicago, at 312.751.4206 or email acothran@epischicago.org.
The
registration brochure and form are also available online at
http://www.epischicago.org.

Note: The following title is available from the Episcopal Book/Resource
Center, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017; 800.334.7626;
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org/.

To Read: AN AMAZING JOURNEY: The Church of England's response to
institutional racism by Glynne Elizabeth Patricia Gordon-Carter, B.A.
Dip.
Ed, M.Sc. (London, England: Church House Publishing, 2003.)

>From the publisher: How has the Church responded to the challenge to
combat
institutional racism? To what extent are the issues being addressed by
church schools, clergy and parishes? How are theological colleges and
courses responding to the importance of preparing and training ordinands
for
leadership in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-faith Britain?

These are some of the questions that have challenged the Church of
England
in its struggle to understand racism and the way that it is used by
institutions, maybe unwittingly, to disadvantage minority ethnic people.

The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report acted as a catalyst and forced the
Church to take a fresh look at itself with respect to its record in
combating institutional racism. An Amazing Journey provides a
fascinating
view of the Church at the start of the 21st century.

Glynne Elizabeth Patricia Gordon-Carter is Jamaican by birth and was
educated at Mannings High School, St Andrew High School, the University
of
the West Indies and London University.

She has lived and worked in Trinidad and Tobago primarily in the field
of
education and became inaugural Principal of Bishop's Centenary College
in
1972. In 1987, while living in Britain, she was appointed by the General
Synod of the Church of England to develop the work of the Committee on
Black
Anglican Concerns. This was a new area of work because for the first
time
the church was being challenged to combat institutional racism at the
heart
of its structures. She was the first Black person to be appointed to a
senior position in the church structures at the national level- Senior
Executive Officer.

Gordon-Carter recently served as conference coordinator for the Third
International Conference on Afro-Anglicanism, which was held in Toronto,
Canada July 20-27, 2005. She currently resides in Trinidad with her
husband
Gilbert and serves as director of Bishop Anstey High School East and
Trinity
College East, two new Anglican secondary schools.