wfn.org | [ENS] Triennial Black Clergy Conference offers opportunity to relax

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

Daybook, from Episcopal News Service

September 20, 2005 - Tuesday to Note & To Read

Triennial Black Clergy Conference offers opportunity to relax and
reconnect

By Daphne Mack

[Episcopal News Service] With the theme "On Thy People, Pour Thy Power:
Continuing the Journey," the 7th Triennial Black Clergy Conference,
October
23-26, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia, followed by the 1st Annual Convocation
for
Clergy Ordained 10 years or less on October 26-27 promises to be more
than a
typical meeting.

"A big part of our planning was to ensure that when people come to the
conference, [they will find] that it is not just another conference,"
said
the Rev. Deon Johnson, assistant pastor of Christ Episcopal Church in
Shaker
Heights, Ohio.

Johnson, who was part of the conference design and liturgical teams,
said
"rest, relaxation, and recreation" are important aspects of this
gathering.
Plenary sessions and workshops were purposely scheduled for the mornings
so
afternoons could be "for relaxing."

"What we realized is that when you go to a conference and attend the
usual
plenary sessions, a lot of the bonding is happening outside of the
formal
program. So we've built in a lot of free time where you can worship
together
and be together," he said.

Tai Chi and Bible study are offered every morning. In addition, a chapel
will be available 24 hours for meditation and "to reconnect you with
God."

Opportunity to compare notes

"This conference has some of the same purposes which it had when it was
organized [by the Episcopal Church's Office of Black Ministries] about
20
years ago," said Bishop Arthur Williams, acting director of Ethnic
Congregational Development.  "It will serve as a forum for Black clergy
to
compare notes about their special challenges and opportunities as a
racial
minority in the Episcopal Church."

"Since the conference design allows for small groups to form and meet
daily,
it is expected that conferees [will] leave as members of a small group
that
would stay in touch through conference calling and emails to provide
support
and for one another," said the Rev. Angela Ifill, missioner for Black
Ministries across the Episcopal Church.

Ifill said conference topics such as Helping our Ministers to Minister;
Facing Social Realities; Finding the Balance; The Changing Role of the
Black
Church; and the Next Generation of Leaders; and time allotted for "fun"
will
hopefully help clergy "return to their ministries feeling spiritually
refreshed and recharged for the journey ahead."

Liturgy reflection of traditions

Recognizing that Black clergy will come from various backgrounds and
traditions, the liturgy was written specifically for the conference.

"It draws from all those different traditions," Johnson said. "For
example,
the call and response that is native to the Church of Kenya has been
incorporated into the Eucharistic prayer and the Eucharistic prayer
itself
is a compilation of different parts of different traditions that we've
put
into modern language and blended together."

Johnson said that liturgy is supposed to be "something that is living
and
constantly growing and changing with the community." He said that the
closing Eucharist will be from the Book of Common Prayer and will
incorporate the use of technology to show clergy that you can "take some
of
the stuff that's familiar and breathe new life into it."

"My hope is that something like this can be done across the whole
church,"
he said.

Professional development

"One of the [other] things that we are focusing on and that is really
critical for Black clergy is the issue of retirement," said the Rev.
Angela
Shepherd, rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Annapolis,
Maryland.
"People don't really think about it until it's that time."

Shepherd, one of the conference deans, said it will be an opportunity
"for
us to plant the seed" on how to make the transition from "active parish
ministry or chaplaincy into the realm of retirement."

She said there will be sessions that reflect on the history of Black
Episcopal churches and some of the unique problems they face, and that
clergy will be encouraged to develop ways to continue to build and lift
up
the ministry from these churches.

Sessions on professional development and the implementation of a black
clergy network are another focal point.

"Our goal is to try to have something each year in between the triennial
meetings," Shepherd said.

Equipped to deal

"We looked at specific areas that we wanted to present to this
particular
conference, and one is pastoral caring for the care giver-and the other
is
prophet practices," said the Rev. Benjamin Speare-Hardy, rector of St.
Margaret's Episcopal Church, in Trotwood, Ohio.

Speare-Hardy, a conference dean, said the Rev. Canon Nan Arrington Peete
and
the Rev. Canon Preston B. Hannibal will moderate a panel on this topic.
There will also be a workshop addressing youth-on-youth violence and
what
the church can do to engage young people.

Speare-Hardy said participants should leave this conference "better
equipped
to deal with some of the issues that confront us and especially how to
take
care of themselves when it comes to pastoral care."

To register, contact Valerie Harris, in the Office of Black Ministries,
at
800.334.7626 ext. 6084 or download the form at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/5888_58563_ENG_HTM.htm.

-- Daphne Mack is staff writer for Episcopal News Service.

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