Annual Gathering Leadership Development (Workshops)

Transcription

1 Annual Gathering Leadership Development (Workshops) Friday An Unsettling Peace Rev. Mary Susan Gast In this workshop we will explore how hospitality creates a peaceful home for all our differences and opens us to a compassionate view of creation that never lets us rest undisturbed by the world s needs. We will tell and hear our stories of the gifts and turmoil we have brought to the church, and the hospitality we have received or not received, given or not given. Continuing to Create a Voice of Justice Rev. Diane Johnson Justice & Witness Committee Given the turmoil our state and country is currently facing, the work of our churches in the area of justice, faith and equality is critical. The Justice and Witness Committee is excited to facilitate a conversation of what we are doing within the Conference, begin to coordinate resources within various churches and plan on how we as a Conference will continue to live out God's faith through our social justice work. Capacity: 45 Making Another World Possible Rev. Leslie Taylor Pacific School of Religion Now more than ever, the church and the world need theologically trained and spiritually rooted social justice change-agents. Seminaries are one place to receive that training. This workshop will assist participants in discerning if seminary is the next right step and examine vocational options available after a seminary education. Regulatory Concerns for Exempt Organizations Noah Starr Fiona Ma, Genevieve Jopanda, Gloria Li Discuss with attendees the regulatory concerns related to the management of a tax exempt organization. Capacity: 20

2 Friday (cont d) Retirement 101: The Annuity Plan for the Wynonia Leak United Church of Christ & Financial Planning Services The workshop will focus on how the Annuity Plan can provide UCC clergy and lay employees with a more secure retirement. We will also learn more about no-cost Financial Planning Services available to actively-contributing Plan members. To Dwell in the House of the Lord: A Contemplative Lacey Hunter, M.Div. Look at Transforming Church Properties and Intentional Communities Is your Church space underutilized? Do the finances of owning property seemingly limit your community's ability to engage in deep visioning and justice work? Let's transform that story! Do you or your community have a deep desire for imagining new ways of living in community? Inspired by monastic traditions and alternative approaches to living and working together, this workshop seeks to embody a space of hospitality for conversations and resource sharing to guide us in the ministries of building the house of God here on earth. Capacity: 10 Writing Fiction or Poetry as Ministry Rev. Blair Hull For clergy and laity alike on how to use writing fiction or poetry as a way of engaging in necessary up-lifting self-care, as well as using your work as ministry outside of yourself. We ll talk about my process of writing my first mystery novel, "St. Mary's Private Dancer." We ll specifically talk about 6 things to do both while writing and letting others read your work. And 6 things to avoid... Title & Description Not Yet Submitted Kristin Stoneking Title & Description Not Yet Submitted (Boundary Training)

3 Friday (cont d) Title & Description Not Yet Submitted (Insurance Boards) Saturday Becoming a Sanctuary Church Rev. Kibbie Ruth Rev. Valerie Duecker Never have our immigrant neighbors been so frightened and often justifiably so. How do we practice radical hospitality in such an environment? By becoming a Sanctuary Church, which can mean providing housing or advocating for individuals facing deportation or accompanying immigrants through their legalization process or rapidly responding to actual ICE raids. In February, the Congregational Church of San Mateo UCC voted to be such a church and is eager to share what it learned on the journey from a no vote in the 1980 s to a yes vote in Capacity: 45 Blue Theology: Ocean Stewardship & Spirituality for Rev. Deborah Streeter Your Congregation Come and Sea! The Blue Theology Ministry offers youth mission trips and adult pilgrimages by the Monterey Bay. Twelve NCNC churches have taken part in this learning/serving ministry over the past ten years, doing work projects like native plant restoration and climate change research as well as free visits to the Aquarium and guided hikes at Point Lobos State Reserve. Trips can be one day or weeklong, with good church floor and inflated mattresses at the Pacific Grove Christian Church, a half a block from the bay. Come learn about this opportunity to "dive into" ocean stewardship and spirituality. From Violence to Reconciliation: Kazu Haga The Art of Nonviolence This interactive workshop will explore key concepts around conflict, violence and peacemaking from the tradition of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and others who worked to create a nonviolent future.

4 Saturday (cont d) Greening Your Heart, Greening Your Church Rev. Robert Shore-Goss The workshop will look at the resources needed for eco-conversion of ourselves and our congregations to create sustainable communities for environmental justice. Rev. Dr. Bob Shore-Goss was pastor of the first UCC Creation Justice Church --MCC United Church of Christ, author of God is Green: An Eco-Spirituality of Incarnate Compassion, and a member of the UCC Climate Justice Council. Let s Talk: In Person Rev. Dora Ford Rev. Diane Weible What is happening in your life, in your ministry? How is your soul? How is your heart? What are your joys and your sorrows? Let's talk and share with one another. This is especially for ministers, active and retired, from "non-central" areas who were unable to share in the recent, more centralized gatherings. Capacity: 20 Poetry & Protest Rev. Nate Klug In this workshop led by a poet-pastor, we will read poems related to social justice. We will learn from poetry's close attention to language and emotion, and consider how that might spill over into our prayer, preaching, and protest. All levels of familiarity with poetry welcome! Praying with a Home Altar Rev. Kathryn Schreiber Spiritual care workshop includes selecting content and shaping a practice of focused prayer using sacred and meaningful objects. Please bring devotional and decorative items for altar-making for yourself and to share with others. Social Media: A Mobile Ministry Casey Ream This workshop discusses the various social media tools and platforms that can be used effectively for ministry on the go. The goal of the workshop is to discover how-to create successful social media campaigns and active online ministries. This class will explore what basic functions social media sites can provide for outreach and mobile ministry; topics range from managing church pages, making events, writing welcomes, search

5 engine optimization, creating blogs and maximizing network presence. There will also be discernment on what to budget for online outreach. The Gospel of the Trees Marlie Heberling Youth Outdoor Ministries Cmte "God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars." - Martin Luther In a world full of noise and action and technology there are many people longing to find a deeper and more meaningful connection to God and to their own spirits. Some people find that connection within the walls of a sanctuary, but for others, a different setting is needed. Through discussion and activities, we will explore alternative worship settings and models that can be easily implemented by local churches and will craft a short outdoor worship service. Note: this workshop is scheduled to meet outdoors, without amplification Title & Description Not Yet Submitted (Church West Insurance) Title & Description Not Yet Submitted (Boundary Training)