Members and pastors of multicultural
churches, representatives of middle governing bodies and others
in the PC(USA) who are interested in ministries to people from
a variety of races and cultures will gather to network, listen
to sermons and speeches and take part in workshops.
The conference will be an occasion for celebrating multicultural
ministry, worshipping in community, acquiring new skills and sharing
resources and experiences, said the Rev. Raafat Girgis, associate
for ERCD, part of the Evangelism and Church Development Program
Area.
“This year in particular, we’re utilizing the tools
of cultural proficiency to build an equitable and just community
of faith,” Girgis said. “With this year’s conference,
we’re going much more deeper in evaluating our relationships
and asking, ‘How can we be culturally proficient as a church?’”
Evangelism officials estimate that the PC(USA) has about 350
“multicultural” congregations — those that incorporate
elements of the cultural traditions of more than one ethnic or
racial group. Several hundred others in the denomination are attuned
to a single ethnic or racial culture.
Girgis said the event’s dance-related theme, inspired by
the Old Testament Book of Psalms, was chosen because dance is
a Biblical symbol of joy, praise and thanksgiving, and is associated
with all cultures.
“Each time we learn a new dance, we must begin by practicing
the basic steps,” said the Rev. Marv Root, a member of the
Multicultural Design Team and pastor of a multicultural Presbyterian
congregation in Yonkers, NY. “For many congregations, building
a multicultural community will require learning new steps.”
Organizers are expecting at least 400 people, which would be a
record turnout. About 275 attended last year’s event, up
from about 170 in 2002.
Learning to confront and break through such obstacles as stereotyping,
discrimination and racism will be the focus of three multicultural
community-building sessions to be led by the Rev. Kikanza Nuri
Robins, a writer and consultant who helps groups as they wrestle
with and reconcile conflicts.
Girgis described those workshops as an opportunity to “stimulate
all of us to go deeper into the practice of active listening and
authentic self-disclosure.” He said they were scheduled
because planners believe that a multicultural church must confront
racism, classism, and xenophobia if it is to build “a joyful
and healed community that is culturally and spiritually proficient.”
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Helen Locklear, associate
director of the PC(USA)’s Racial Ethnic Ministries program
area, who works with Asian, black, Hispanic, Korean, Middle Eastern,
Native American and immigrant congregations and also works in
the PC(USA)’s anti-racism program.
Two Presbyterian ministers will serve as worship leaders —
Steve Yamaguchi, executive presbyter for the Presbytery of Los
Ranchos and theRev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the stated clerk of the
PC(USA)’s General Assembly.
Also speaking will be the Rev. Salatiel Polomino López,
who directs the Hispanic Theological Union, a collaborative effort
of three Austin theological schools: Austin Presbyterian Theological
Seminary, the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest,
and the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest. He serves
as pastor of El Buen Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX.
There will be about 20 workshops, including “Multicultural
Partnership with Fellowships” and “We Hope You’ll
Dance: Life in a Multicultural Parish.”
A youth track has been added to this year’s conference
for participants between the ages of 12 and 18.
The deadline for the standard-rate registration ends on March
31.
For more information, contact Dana Dages, administrative assistant
for ERCD, by phone (toll-free) at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5252; by
mail at 100 Witherspoon Street, Room M040A, Louisville, KY 40202;
or by email at ddages@ctr.pcusa.org.
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