How to schedule a seminar

“Tell us, if there were one thing we could do for your village, what would it be?” Urkien Sherpa answered: “With all respect, Sahib, you have little to teach us in strength and toughness. And we don’t envy your restless spirits. Perhaps we are happier than you? But we would like our children to go to school. Of all the things you have, learning is the one we most desire for our children.”

— Conversation between Sir Edmund Hilary and Urkien Sherpa, from "Schoolhouse in the Clouds" (In Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace by Greg Mortensen)

Amidst the restless spirits and often tough diplomacy of the United Nations, we follow the wisdom of a native from a small village in the high reaches of the Himalayas. Though many opportunities for direct advocacy take place at the United Nations, some of the office’s best tools for advocacy are not lived out at the U.N. headquarters. In addition to encouraging involvement in New York, we educate with the hope of helping individuals live out a call to work for reconciliation and justice wherever they go.

Through our seminar program, we hope to provide a learning environment for Presbyterians and others to learn about the work our office and its role in supporting the global ministry of the PC(USA). Our seminars are used as a training ground for capacity-building and as a way for individuals and groups to define and strengthen their contributions to their community and world.

For some, the most fulfilling engagement with our office is through participation in one of the advocacy commissions at the U.N. For others, the seminars offer the most valuable resources. The office’s seminar program helps introduce congregations and youth groups to a topic of their choice — often in areas where their churches are already engaged in mission. The seminar programs at the Presbyterian U.N. Office try to prepare the community of faith to live out its mission of reconciliation as global citizens.

Designing a seminar

Our office works to provide individually tailored seminars to groups wishing to learn more about a topic of global interest. To discuss the creation of a seminar, please contact our office.

Most frequently, groups choose to stay between one to two days, but half-day and longer seminars are possible.

Please note that between September and March 2009 seminars will be limited due to existing commitments in our office. We ask also that you request seminars at least one month in advance to allow time for seminar planning and organization. We ask also that you request seminars at least one month in advance to allow time for the organization.

Seminar and advocacy topics from the past year include:

• Global poverty
• The United Nations Millennium Development Goals
  
• HIV/AIDS
• Global racism
• International conflict resolution
• Israel/Palestine
• The state of the world’s children
• Slum dwellers, refugees and internally displaced people
• Reformed presence and advocacy at the United Nations
• Presbyterian advocacy at the United Nations
• Country study of Malawi and the Millennium Development Goals
• Women’s rights