Dear folks: Barbara Wendland, a long time friend sent me this information about what she is doing to gather progressive Christians for action and support. I decided that this information is worth sharing. So, I hope you find this useful. Share.
Dear Connections friend,
It’s time to register for Connections Live! 2012, the September 28-29 gathering of progressive Christians that I’m hosting here in my hometown, Temple, Texas. The event will be an opportunity for thoughtful, forward-looking Christians to meet in person, in order to
· reassure each other that even though our views may be in a minority in our churches or local communities, we’re not alone;
· see how we might promote needed change in the church and the world; and
· plan how to support each other in concrete, practical ways.
Talks and a workshop on Friday evening and Saturday morning will be presented by Dr. Robin R. Meyers, author of Why the Christian Right Is Wrong: A Minister’s Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, Your Future (2006); Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus (2009); and most recently, The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus (2012). The Saturday afternoon session will feature lay Christians who
· are working to spread accurate information about the Bible, Christian history and theology, other religions, and important social and political issues, within the church as well as outside it;
· have found ways to bring progressive Christians together, even where they are in the minority;
· are taking concrete, self-sacrificing action to expose and oppose injustice and to promote justice.
The event will also include progressive books and videos, information about progressive groups and events, and other resources. Our greatest resource is likely to be each other. Many Connections readers, especially in this part of the country, tell me they feel alone in their local areas. They long for safe places to talk with kindred spirits about what they really believe and find ways to put beliefs into action in the church and the world, but they rarely find such spaces. Connections Live! 2012 will be such a place.
Connections Live! 2012 will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn hotel here in Temple. The attached .pdf file includes a registration form, schedule, and a bio of featured speaker Robin R. Meyers, as well as information on hotel reservations and directions. Please feel free to share this information with friends and to distribute copies at your church or study group. A complete press packet and flyers, plus details on lay speakers, will be available soon; if you have ideas for church or media contacts, please let me know.
To register, simply download, print, and complete the registration form, and mail it back with your check for $75 per person to help pay for meals and other meeting expenses. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. I don’t expect to have to turn anyone away, but if space became too tight, I would of course let you know immediately and return your check. Please be sure to reserve your hotel room and mail your completed form and your check (sorry, no credit cards) by September 5 at the latest in order to meet the hotel’s deadline. I hope you will register as soon as possible to ensure your place.
Please note also that, regretfully, I cannot accept reservations at the door or make lower-priced reservations that do not include meals. The $75 fee is much lower than my actual cost, and you will get more out of the event by being present for the full time and talking with other participants over meals. If you register and find that you cannot attend, please let me know as soon as possible. If you would like a vegetarian meal, please be sure to reserve it in advance.
For any questions, please contact me at 254-773-2625 or BCWendland@aol.com. I will be sending more details and posting material on my website soon. In the meantime, I hope to hear that you can join us!
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