The Congregation & Public Witness-Leadership Conference

The Congregation & Public Witness:

Prophetic Responses to Neo-liberal Salvation

 

2nd Annual Pastoral Leadership Conference

October 19-20, 2012 at Church of All Nations

4301 Benjamin St. NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421

 

Why this conference?

Opportunity, prosperity, freedom are the virtues that define the American way of life in the popular imagination. But these virtues have become empty rhetoric for the vast majority, a false religion designed to entrench the power of corporations in collusion with government. The electorate becomes disenfranchised and our communities more fragmented. American neo-liberalism has been pushed here at home and across the globe as not only the most practically workable political and economic framework, but an ideology that rivals religion in its claim to lead people to earthly salvation.

Individuals are desperate for a way out of the systems that reduce them to commodified bodies, yet insufficient understanding of these systems among Christian leaders makes it difficult to distinguish the kingdom of God from the ways of empire. We believe that the congregation has a compelling role as counterwitness to this American salvation.

The call of the Christian congregation is to embrace its distinct minority presence before the larger “powers and principalities,” that we may become a healing and prophetic witness of genuine salvation through our very way of life together. This conference aims to equip Christian leaders to discern the times and to reimagine together alternative visions for life-giving community.

We invite pastors, theologians, seminarians, community activists, congregational leaders and young adults to dialogue about our era of American neo-liberal salvation.

What we’ll talk about:

  1. 1.     How did we get here?

Surveying the development of neo-liberalism (the political and economic ideology of the US), including the sense of historical inevitability and civilizational supremacy undergirding it since the end of the Cold War.

  1. 2.     What’s going on?

The decline of social capital and community building, and the consequences of a distracted and depoliticized public.

  1. 3.     What’s at stake?

The psychological and relational consequences of neo-liberalism, which emphasizes radical individualism, freedom of choice, consumerism, and competition to climb the social ladder.

  1. 4.     What can we share?

Stories of local congregations and communities that have dared to imagine alternative forms of social and economic organization, along with their learnings on the journey.

  1. 5.     What we can we take with us?

Biblical, historical, and theological resources for an alternative social and political vision, which restores the crucial role of the local congregation in human flourishing.

Speakers/Leaders

  • Charles Amjad-Ali, MLK Jr. Professor for Justice and Christian Community at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN; ordained as a presbyter of the Church of Pakistan and former director of the Christian Study Center in Rawalpindi, Pakistan; former chair of the Urban Rural Mission of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches; author of numerous publications on Christianity and politics.
  • Doran Schrantz, Executive Director of ISAIAH, a faith-based community organization, working toward racial and economic justice issues in the state of Minnesota by engaging in extensive leadership development and training, innovative campaigns (including the recently launched “Prophetic Voices” campaign) on a local, regional and state-wide level, and congregational development.
  • Jin S. Kim, Founding Pastor & Head of Staff of Church of All Nations, Minneapolis, MN; PCUSA Field Staff for English Ministry, coaching and advising pastors/seminarians; adjunct professor at Dubuque Seminary; serves on MN Council of Churches board, and formerly served as PCUSA delegate to the National Council of Churches; preaches and speaks widely on the ministry of reconciliation.
  • Mark Van Steenwyk, Co-founder of Missio Dei (a Mennonite intentional community in Minneapolis, MN); a facilitator/editor of JesusRadicals.com and producer/co-host of the Iconocast (podcast); experimenter in grassroots radical education (the Rootworks); nurtures and networks with emerging radical communities in North America; author of That Holy Anarchist and the forthcoming The unKingdom of God.

 

Schedule

Friday Oct 19

2-5pm                     Registration (and informal conversations)

5:30                          Dinner

7:00                          Welcome & introductions by Jin S. Kim & John Nelson

8:00                          Plenary I: “Betrayed by a Kiss: The American Church & Empire” by
                                  Charles Amjad-Ali (followed by Q&A)

9:30                          Fellowship

 

Saturday Oct 20

9:00                          Worship and Word: Sermon by Hikari Nakane & Testimony by
                                   Laura Newby

9:45                          Break

10:00                       Plenary II: “The unKingdom of God: Nurturing Radical Communities”
by Mark Van Steenwyk (followed by Q&A)

11:45                       Announcements (workshop descriptions)

12:00pm               Lunch at CAN

1:15                          Workshops:

  • “A Brief History of American Empire” by Jin S. Kim
  • “The Divided Self: Psychological Consequences of American Salvation” by John Nelson
  • “Organizing Community to Rebuild Social Capital” by Doran Schrantz of ISAIAH

2:45                          Break

3:00                          Plenary III: “Prophetic Responses to American Neo-liberal Salvation,”
panel discussion with Charles Amjad-Ali, Doran Schrantz, Mark Van Steenwyk, & Jin S. Kim.

4:30                          Prayers of the People

5:00                          End of conference

5:30                          Dinner at CAN for those staying through Sunday

7:00                          Dessert reception at Pastor Jin’s house

 

(Optional) Sunday Oct 21

10:00am                Worship at Church of All Nations

11:45                       Lunch

2:00                          Rides to airport

Date and Location

The conference will be held at Church of All Nations (www.cando.org), 4301 Benjamin St. NE, Columbia Heights, MN 55421, from Friday October 19 at 5:00pm to Saturday October 20 at 5:00pm.  There will be additional activities Saturday night for those who would like to stay, and do join us for our 10am worship service on Sunday October 16 with free lunch following.  More information about our church, staff and internship program can be found at newchurchrising.org.

 

Transportation

Those flying should book flights to the Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) airport, approximately a 25 minute drive from Church of All Nations (CAN).  We can provide transportation to and from the airport if you request in advance.

 

If you are driving, directions and maps to CAN are available at: http://www.cando.org/main/location.asp.

 

Lodging

Attendees can reserve hotel rooms at a special discounted rate at the Days Inn (2550 N Cleveland Ave, Roseville, MN 55113, (651) 636-6730; $61/night if booked by Oct. 1); or Country Inn and Suites (2905 North Snelling Ave., Roseville, MN 55113, (651) 628-3500, $112/night) in Roseville, MN; both just four miles from CAN.  Let the hotels know you are with Church of All Nations when booking.  Shuttles will be available to and from the conference for those staying at these hotels.

 Registration

The conference fee, including Friday night dinner and Saturday lunch & dinner, is $50 early-bird rate if registering by Sept. 12, and $60 regular rate if by Oct. 12 (walk-on registrants welcome at $35 per day fee). Make check payable to “Church of All Nations.”

Download Conference Agenda & Registration Form here

update: 2012/06/26