Workshops
Session One (9:10 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.) (skip to Session Two)
The Challenges and Contexts of Refugee and Asylum Seekers in Our Region
led by Beth Farmer, Director of Refugee and Asylum Services for the North Puget Sound Region of Lutheran Community Services.
This workshop will profile our regions’ current refugee and asylum populations, including discussing the impact of trauma and migration on mental health. A special focus will be on the challenges experienced by asylum seekers and torture survivors. Participants can expect to learn about:
- The current refugee and asylum populations including emerging trends;
- Common refugee and asylum seeker experiences both before leaving their country and after coming to the US;
- The impact of trauma and migration on mental health and why recovery looks different;
- What an asylum seeker is and why they are uniquely vulnerable; and
- Gaps in the current system.
Coming Alongside as Neighborhood
led by Pastor Melanie Neufeld, Pastor of Stewardship & Community Organizing, Seattle Mennonite Church
What is our collective response to homelessness? How can faith communities work together with a neighborhood and collaboratively respond to crisis? We will interweave the principles of community development, companionship, and practices of faith into our discussion.
Conflicto, Violencia y reconciliación: Las comunicades de Fe Costruyendo Paz en Colombia
Rev. German Zarate Durier & Rev. Jairo Barriga Jaraba
Este taller abordará Las causas del conflicto en Colombia y su impacto en la sociedad, el acuerdo de (paz) que pone fin al conflicto FARC- Gobierno, el rol de las iglesias y las coaliciones ecuménicas en la construcción de paz territorial, lecciones aprendidas. Se interpreta el taller al inglés.
Conflict, Violence, and Reconciliation: Faith Communities Building Peace in Colombia
led by Rev. German Zarate Durier & Rev. Jairo Barriga Jaraba
This workshop will cover the causes of conflict in Colombia, its societal impact, peace agreements that finally ended the conflict between the government and FARC, and the role of the church and ecumenical partners in working for peace. We will share lessons learned. Workshop will be interpreted into English from Spanish.
Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery
led by Rev. David Hacker, Regional Missioner for Episcopal Diocese of Spokane to Between the Ridges; and Elsie Dennis, Shuswap First Nations and member of the Indigenous Peoples Network in the Diocese of Olympia in Western Washington State.
As we prepare for 2017, the 30th anniversary of an apology made by faith leaders to tribal communities in the Northwest, this interactive workshop will explore the history of the Doctrine of Discovery, a theological framework justifying European colonialism. We will hear from Native voices and others about the continuing impact of the Doctrine for indigenous communities. We will learn about the growing number of faith communities who have repudiated the Doctrine, and learn practical ways to stand in solidarity with indigenous communities as together we work to dismantle its legacy.
An Interfaith Approach to Scripture
led by Dr. Darryn Hewson
In 2010 the National Council of Churches passed a resolution titled, “Honoring the Sacredness of Religious Others: Reaffirming our Commitment to Positive Interfaith Relations.” The resolution addressed “the sacredness invested by believers in their respective scriptures.” The language said that we hold sacred in such a way that others hold those things sacred. We will have a dialogue about scriptures such as the Quran, and explore what we mean by scripture and how we might approach the scriptures of traditions that are not our own.
Weaving Creative Worship
led by Kyna Grace Shilling, worship aggregator, curator, and facilitator with the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ and at Plymouth Congregational Church, UCC.
"We've made worship into a spectator sport, when from the beginning God's design is for us to co-create." - Len Wilson
Creative worship engages all the senses. Come explore the possibilities for vital, vibrant, interactive, intergenerational worship experiences. Discuss ways to deepen and enliven your existing worship services, and experience firsthand some emerging worship techniques.
Strategizing for Economic Justice
led by Ahmed Abdi, Outreach Manager at Fair Work Center
In Sea-Tac and Seattle, working men and women in a variety of service industries raised their voices collectively for better workplace conditions and a wage of $15/hour. Who are they, where do they work, and how did they organize for these successful campaigns? What challenges were faced along the way? Now, that $15/hour has been approved, what rights do these employees have under the provisions of Fair Labor Standards enforcement? Hear from one of the key organizers of these nationally-renowned efforts and share together how their story tips the scales for an economically just future for us all.
Session Two (10:50 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.) (return to Session One)
"Habits of the Heart” for Healthy Conversations
led by Rick Jackson, co-founder and Senior Fellow, Center for Courage & Renewal
Author/teacher/activist Parker Palmer writes: “For those of us who want to see democracy survive and thrive—and we are legion—the heart is where everything begins: that grounded place in each of us where we can overcome fear, rediscover that we are members of one another, and embrace the conflicts that threaten democracy.” In this workshop we will actively explore “Five Habits of the Heart” we need practice in order to revitalize our communities, congregations, and public life. And we will discover how these Five Habits contribute to building trustworthy community in the everyday venues of our lives.
Mental Illness & the Church
led by Sarah Tatterson, Lutheran Counseling Network
There has been an upsurge of conversation among faith communities regarding the role of the church in addressing mental illness. People suffering with mental and mood disorders have lived with stigmatization, exclusion, and misperceptions within church walls as well as general society. As Christ followers, we are called to love as he loved, and that can be tricky when we are fearful and uninformed. In this session, we will wrestle with the experience of mental illness, what the science of psychology says regarding best practice, and how scripture might shed light on our understanding and capacity to connect with our brothers and sisters in their pain.
Racial Justice as a Way of Life for Congregations
led by Rev. Priscilla Austin, Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Seattle & the Immanuel Anti-Racism Team
Moved by the spiritual imperative of God’s Beloved Community, Immanuel Lutheran Church has begun a journey to be an intentionally Anti-Racist church. Join members of the team of leaders from the congregation as they share the joys and challenges of having these conversations in the congregation. The team will share their journey from eager activism to humble companionship and vulnerable leadership. In the room we will share stories, questions, and resources - knowing that none of us has all the answers, but that together we may discern a path forward.
Reading the Bible through the Lens of Justice
led by Rev. Kelle J. Brown, Minister of Worship and Pastoral Care, Plymouth Church (UCC)
Isaiah 40:4 prophesies, “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.” This beautiful vision requires our work for justice. Scripture welcomes and promotes faithful discipleship and spiritual formation through intentionally creating authentic community and solidarity with those in need of liberation and justice. Using the miracles of Mark 5, participants will be invited to engage Scripture as a tool of empowerment and to discover techniques to effect positive change for society as a whole.
Storytelling as a Tool for Community Organizing & Faithful Action
led by Briana Frenchmore, Boardmember, Farm Ministry Worker Northwest, & Esmy Jimenez, Resource Development & Community Engagement leader, Puentes
We are a storytelling people who have been telling and re-telling the Gospel of radically inclusive love generation after generation. As we are well aware, there is no shortage of social concerns or places in our world in need of healing. What is it that compels us to be transformed from mere hearers of injustice to co-creators of God’s “kin-dom” of peace and justice here on earth? How do we form relationships of trust and mutual understanding that sustain our collective action? We will explore storytelling as a model for community organizing and social transformation. Participants will also have the opportunity to envision and craft a storytelling event for their congregation.
Weaving Our Strengths through Interfaith Dialogue:
Working WITH our unhoused neighbors to restore self-reliance
Panel: Interfaith Amigos Rabbi Ted Falcon & Imam Jamal Rahman; and Pastor Ricky Willis, President of the United Black Christian Clergy and Pastor of Truevine of Holiness Missionary Baptist Church
Facilitated by: John Hale, Call of Compassion NW
Our Abrahamic faith traditions share the belief that we must love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Each tradition has stories, teachings and practices that serve as guideposts for us to put our faith into daily action. Interfaith dialogue provides a bridge between our faith communities that deepens and enriches our understanding of the universal principles that we share; it invites us to find ways to raise our voices and apply our resources for greater impact in promoting social justice for everyone. Join Rabbi Ted Falcon, Imam Jamal Rahman and Pastor Ricky Willis in this interactive workshop as they share their spiritual wisdom and inspire us to seek creative ways to partner with the unhoused and faithfully act to help resolve the crisis of homelessness in our community.