“New Voices for a New Moment”: The Emerging Leaders Conference - Minneapolis MN

When:  November 6-8, 2009
Where:  Minneapolis, MN
Who:  Plymouth Center, The Beatitudes Society, and others

“New Voices for a New Moment”:  The Emerging Leaders Conference

The progressive Christian “movement” today is less a movement and more a groundswell of Christian people who believe the politicized Christian right in the United States does not speak for their own gospel-centered faith and practice.  Through conferences, publications, and social blogs, progressive Christians are building national networks and coalitions across many denominations.

To build upon this network, the conference brings together selected young seminarians and recent seminary graduates from across the country who desire to be more knowledgeable and articulate in the progressive Christian conversation and its history; who wish to strengthen their leadership skills for work in congregations, seminaries, civic, and political communities; and who wish to envision what lies ahead for leaders committed to a progressive faith-in-action.

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On November 6-8, 2009, twelve seminarians and recent seminary graduates will gather in Minneapolis for a weekend with experienced leaders of progressive Christianity (theologians, professors, nonprofit leaders, and pastors) and lay leaders of the Plymouth Congregational Church.  The gathering is designed to be small enough for all participants to know one another with the goal of building relationships and networks that will last well into the future.  Topic areas include:

•    Telling our stories – who are we and how does our personal story connect with the biblical story and the progressive Christian movement?  Where are we different and what do we hold in common?
•    History of the progressive Christian movement – what is the shape of the movement from past to present across many different traditions, beginning with Evangelical Christians involved in the abolition movement in the 1800’s?
•    What is distinctive about progressive Christianity?  How can we come to grips with its historic commitment to civic and political engagement?
•    Communicating the progressive Christian movement – how does one communicate the progressive Christian message in an age of polarization and conflict?
•    Contemplation in action – how does one ensure that his/her compassion and action in the world is drawn from a personal and communal spirituality rooted in love?

In addition, smaller conversations will share best practices among subjects such as healing congregational division; preaching; balancing the role of pastor and prophet; and spiritual practice.
 
The planning committee for the weekend includes representatives from the Plymouth Center of Minneapolis, The Beatitudes Society, Harvard Divinity School, and Union Theological Seminary.

Read  more about The Plymouth Center for Progressive Christian Faith HERE.

To read more about The Beatitudes Society, click around this site!