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Diakonia - Crossroads of Grace...
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WORKSHOPSAssembly workshops are designed to reflect the themes of the Assembly and to give participants an opportunity to see how these themes are being implemented by both the church and the community. The stories of diaconal ministry in the world and presentation of pertinent topics allow discussion on issues important to the World Federation members. Local and worldwide presenters will involve participants in discussions on reconciliation and justice issues. Several workshops are designed to give participants opportunities to refresh and renew mind, soul and body and experience God’s grace in the midst of a busy time. Please choose one workshop for each day. Several of the workshops will be interpreted. WEDNESDAY 1. Theology of DIAKONIA This paper was prepared by World Federation of DIAKONIA several years ago. It outlines the two main strands of practicing diakonia – motherhouse and church based. We will hear updates and discuss the paper. 2. Formation and Education for the Diakonate In this workshop we will discuss principles and best practices of preparation for diaconal ministry. A variety of methods and programs for diaconal formation and education will be shared. Participants will work in small groups to articulate the pedagogical approaches, theological principles and ministry implications of diaconal ministry training programs. 3. DIAKAID Updates DIAKAID, a fund supported by World DIAKONIA, supports development projects initiated by member organizations and provides emergency funds at times of natural disasters. Each workshop highlights one of the DIAKAID projectsRwanda and Belem, South Africa Bridge (Malawi) and relief work after the tsunami (Indonesia). 4. Overcoming Violence How do we help women find their voice when they experience violence? How do we help them move to healing and reconciliation? This workshop focuses on practical methods that lead to grace, healing and reconciliation. 5. Broken Women: Human Trafficking Relating the Bible Study theme of “God Heals” in relation to the ‘bent over woman’, participants will look at the unjust system that keeps women bent and/or broken in the context of Human Trafficking. Confronting and transforming unjust systems for the healing and wholesomeness of women is a missional challenge. 6. The Acceptable Year of the Lord: Economic Justice for All The Acceptable Year of the Lord (Luke 4: 19) refers to the Jubilee ordinances (every 49 years) of the Old Testament. In Luke 4:14-30, Jesus eliminates the time cycle and brings the justice requirements into the present. He implies that the rules extend beyond the Jewish nation and include all persons and nations. In this workshop you will discuss the related Old and New Testament teachings and look at implications for present day economic justice issues and how to challenge the present dominant ideology of market fundamentalism. 7. Negative Stereotyping of Native/First Nations Persons From the 1960s in the United States, the National Congress of American Indians, a national organization representing hundreds of American Indian tribes, began a campaign to eliminate negative stereotyping of native people, including the use of Indian and tribal mascots by professional and school athletic teams. This workshop explores the issue of negative stereotyping. 8. Ministries of Hope at our Global Environmental Crossroad This workshop explores how we can participate in the earth’s revival. Climate change, primarily caused by humans, is potentially catastrophic for many parts of the world. How will we respond? We are at a crossroads regarding the future of the earth. How can diakonia be an expression of God’s hope and grace? How can we be reconciled to creation and allow the world to revive itself? 9. Atlantans Building Leadership for Empowerment ABLE is a multi-racial, interfaith regional coalition of congregations, unions and grassroots organizations that develops and empowers ordinary people to become leaders who effect change in their communities for the common good of all. ABLE is part of the Gamaliel Foundation which works world-wide in the area of leader development. 10. Parish Nursing The Parish Nurse Program evolves from Christianity’s concern for human wholeness. Nurses are often in a position to minister to both the physical and spiritual needs of the whole person. This presentation addresses the history and scope of parish nursing. Through lecture and discussion, the role of parish nurse and the development of a congregational parish nurse program is explored. 11. Spirituality Centre Spirituality centers are a beautiful and sensate way to introduce Christians to spiritual disciplines. This workshop explains the concept of a spirituality centre and invites you to experience activities in a center. 12. Assembly Choir: The Quilt Speaks This musical workshop, The Quilt Speaks, explores the hidden meanings of spirituals and quilt pattern blocks of slaves traveling on the Underground Railroad. Participants will sing centuries-old songs from America's history and gain understanding of coded messages which helped escaped slaves make their way to freedom in the North. Songs learned and rehearsed in the workshop will be sung as part of the closing worship for Diakonia. Attendance at both Wednesday and Saturday sessions is preferred. 13. Walk the Labyrinth Visit a labyrinth in a near-by church yard. Walking the labyrinth creates a welcoming space for prayer and meditation. The labyrinth, a single path arranged in a pattern which moves you ever closer to the centre, helps participants reflect on God and their inner life. 14. Reconnecting in God’s Good Creation One crossroad of grace is nature/creation. This workshop will help participants revive their innate connection to God’s revelation in creation and see both creation and humanity as an integral part of the web of life. 15. Taize Worship A primary goal of the Taize community in southern France is reconciliation. Their worship supports this goal and is based on God’s healing and abundant grace. You will learn the foundations of the style of worship, learn the music and experience the spirituality of Taize worship. 16. Biblical Storytelling In a postmodern world, where people value experience over authority and participation over observation, stories of God help us connect with people, cause us to think and address the heart. Jesus understood this. The church has the greatest story—we must learn to tell it, to reconcile people to each other and to God. FRIDAY17. Theology of DIAKONIA This paper was prepared by World Federation of DIAKONIA several years ago. It outlines the two main strands of practicing diakonia—motherhouse and church based. We will hear updates and discuss the paper. 18. Planning Smaller Events For some time, the Executive of Diakonia has been concerned that world assembly gatherings every four years and regional gatherings in between provide only limited and often expensive ways for diaconal folks to come together to share our work and experiences. This workshop presents an Event Planning Handbook and offers discussion on how to plan smaller gatherings. 19. DOTAC Overcoming Violence Experience In 2007 participants from the DOTAC region met in New York City (USA) to learn about ministries working to overcome violence. Mary will share her insights and participants will explore with a creative arts experience, reactions/responses to the global violence with prayerful expressions. 20. The Church’s Response to Refugees No one is a refugee by choice. In this workshop hear about one approach to refugee ministry: what the State of Georgia does for refugees, what a resettlement agency offers and what a sponsoring church does for refugees. 21. Multi-culturalism and the Church More churches have become multicultural, so the question before us is, “How can the church respond to the diversities, the dynamics, the different perspectives, the opinions and the inter-relationships of those in the pews who come from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds?” Using the vision of the wolf dwelling with the lamb from Isaiah and other scriptural passages, this workshop explores cultural and ethnic diversity, power differentials in the church and how there can be mutual empowerment so that the kingdom of God is recognized and embraced. 22. Global Health Action Global health Action has in 35 years worked with health professionals and community leaders from 93 countries to improve world wide health. They do this through education and training in leadership, management and health promotion. 23. Christian Environmental Stewardship This workshop is based on biblical principles regarding stewardship, conservation, and how God created this world and the new Jerusalem to come as a source of peace and sustainment, not destruction and chaos. Using John 6 (the story of Jesus feeding the multitude), this workshop explores how we follow Jesus’ example in helping to create a harvest for all. 24. Journey to Inclusiveness Explore how one denomination—the United Methodist Church—struggles to foster racial and gender inclusiveness. An exhibit portrays key events, concerns and people. These show the flawed but faithful endeavors to forge an inclusive church. This workshop celebrates some strides forward and looks to the challenges of the future. The workshop offers suggestions for ways you and others can actively address racism and promote racial justice and inclusiveness. 25. A Voice for the Voiceless CARE works in almost 70 countries, focusing on global issues like HIV and AIDS, economic strengthening, women’s empowerment, adaptation to climate change, development and relief. The workshop will focus on how CARE attempts to build a voice for the Voiceless through constructive advocacy and power mapping. 26. Spirituality Centre Spirituality centers are a beautiful and sensate way to introduce Christians to spiritual disciplines. This workshop explains the concept of a spirituality centre and invites you to experience activities in a center. 27. Sacred Harp/Shape Note Singing This workshop introduces participant to Sacred Harp singing which is a non-denominational, non-performance, community-based type of a cappella hymn-singing. 28. Welcome Me Into Your Culture! I welcome you into mine! I will share my Pakistan woman’s perspective of my culture, including dress, personal care (threading) and other areas of interest. 29. Circle of Holiness: Group Spirituality God welcomes, heals, enfolds, blesses and sends through our relationships with one another as we follow the way of Jesus in our everyday lives of work and play. In this workshop learn, as deacons, how we welcome and enfold each other before being healed and blessed by our mutual sharing and come to know how this sharing nurtures us as we continue the diaconal journey to the world around us. 30. Taize Worship A primary goal of the Taize community in southern France is reconciliation. Their worship supports this goal and is based on God’s healing and abundant grace. You will learn the foundations of the style of worship, learn the music and experience the spirituality of Taize worship. SATURDAY31. DIAKAID Updates DIAKAID, a fund supported by World DIAKONIA, supports development projects initiated by member organizations and provides emergency funds at times of natural disasters. Each workshop highlights one of the DIAKAID projectsRwanda and Belem, South Africa Bridge (Malawi) and relief work after the tsunami (Indonesia). 32. World Diakonia Exchange Program This workshop explains the World Diakonia Exchange Program. It explores how to clarify and match the needs of participants and the program. The workshop also provides opportunity for mutual exchange and a chance to examine application forms for the exchange program. 33. Overcoming Violence How do we help women find their voice when they experience violence? How do we help them move to healing and reconciliation? This workshop focuses on practical methods that lead to grace, healing and reconciliation. 34. Common Ground: An Interactive Social Justice Tool Common Ground is an interactive group game that uses a Christian perspective, information resources, and participants’ various learning or motivation styles to increase awareness, dialogue and action regarding social justice issues. In this workshop you will also learn to develop negotiation skills in a cooperative process. 35. Worldwide Disaster preparedness and relief God can meet us at the crossroads among the debris and much, in the ruins, or scattered deep within the ashes. God’s grace is present among God’s people in responding to needs, rebuilding lives and restoring hope. 36. Global Racism This workshop provides an opportunity to explore the complexities of global racism. 37. The Religious Right and the Diakonate The “religious right” is a term used to describe religious groups characterized by their strong support of conservative social, political and theological values. This workshop focuses on learning about and discussing the influence of the religious right on society and the significance of this for diaconal communities. 38. The Gifts of Sharing: Grief and Loss in Ministry People who deal with other’s grief are at risk of neglecting their own response to grief and loss. Shared tears can be transformative and become a gift to others, but how do caregivers share tears in a way that is helpful to the grieving person? This workshop explores the deep richness that comes from sharing loss. 39. Assembly Choir: The Quilt Speaks This musical workshop, The Quilt Speaks, explores the hidden meanings of spirituals and quilt pattern blocks of slaves traveling on the Underground Railroad. Participants will sing centuries-old songs from America's history and gain understanding of coded messages which helped escaped slaves make their way to freedom in the North. Songs learned and rehearsed in the workshop will be sung as part of the closing worship for Diakonia. Attendance at Wednesday and Saturday sessions is preferred. 40. That it May Be Well with You! This workshop invites participants to grow in their understanding of whole person health – emotional, physical, social, vocational, intellectual, spiritual, financial well-being. You will focus on John 5:1-14 and ask, “What does this healing story tell us about our individual healing and wholeness? What does this healing story say about community? In our brokenness, can we be well?” 41. Walk the Labyrinth Visit a labyrinth in a near-by church yard. Walking the labyrinth creates a welcoming space for prayer and meditation. The labyrinth, a single path arranged in a pattern which moves you ever closer to the centre, helps participants reflect on God and their inner life. 42. Mission and Music This workshop is a survey of the role of music in the mission work of the church. It offers biblical and theological understandings of mission hymns and the relationship of mission hymns to the missionary movement. 43.Spiritual Direction Spiritual Direction is the process of accompanying people on their spiritual journey. A Spiritual Director helps the individual to see where God is moving their lives. |