The 2017 MCC Conference for People of African Descent, Friends, and Advocates (PAD Conference) will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, from 3 through 5 August 2017. The theme of
Grounded in Love
reminds us that people of African descent are deeply grounded in love for God, one another, ourselves, and all others who share MCC's desire and commitment to be a truly inclusive church.
Remember that the PAD Conference is for everyone. It reaches beyond the boundaries of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, and culture in the hope of reaching all those who have "a genuine desire to know and understand just want it means to be black in [MCC]." (from
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America,
by Michael Eric Dyson)
As the PAD Conference Convener, Rev. Elder Darlene Garner is excited to announce that the keynote speakers this year will be three lead consultants from the Washington Consulting Group (WCG)
http://washingtonconsultinggroup.net/
, a multicultural organizational development firm based in Baltimore, Maryland. WCG has worked with more than 500 organization both in and outside of the U.S. WCB will provide the PAD Conference with a program that is interactive, motivating, engaging and inclusive and that will foster effective change in our personal and organizational lives.
Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington
and
Rev. Sam Offer
are principals of the Washington Consulting Group (WCG). Together, they have more than 55 years of combined experience in engagement, education, diversity and inclusion, and social justice. Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington is an internationally known speaker, consultant, trainer, and writer on diversity, leadership, spirituality, organizational change and community development issues. Rev. Sam Offer is a noted consultant, facilitator, and trainer on diversity, multiculturalism, religion, leadership and community development.
Evangeline Weiss
is a queer, white, anti-racist social change agent with over 18 years of community building and organizational development experience. Her work focuses on working with clients who want to create systems that are healthier and more just. She will keynote the PAD Conference track for people of European descent.
The worship experience is always a highlight of the MCC PAD Conference. This year, the Guest Preacher for the closing service on Saturday night is
Rev. Traci Blackmon
. Rev. Blackmon is a prominent community leader, a gifted preacher, the much-loved pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ (UCC) in Florissant, Missouri, and acting executive of UCC Justice and Witness Ministries. She became nationally recognized as a prominent voice for social change when Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson, just miles from her church. She immediately got involved in organizing the Black Lives Matters movement, effectively assisting and collaborating with the people in the community working for justice.
Everyone who attends will become equipped to respectfully engage in ministry within a racially-diverse, mutually-respectful community of faith; we will be empowered to do so in ways that honor the gifts, skills, experiences, and lives of people of African descent. MCC clergy who attend will also earn 9 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
See you in St. Louis!
