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Inhabit Conference - Reflections on Being Faith Community Rooted in Place
In May, Natalie Maxson, along with fifty United Church people throughout BC, attended Inhabit, a two-day gathering at the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology exploring ways of being faith community rooted in neighbourhood and place.
Jonathan Brooks (aka "Pastah J") from the Canaan Community Church, in Englewood south Chicago and author of "The Church Forsaken," shared this: "The more you live in your community, the more you practice presence. In the scriptures, people are named after their place: Jesus of ...Nazareth, Mary Magdalene (of Magdala). There is a generational love of place. Living in your place is important and can lead to transformation - it's not about the programs, the buildings, the strategic plans."
Rev. Shalom Agtarap from the United Methodist Church (USA) challenged us with what she believes are important questions at the heart of becoming rooted in your place and community:
"Don't ask, "What do you think?"
... Ask "What are you hearing?" And ask "Who do you love?".
Inspire Conference
Charmaine Pearce, our Manager of Programs and Community Experiences, had the opportunity at the beginning of May to attend the Inspire Conference at Shaughnessy Heights United Church in Vancouver - a great conference offering a chance to network with other youth leaders across BC and Alberta.
It was a fun-filled, packed, two days, with workshops on engaging and empowering youth in social justice, do's and don'ts on Indigenous justice & right relationship work, worship, and personal identity and sexuality in our communities. Charmaine is looking forward to incorporating what she has learnt in her work with the Young Adult Summer Leaders.
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