The Consultation (see groups listed below) Lunchtime Speakers (1:00pm) in the General Convention Exhibit Area (next to the food service area) will Rock the House! Each day deputies, Bishops, exhibitors and visitors are invited to hear riveting talks from Cutting Edge Episcopalians speaking Christ’ message of Justice and Peace. We have also listed afternoon speakers (2:00pm)
July 8th – Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson: Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire and living his faith in action. Bishop Robinson has been active particularly in the area of wellness and full civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender people. Working at every level, he has spoken and lobbied for equal protection under the law and full civil marriage rights. Bishop Robinson’s topic: “Is LGBT Equality a Matter of Justice?”
July 9th – Rev. Dr. Canon Naim Ateek: Founder and director of the Sabeel Ecumenical Theological Center … Dr. Ateek, a Christian, an Arab, and a citizen of Israel, hopes to connect the true meaning of Christian faith with the daily lives of all those who suffer under occupation, violence, discrimination, and human rights violations. Canon Ateek’s topic at lunchtime is based on his latest book, A Palestinian Cry for Reconciliation.
July 10th – Rev. Ched Myers: Activist theologian who has worked with social change movements for more than three decades; a popular educator who animates scripture and issues of faith-based peace and justice. Rev. Myer’s topic at lunchtime: “Sabbath Economics and Community Investing”.
July 11th – Hon. Byron Rushing: Floor Whip in House of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His living of the baptismal covenant as an elected official has made him a much sought-after speaker in the Church on baptism and justice. Rushing’s topic at lunchtime: ‘There you will see Jesus’: baptism and justice”.
July 12th - Mr. Robert Dellello: Representing KatrinasDream.org promoting the Indigenous Peoples, African Children’s Education, and the abolition of torture inside American jails and prisons, ERA, Anglican Women Theologians (CAWTE), Dellelo is a dynamic speaker promoting and supporting a national movement to end the use of solitary confinement and related forms of torture in US prisons.
July 13th – Ms. Marge Christie: Women’s activist in the Episcopal Church and founder of the Anglican Women’s Empowerment (AWE) project which has increased the number of women observers from 2 to 80 to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), thus to deepening our Church’s commitment to worldwide reconciliation, right relationships and shared work for peace and justice.
July 14th – The Rev. Dr. Katherine Ragsdale: Newly appointed President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School, Ragsdale is a 1997 graduate of EDS (D.Min.) and 1987 graduate of VTS (M.Div.). She comes to EDS from Political Research Associates, a progressive think tank. PRA’s projects include: monitoring U.S. antiterrorist policies to guard against infringement on immigrants’ and citizens’ civil liberties and investigating anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim activity on college campuses. All the while she has served as vicar of St. David’s Church in Pepperell , Massachusetts since 1996. Rev. Ragsdale’s lunchtime topic is: “Theological Education For Us All In a Rapidly Changing World”.
July 15th – Rev. Wilma Jacobsen: Born and educated in Cape Town, South Africa and currently Senior Associate at All Saints, Pasadena, CA. She was the first women deacon and priest ordained by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the Anglican Church in Southern Africa where she worked for 15 years in the Diocese of Cape Town. She was involved as an anti apartheid activist in church and faith based organizations. Rev. Jacobsen will share her work and insights of 2009 with us.
Afternoon Speakers (2:00pm):
July 9th - Mike Schut: Serves as the Economic and Environmental Affairs Officer of The Episcopal Church, following 11 years on the staff of Earth Ministry. His new book is Money and Faith: The Search for Enough. Michael also edited and co-wrote Simpler Living, Compassionate Life: A Christian Perspective, which won the second best book of 2000 award by the Catholic Press Association, and the anthology and study guide Food and Faith: Justice, Joy and Daily Bread.
July 10th - Cameron Partridge & TransEpiscopal reps: TransEpiscopal is a group of transgender Episcopalians, Anglicans and our allies whose purpose is to build up support for transgender people within the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. Our members are from across the United States and around the globe, and are engaged various lay and ordained ministries, both within and beyond congregational life. Founded in December, 2004, TransEpiscopal became a member of the Consultation in 2007. Topic: “Behold, I Make All Things New”: Transgender Episcopalians in the Life of the Church
The Consultation is a consortium of the following groups who come together to promote Christ’ message of Peace and Justice: Episcopal Peace Fellowship , Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission; Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry Advocates, Episcopal Church Publishing Company, Episcopal Ecological Network; Episcopal Network for Economic Justice, Episcopal Urban Caucus, Episcopal Women’s Caucus, Integrity, National Episcopal AIDS Coalition, Province VIII Indigenous Ministries, TransEpiscopal and the Union of Black Episcopalians.
For more information please contact Jackie Lynn epfnational@ameritech.net or 847-502-5921
