SCUPE’s CityVoices March 2008
A resource of the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education

2008 Congress on Urban Ministry: Returning to the City Church

Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church plays host to the 2008 Congress on Urban Ministry, April 15-18, 2008. It's been 30 years since the very first Congress was held at another downtown church, United Methodist Church in 1978. This return to a downtown sanctuary provides the Congress with a glorious worship setting as well as splendid opportunities for socializing and networking with old and new friends. It also helps anchor many of our urban ministry ideas within the practical outreach structures of a church like Fourth Presbyterian.

The 2008 Congress intends to provoke discussion around its chosen theme – God’s Regin in Our Cities. What does God's reign actually mean? What can it mean for ministry in a wide variety of cities across America? How does the idea of God’s reign empower or impact our real ministry with people in urban communities?

The Congress also looks to foster an in-depth exploration of each of its sub-themes – a) Creating Redemptive Communities, b) Releasing Prophetic Imagination through Stories, and c) Engaging in Justice, Reconciliation and Restoration. Each sub-theme rings true and clear in itself. But each one also contains a wealth of meaning to un-pack for our particular churches and ministry contexts.

Come to the 2008 Congress on Urban Ministry expecting a variety of outstanding plenary sessions. Expect the zeal of community organizers Grace Lee Boggs, Alexia Salvatierra, and Peter Kenyon. Expect the passion and inspiration of preachers Otis Moss III and John Kinney. Expect the creativity and imagination that philosopher and author Anthony Weston will bring our way.

The Congress will offer 50 workshops that will address issues such as multiculturalism, community-building and peacemaking, strengthening families by working with formerly incarcerated men and women. Still other workshops will explore urban ministry live and close-up, with visits to a variety of Chicago communities.

During the Congress’ Caucus for Action, expect exciting opportunities to hear what is working in urban communities around the country, along with the chance to share what is really working in your own community, church or school. Working ideas will be collected, reported and disseminated for every delegate to make use in their own home setting. In addition, expect a bigger-than-usual chance to trade business cards and emails with people working in similar ministries to your own.

Fourth Presbyterian Church provides a wonderful setting for our plenary and workshop sessions. Located in the midst of the city’s near north side, our Congress hotels are just a short walk or “el” train ride away from the church. Special thanks to our foundation sponsors, Lilly Endowment Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation, our host church Fourth Presbyterian, and SCUPE’s seminary, denominational, and organizational sponsors. We could not do the Congress on Urban Ministry without you!

Visit www.scupe.com to register for the 2008 Congress on Urban Ministry themed, God’s Reign in Our Cities, April 15-18, 2008. Fourth Presbyterian Church Chicago. For more information contact, Roger Johnson – 2008 Congress Coordinator (312) 726-1200 x 239, roger@scupe.com

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2008 Congress on Urban Ministry:
Featured Speakers Include:

Dr. Mary Nelson is the Founder and President Emeritus of Chicago’s Bethel New Life – one of the nation’s largest and most active community development organizations. Dr. Nelson is a veteran community organizer.

Dr. John W. Kinney is Dean and Professor of Theology and Historical Studies at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University. Dr. Kinney is a well-known preacher, speaker and church leader.

Rev. Otis Moss, III currently serves as the newly appointed Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ. Prior to joining Trinity, Rev. Moss served as pastor of the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia. He succeeds Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. who is retiring.

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Visiting Chicago: Seeing the City With Prophetic Imagination

Nothing beats Chicago in the spring. The frigid winter is past and the humid summer is not quite here; the spring fits perfectly in the middle. There might be a chance of rain but for the most part sunny skies, fresh air and cool breezes will surround you as you walk down Michigan Avenue. Make sure to bring good walking shoes because the best sites will be seen on long walks down the Magnificent Mile.

Michigan Avenue is home to many Chicago hot spots and is the location of SCUPE’s 2008 Congress. On the south end of Michigan Ave is the museum campus which is home to the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium as well as Soldier Field. If the weather cooperates with the Congress, this is a great place to walk along the lake front. You could go all the way up to Navy Pier, which would be a beautiful 2 mile walk.

As you go north up Michigan you hit more stops like the Art Institute, Grant Park, which is home to the Buckingham Fountain, and Millennium Park, home of the “Bean.” As you move even further north from Millennium Park you will be surrounded by beautiful architecture, historical buildings and expensive shops great for window shopping. These are just a few of the wonderful things that Chicago has to offer. As you feel more adventurous, we hope you will venture out to see some of the churches and organizations that are represented at the Congress and have the opportunity to experience Chicago neighborhoods first-hand.

All in all Chicago is a great place for the 2008 Congress. We hope that you are excited to experience the Windy City and all it has to offer. Chicago eagerly awaits your arrival for the 2008 Congress and the opportunity to experience God’s reign in our city and see this city with Prophetic Imagination.

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Featured Workshops:
Dealing with Issues in Today’s Society

Beyond Multi-culturalism: The Changing Face of America
This track includes issues of racism, immigration policies, interfaith issues, religion and public policy, presidential politics, multi-cultural churches, and issues of religious and ethnic diversity as they intersect with the church and community.

The Church, the Legal System, and Men and Women Returning from Incarceration
These workshops will deals with model for providing training and support for men and women returning from incarceration and their families. Workshops may also include programs that seek to prevent the criminalization of youth, provide support for families of persons involved with the criminal justice system or address the need for policy change.

Peace-making:  At Home and Abroad
This theme addresses the epidemic problem of violence and issues such as domestic violence, school shootings, gang activity, and the War in Iraq.

Church and Financial Education and Advocacy
This track discusses issues ranging from personal financial literacy, credit scores, banking discrimination, mortgage and financing scandals and their impact on communities to alternative banking.

Healthcare: Is the Emergency Room the New General Practice Area?
Issues addressed will include: access to quality healthcare; the role of the church in health education and awareness; individual and community strategies for promoting wellness; innovative delivery systems or approaches; and issue-specific workshops (HIV/AIDS, diabetes, etc.)

Practical Skills
This includes “how to” workshops that equip attendees with practical skills such as how to do Housing Development, Fundraising, Community Organizing, Public Policy Advocacy and Lobbying, and forming Community Development Corporations.

For more information contact, Cynthia Mislap – Workshop Coordinator (312) 726-1200 x 239, cynthia@scupe.com

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Special Opportunities for Seminary Students

SCUPE S-H 304: Good News for the City
This course will be held in conjunction with the Congress on Urban Ministry. It will feature nationally recognized speakers addressing current issues of evangelism and justice within arenas of politics, economics, race, and culture. Fees include event egistration. Students are welcomes to take this course for 3 semester hours.
Instructor: Bill Wylie-Kellermann
Dates:  April 15-18

For more information, visit www.scupe.com or contact Dody Finch, SCUPE’s Registrar, at 312-726-1200 or dody@scupe.com

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Community Transformation Research Summit

This summit brings together urban practitioners and researchers to learn how to assess and improve the impact of Christian community ministries through participatory research.

For further information, contact Michael Mata of World Vision at mmata@worldvision.org or (213)351-1320

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Seeing the City With Prophetic Imagination

Three Reminders for the Congress on Urban Ministry!

Caucus for Action

SCUPE has always believed in the importance of a congress, rather than just another conference. This year’s Congress on Urban Ministry makes great strides in truly providing a “congress setting” for delegates – forums in which urban and community issues will rise up from individuals and our constituencies.

Dr. Mary Nelson will spearhead Wednesday afternoon’s Caucus for Action session with an introduction and challenge for all delegates present. From there, delegates will move into regional caucus groups to make connections, and share resources and experiences on a regional basis for future action. Group facilitators will help identify the most important ideas coming out of each regional caucus and bring those ideas back to plenary sessions. Thursday afternoon’s Caucus sessions will organize delegates on an issue-by-issue basis. Again, experiences and resources will be shared, actions will be suggested, and joint connections made to help move those proposed actions.

It is hoped that results from our Caucus for Actions sessions will live and grow far beyond April’s Congress for Urban Ministry. Suggested connections, resources and actions will be posted on the SCUPE website with the opportunities for growing online communities to develop in the weeks and months following the Congress.

Housing

If you haven’t yet booked your hotel room for the Congress, do so right away! Rooms at the Inn of Chicago, Red Roof Inn and Holiday Inn Mart Plaza are filling up quickly. The deadline is March 24 – the day after Easter. Please inform your hotel that you are with “SCUPE’s Congress on Urban Ministry” to receive our special rates. Contacts for each hotel are as follows:

All prices are for single, double, triple, or quad occupancy. (Double-up to save money! Please add 15.4 % in state and local taxes at each hotel). Other lodging options include dormitory housing at the Harris Family Hostel, 24 East Congress Parkway, Chicago, Illinois 60605, (312) 360-0300, about $30 per night.

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Congress Exhibitors

Exhibit space at the 2008 Congress is limited, but there is still room for a few more exhibitors. Cost is $450 per table. If your organization is interested in communicating your mission and work to hundreds of urban pastors and church leaders, contact Allison Triezenberg at the SCUPE office: (312) 726-1200, or Allison@scupe.com by March 24.

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Thanks for Reading SCUPE’s CityVoices!

For further information about SCUPE, or CityVoices newsletter, contact:
SCUPE’s CityVoices
200 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 502
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 726-1200 phone
(312) 726-0425 fax
roger@scupe.com

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