Sponsored by

• the Pennsylvania United Methodist Boards of Church and Society
• the Peninsula-Delaware Board of Church and Society, and
• A United Methodist Witness in Pennsylvania with the support of
• the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society

for United Methodists who have an active concern for social justice.

• Build/strengthen networking for social justice ministries and legislative advocacy among Pennsylvania United Methodists.
• Provide resources, skills training for Church and Society / UM Witness members, especially as related to legislative advocacy.
• Connect social justice ministries with Biblical and spiritual foundations.

Program Overview:

Workshops on effective legislative advocacy (Pennsylvania and U.S. government), organizing skills, and coalition building.

Worship, theological reflection, team building, networking, exploring new models for social justice ministries in Pennsylvania.

Leadership will include Thom White Wolf Fassett, General Secretary of the UM General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) and other GBCS staff, and Bishop George Bashore, as well as various other resource people from Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

Location: Calvary United Methodist Church, Locust Lane at Houck's Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. Phone: 717-545-0021. (East side of Harrisburg, about 5 minutes from I- 83, exit 25.)

Thursday, September 16, 1999
10:00 am	Registration, Coffee, Resource Displays
12:00-1:00 pm	Simple buffet lunch for early arrivals
1:00-1:30	Orientation, opening worship
1:30-5:00	Network building, Planning, Organizing activities
6:00-7:00	Supper
7:15-8:15	Welcome Keynote: Rep. Paul Clymer
8:15-9:00	Short presentations / reports from participating groups
Friday, September 17, 1999
8:00-8:45 am	Breakfast
8:45-10:00	Announcements/Worship / Biblical- Theological Keynote: Bishop George Bashore
10:00-12:00	National/International Issues/Briefings (GBCS)
12:00-1:00 pm	Lunch
1:00-3:00	Intensive Issue Workshops: National / International issues
3:15-5:15	(two 2-hr parallel sessions -- list below)
6:00-7:00	Supper
7:00-	Caucus by Ann. Conference
8:00-	Participant presentations / street theater or opportunity to sample videos on social-justice themes
Saturday, September 18, 1999
8:00-8:45 am	Breakfast
8:45-10:00	Opening worship Keynote: Thom White Wolf Fassett
10:00-11:00	Campaign Finance Reform K. Joy Kaufmann
11:00-12:15	Witness Business Meeting [Parallel session for people not attending UM Witness business session - TBA ]
12:30-1:15 pm	Lunch (continue meeting)
*1:15-3:15	Workshop sessions: National / State / Regional issues
* 3:30-5:30	(two 2-hour sessions -- see list below)
5:30	Adjourn

Workshops For Friday and Saturday Afternoons

Campaign Finance Reform -- [Common Cause] With rapidly growing campaign spending for election candidates, there are a number of proposals for both state and federal campaign finance reform legislation. At the same time, major campaign contributors would prefer to retain their options to influence elections with big donations. What are the prospects for campaign finance reform. (This workshop will complement the morning keynote presentation.)

Capital Punishment -- Pat Clark, American Friends Service Committee, Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty Project Although many states, including Pennsylvania, have accelerated the pace of death warrants and executions, there is a growing movement for a moratorium on death-penalty executions. This workshop will provide an update on capital punishment issues and efforts to end executions in the United States.

Climate Change Climate change is one of the observable results of intense fossil fuel consumption, deforestation, and other destructive environmental practices. This workshop examines the causes and consequences of climate change, and policy changes needed to contain the accelerating environmental damage.

Gambling State-sponsored gambling and professional gaming operations have increased rapidly throughout the U.S. in recent years, with an accompanying increase in gambling addiction, crime, and related problems. United Methodists in are taking a major role in opposing gambling expansion. This workshop will include an update of current issues, including Internet gambling,

The Growing Divide I: Wealth and Poverty in America This is an introductory workshop on basic economic issues in America which examines the paradox of growing economic prosperity for some while others, including more than one in five American children, continue to live in poverty. The context for this workshop is the extensive Biblical discussion of economic issues in both Old and New Testaments.

The Growing Divide II: Who Changed the Rules? Government rule changes in America--relating to wages, tax policy, human services, corporate privileges, and privatization--have contributed to the rapid accumulation of wealth by a small minority of Americans --at the expense of everyone else. One per cent of Americans now control over 40% of the nation's private wealth -- the greatest concentration since 1929 on the eve of the Great Depression. This workshop looks at past rule changes and opportunities for constructive change.

Healing the Wounds of Racism Racism is a persistent problem in America both in the church and in society at large. This workshop provides an introduction to the successful Eastern Pennsylvania Conference program to begin building an anti-racist community within the church.

Health Care The cost, availability and quality of the U.S. health care, public policy issues, and alternatives to the current U.S. health care system will be explored. We will also look at the role of the church with health care issues such as mental illness, end-of-life decisions, and the future of biotechnology in health care.

Peace with Justice In a world accustomed to settling disputes by violence and confrontation, our tradition of peace with justice is often met with hostility. This interactive workshop will include sharing effective ways we can work for peace through the church and how to build or find or a community of support for peace advocacy.

Pennsylvania Welfare Legislation -- Berry Friesen, Executive Director., Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center A significant piece of welfare legislation, HB 1266 passed the House on June 15th and will be in the Senate this fall. HB 1266 creates more space for parents in the TANF(Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) program to complete skills training and educational programs, and creates additional safeguards for children in situations in which the family may be sanctioned due to the parents refusal to cooperate with work requirements.

Public Welfare and The Global Economy Global trade and investment policies--strongly influenced by the U.S. government--are leading to increasing poverty and environmental devastation in many nations. This workshop provides an introduction to the institutions and policies that are shaping the global economy, what it means for us, and how we can influence constructive change.

Restorative Justice The 1.8 million people in U.S. prisions (one of every 145 people in the U.S.) is expected to exceed the incarceration rate of every other nation in the world by year's end, and requires enormous public expense. Why is our prison population so large, and what are the alternatives? Restorative justice is based on the Biblical concept of reconciliation.

Network building: On Thursday afternoon, John Schol and Mark Young will lead us in exploring how we can build a strong support network among United Methodists who have a passion for social justice. Please prepare for this session by identifying what kind of support you need to be an effective advocate for social justice in church and community, and how you may be able to help provide that kind of support for others.

Workshops: On Friday and Saturday afternoons we will hold small group workshop sessions (described above). You may sign up for workshops when you arrive, but those who send in a list of preferences now will have will have the best chance of being assigned to your first choice selections.

Evening sessions: On Thursday and Friday evenings, there will be opportunities for groups and individuals to share their own work and experiences of faith and social justice. On Friday night, we especially encourage you to bring your talents--music, stories, drama, street theater--to share with us.

Meals: All sessions and meals will be at Calvary Church. Full meals will be served Thursday evening, Friday noon, Friday evening, and Saturday noon. Beverages and snack food will be available at other times. (Comfort Inn and some of the other nearby motels provide a complementary breakfast.)

And although we have a very full formal agenda, there will be space and time for informal conversation and quiet reflection. This is a retreat and a time for renewal as well as community building and education.

Motel Reservation Infomation

Comfort Inn East
4021Union Deposit  Rd
Harrisburg, PA 17109
717-561-8100
FAX:  717-561-1357

Reservations must be completed by August 15, 1999 to be eligible for the special conference rate.

Red Roof Inn North
400 Corporate Circle
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-657-1445
FAX: 717-657-2775
$40-54/night
Just north of  I-81, exit 24

Red Roof Inn South
950 Eisenhower Blvd.
Harrisburg, PA 17111
717-939-1331
FAX: 717-939-8266
$33-48/night
Just east of I-283, exit 1

*Registration Costs: [Estimated: Cost will be set by June 1st]

              Before August 15    After August 15
Full 3 Days:      $45.00             $60.00
Thurs. only        20.00              25.00
Friday only        20.00              25.00
Saturday only      10.00              15.00

Call  Donald Harper, United Methodist Witness
      717-236-6363 (W),  717-540-1482 (H)
      E-mail:  dlharper@netrax.net
or    Robert Walden, 610-861-0653
      E-mail: RWaldenPA@aol.com

Some financial help is available for those who find it difficult to pay the amount we charge. We want to enable as many people as possible to attend this retreat. Contact Rev. Donald Harper.

Note: Actual costs for this gathering exceed $120 per person; donations from those who can afford to do so will be appreciatiated.

If you have dietary restrictions or require other special accommodations (e.g., diabetic, or vegetarian, or difficulty climbing stairs, etc.) please include information about your needs.

--- Registration Form -- Faith and Social Justice -- September 16-18, 1999 ---

Name____________________________________

Address__________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

Phone (______)__________________________

E-mail__________________________________

I am a pastor:___    layperson:___    

Annual Conference:______________________________

Church/Organization:_____________________________
I would like a CEU (continuing education)
     certificate    ___Yes    ___No

Mail this registration with payment to:
             Donald L Harper
             1115 Brook Lane
             Harrisburg, PA 17111

Registration deadline is September 1, 1999

Other special needs: