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Sessions
Sessions
Sessions
Sessions
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Plenary Presentations:
Plenary Speakers:
Mark Lewis Taylor
Tony Campolo
Marie Clarke
James E.Winkler
James M. Lawson
OPENING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Christians and Global Designs - Resisting the Crucifixion Theory of Economics and War,
Mark L. Taylor
The lecture introduces diverse views of globalization within the context
of todays economic structures and US war-making policy. The cnses posed today by US
empire-building, war-making and protection of neoliberal market policies constitute a
Kairos moment for Christians (of crisis and opportunity) challenging them to tap some of
their biblical faith’s most demanding and hope-filled practices.
Biblical/Theological Presentations
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Al: | Globalization, Poverty and Children: A Wesleyan Theology and Response,
Pamela Couture
The seminar will interpret the well-being of children in relationship to the three post-War II phases of
economic globalization and then ask how theological ideas might help to craft a response.
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A2: | Living Simply, Neal Christie
Workshop on spirituality, prayer and an economics of abundance and scarcity. Where do we locate
economic choices in our spiritual journey? Workshop will include several experiential exercises
appropriate for communicating the issue of globalization, economic parity and our personal stories,
to local church youth, adults and college students.
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A3: | Sprituality and the Poor, Jung Pyo Hong
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A4: | Restructuring Christian Community for Resistlng Neoliberal
Globalization, Mark L. Taylor
After the workshop leader shares five crucial strategies for building Christian community in
this globalized era, participants will be encouraged to share and discuss their own proposals for
creating Christian community that embodies full human flourishing.
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A5: | Missional Church/Peace Church, David Miller
The language of "missional church" is appearing in conversations and literature of denominations
across the theological spectrum. This is more than a current "buzz" word. Missiologists, church
planters, and pastors are recognizing that the church’s position in our society has changed
dramatically in the last generation. The history of the early church is being re-discovered as a
fruitful ground for reformulating our notions about the mission of the church. As we return to the
lessons of the early church, we reencounter the message and practices of the gospel of peace as
central to the church’s witness.
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Globalization: The Issues
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B1: | Globalization Overview, Marilyn Clement
This workshop will be an overview of globalization issues and opens with her new video
"Not For Sale" on the World Social Forum and its exploration of three issues: land reform
and food security, the world water crisis, and the global sweatshop economy.
Resources:
World Social Forum (Forum Social Mundial) (http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/home.asp)
World Social Forum 2004 (Jan. 16-21)in Mumbai, India. (http://www.wsfindia.org/anotherworld.php)
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B2: | Globalization for Beginners,
Mike Prokosch
What is globalization? How does it affect us? Who’s winning, who’s losing, and who’s making the rules?
What are the IMF, World Bank, and WTO? How do their policies generate instability and immigration?
How can people around the world assert democratic control over the global economy?...
Resources:
United for a Fair Economy (www.faireconomy.org)
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B3: | FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) for Beginners,
Mike Prokosch
This workshop looks at the rules and the rulers of the global economy. Starting with NAFTA, we
see how the Free Trade Area of the Americas will curtail public services, environmental
protections, and worker rights. The workshop ends with anti-FTAA protests this November
and other ways to create a Fair Trade Area of the Americas.
Resources:
United for a Fair Economy (www.faireconomy.org)
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B4: | Women and Globalization, Linda Bales
Women comprise 70% of the world’s poor and are most impacted, along with children,
by globalization. This workshop will examine ways in which women are affected specifically by
HIV/AIDS, other health concerns, ecoliomic and educational realities. Current advocacy efforts
will be presented and discussed, and pertinent resources for annual conferences and local churches
will be available.
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B5: | Human Rights and Globalization, David Wildman
In today’s global economy where many transnational corporations have larger operating
budgets than the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of many developing nations, it seems as
if shareholder rights and property rights are considered more important than people.
How do we in churches work globally and locally to protect and promote universal human
tights for all - especially the ‘least of these’ (immigrants, small thrmers, refugees,
sweatshop workers and the unemployed)?
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B6: | War & Military Industrial Complex: Costs & Consequences,
David Wildman
The US currently devotes close to $12,000/second (over $400 billion/year) to waging war
(more than all other nations combined!).
What are the human costs and moral consequences of devoting so many resources and talents
to military might? How do we beat swords into plowshares and devote more of our energies
and resources to peacemaking?
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B7: | Our Daily Bread: Food Standards and Genetically-Modified Food,
Jaydee Hanson
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B8: | Philippines and Asia Globalization,
Bishop Daniel Arichea.
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B9: | Jubilee - International Debt Relief(informal seminar),
Marie Clarke.
Resources:
Jubilee USA (www.jubileeusa.org)
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BlO: | Global Warming, Joy Bergey
This workshop will include discussion of the current state of knowledge around global warming,
how global warming will manifest itself, and why this is a moral issue for people of faith.
There will be updates on current national and state legislative issues, and suggestions for
enlisting congregational support and action.
Resources:
Climate Change resources
(www.ppjr.org/environ/climate.htm)
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B11: | It’s A Matter of Interest, Neal Christie
Why interest rates inflated, modern history of global debt, simulation games useful for
teaching in local church Sunday Schools, with youth groups. We will consider step by step
the history and impact of the WFO, IMF, World Bank and unchecked interest in the (under)
development of Southern nations. Workshop is participatory in nature.
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B12: | War, Militarism, and Inequality, Mike Prokosch
We’ll start with our state and local budget crises, then see how increased military spending
AND tax cuts for the wealthy are squeezing out social spending. We’ll look at the effects
on inequality, on the racial wealth gap, and the agenda behind it all. After exploring
connections with our foreign and military policy we’ll end with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.
Resources:
United for a Fair Economy (www.faireconomy.org)
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B13: | Peacemaking in the Korean Peninsula, We Hyun Chang
Globalization and peace-making in the Korean peninsula: A
Christian perspective on nuclear crisis in the Korean peninsula and
U.S. policy.
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Globalization: Alternative Models
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Cl: | Another Globalization Is Possible: Is there a Just, Peaceable, and
Sustainable Globalization?, Liberato (Levi) Bautista
Globalization is many things to different people. There is economic globalization; and there are
the less-talked-about political globalization and cultural globalization. Hitherto, globalization
as popularly understood, is widely regarded as disastrous to the life of nations and peoples.
This workshop will posit the idea that another globalization is possible one that shifts the
paradigm from economic exploitation, political oppression, and cultural subjugation to one
that prospers food and freedom, jobs and justice, land and liberation.
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C2: | Food for Thought, Brian Moyer
Brian Moyer, who with wife Holley is owner and operator of Green Haven Farm, is working to break
through the invisible wall that has been erected between farmers and consumers over the last
50 years. In his presentation, Brian will address many of the myths and misunderstandings
that have created a barrier between farmers and other residents. He will also identify the
shared issues and concerns
that can be a basis for building a local food system, the kind of food
system that would benefit our community.
Brian’s goal is to begin a dialogue with producers and consumers so
we can make informed choices when purchasing food. Some topics
his talk will address
- Why consumers should be concerned about access to food.
- The ongoing consolidation of food stores and processors.
- How consolidation affects farmers and consumers.
- What the alternatives are.
- Advantages of a local food system.
Resources:
Community Supported Agriculture
(www.maysiesfarm.org/csa/index.html)
Maysie's Farm / Conservation Center
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C3: | Why Unions Matter, C.J. Hawking
After citing some key Biblical texts that address the rights of workers, this workshop
will provide a brief historical background on religious-labor coalitions in the U.S.,
paying particular attention the to the United Methodist Church, Because the anti-union
sentiment is so prevalent in our country, we will openly examine our own biases about
labor unions. We will attempt to demythologize unions and briefly explore how the gains
of organized labor -- wage increases, pensions, the 40-hour work week, etc. -- have
benefitted all working people. We will then examine and discuss the successful activities
of current labor-religious-community coalitions across the U.S. How were they formed?
What do they do? How can we form one in our community? In particular, the ministry of
the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice and Jobs with Justice will be
highlighted. The workshop will be designed to optimize group participation and will
include several handouts.
Resources:
National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (www.nicwj.org)
Jobs with Justice (www.jobswithjustice)
National Labor Committee (www.nlcnet.org)
NLC monitors international worker issues, including sweat-shop labor
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C4: | Why fair trade? Getting it across: the why, the how, the stories,
Janet Douglass
A starter session on the issues to help participants take the message back to their churches
and plan events to help understand what is happening in the global trading scene.
There will be plenty of handouts and helpful ideas for how to lead a fair trade bible study;
how to take the message to young and not so young adults; ideas for youth and children;
for UMW groups and what can be done at the local level. There will be time, too, to talk
about your questions - or how to respond to hostile questions!
Resources:
Fair Trade organizations.
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C5: | Credit Comes from Credo: Microcredit and Socially Responsible Investments,
Rev. Terry Provance
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How socially responsible investments from churches and individuals provide low interest
loans to cooperatives and microcredit institutions around the world through Oikocredit USA.
Resources:
Microcredit Institutions.
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Advocacy, Action, Movement Building
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D2: | 101 Effective Ways to Impact Globalization Decisions,
Jim Stipe
This very practical workshop will cover the ABC’s of how to effectively use your voice to
impact decision-makers on globalization issues. We’ll talk about different methods of advocacy;
how best to know what to say and when to say it; what is effective and what isn’t; and,
much, much more.
Resources:
Bread for the World. (www.bread.org)
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D3: | From Solidarity to Advocacy: Wltness for Peace,
Ray Torres
We will look at ways
to contact speakers from Latin America and visit those countries. How to effectively lobby
for just trade policy.
Resources:
Witness for Peace. (www.witnessforpeace.org)
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D4: | Christian Peacemaker Teams: Getting in the Way,
Dianne Roe
Christian Peacemaker Teams work with the people on the bottom. How do we give these people a voice?
Policy makers get their advice from the rich and powerful. Dianne Roe has seen how the policies generated
by the powerful impact the farmers of the Hebron district, and her teammates in other places
(Colombia, Chiapas, Haiti, Iraq, and various Native American communities) have seen the impact in those places.
Is it possible that something labeled a "peace process" could actually be another tool for
economic domination and control?
Dianne will talk about the home demolition issue in Palestine and Oneida, NY. She will show how
simple grassroots efforts mobilized thousands on the issue in Palestine and will tell of the UMC
part in that. We will explore how we can intentionalize these connections, perhaps in focusing
on the plight of a few Oneida families.
Resources:
Christian Peacemaker Teams. (www.cpt.org)
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D5: | Every Church a Peace Church, David Miller
The way of peace is not a special vocation of priests and professional "religious",
or of "historic peace churches", but the calling of all who answer positively to Jesus’
call to "Follow me!" A new and vital network of congregations from across the spectrum of
Christian denominations is re-discoveringand re-claiming the call to be peacemakers as a
central tenet of the Gospel. Learn more about the vision and purpose of Every Church a Peace Church.
Resources:
Every Church A Peace Church. (www.ecapc.org)
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D6: | Introduction to Nonviolence Training,
Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr.
This workshop will begin with a brief review of Biblical basis for active nonviolent response to
violence and oppression; explore common strategies and tactics of nonviolent action, and describe
what is involved in training and preparation for nonviolent civil disobedience or other actions
which may provoke violence.
Resources:
The first segment of the video "A Force More Powerful," used to introduce this workshop.
See the Video Resource page for further information.
Fellowship of Reconciliation (USA). (www.forusa.org)
FOR offers intensive peacemaker training institutes for youth and adults.
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D7: | Palestine Wall (Fellowship of Reconciliation),
Litsa Binder
This seminar will describe the Palestine "Wall" through stories and
pictures describing its devastating effects on the life of the
Palestinian people and land.
Resources:
Fellowship of Reconciliation (USA). (www.forusa.org)
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Leadership Training
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El: | Faith Based Community Organizingfor Economic Change,
Pete da Silva
This workshop will include strategies for impacting state and federal legislation to
challenge the dominant model of globalization. Examples at the state level include:
(1)priority spending in blighted areas, and (2) giving preference to buying from in-state
producers. Examples of federal legislation include: (1) support the Buy America bill
of 1933 (min. 50% made in USA); (2) support the International Labor Organization standard of not purchasing
products made by children under 14 years of age; (3) manufacturers which move off-shore
must not be given any incentives/breaks, nor get any government contracts.
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E2: | Leadership Training: Local Church and Society / Outreach Leaders,
(GBCS staff; Ann. Conf. BCS leadership) Resources for local church peace and justice work.
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E3: | Leadership Training: for Conf Board of Church and Society members,
(GBCS staff) Clayton Childers (Neal Christie)
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Other Issues/Resources
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Fl: | Teaching the Social Principles, Clayton Childers
One of the unique traditions of the United Methodist Church is our Social Creed and our SocialPrinciples.
This workshop will explore effective ways to teach adult groups about the Social Principles,
beginning with the most controversial topics.
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F2: | UMPower
The UMPower web site allows anyone to access information about current U.S. legislation of particular
interest to United Methodists, and to easily send messages by email or Fax to elected representatives
in Congress or to other U.S. government officials.
Resources:
UMPower Public Policy Advocacy.
(www.umc-gbcs.org/umpower/)
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F3: | The Prison Industrial Complex From Equal Justice to Higher Profits,
Ken Fealing
We who call ourselves United Methodist are called by God and our Wesleyan tradition
to engage in a greater understanding of Jesus Christ’s ministry of justice. As followers of Christ,
we have the responsibility to educate ourselves about the corruption and injustices in our society
that created the oppressive the prison industrial complex. This seminar is designed to be an
interactive workshop that will discuss the roots of the prison industrial complex (PlC),
an overview of the cultural paradigms that created the PlC, the growth of the prison system,
PlC and globalization, restorative justice alternatives to incarceration and training tools
for local action to end the PlC
Resources:
[note: GBCS Restorative Justice web site is no longer available]
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F4: | All Children Are Created Equal, but Their Schools Are Not: A seminar on educational justice
, Erin Sutphin and Sally Jo Snyder
This seminar examines the inequities and inadequacies confronting public education in
Pennsylvania. Participants will be informed about the crisis in public education in
our Commonwealth and will be empowered to become involved in this grassroots campaign
that labors to provide a well resourced education for every child in Pennsylvania and
seeks to close the huge funding and achievement gap between wealthy and poor school
districts. The issues involving children in Pennsylvania are also the reality for children
and states throughout the nation.
Resources:>
Good Schools Pennsylvania (www.goodschoolspa.org)
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F5: | Video Resources (see Video Resource Page).
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Worship Resources
[under construction -- but check these links for resources]
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