FutureChurch Preconference
to the American Catholic Council (June 10-12, 2011)
Friday June 10, 2011 9:00-3:00 pm
Hanging Tough: Keeping Your Integrity and Changing the (Institutional) Church
Preconference
Schedule
Morning Keynote:
Sr. Louise Akers SC, Crying out with a Million Voices. Sr. Louise has a Doctorate in Ministry and is the Coordinator of the Office of Peace Justice and Integrity of Creation in Cincinnati.
Louise Akers, S.C., D.Min., has presented workshops, courses and reflection days on justice related issues. In 1974 her master’s thesis in theology focused on the “Prophecy of Martin L. King, Jr.”, in 1996 she completed her Doctor of Ministry with a project entitled “Patriarchal Power and the Pauperization of Women”. Her past ministries include justice education & advocacy in formal classroom teaching on the high school and university level, parish coordinator in the Archdiocesan Social Action Office of Cincinnati, founder & coordinator of Cincinnati’s Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center, social concerns director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
In the afternoon, panelists who have successfully organized in their diocese around parish closings, optional celibacy and women’s issues will present practical strategies.
(Names TBA)
If you have ever asked yourself how you can stay in the Church when the institution doesn’t follow the Gospel, this is the workshop for you. Learn how ordinary Catholics changed the public image of St. Mary of Magdala from a prostitute to the first witness to the Resurrection while at the same time educating their faith communities about women leaders in the early Church.
Hundreds of others put the priest shortage and women deleted from the lectionary on the agendas of two Vatican synods. Still others have successfully resisted unjust parish closings and are flooding Vatican offices with parish closing appeals.
This daylong teach-in will help you learn principles of community organizing and gospel non-violence as they apply to your local parish and diocese.
It will also supply hands on support and training in how to use FutureChurch’s proven resources according to your interest area including:
- Women in Church Leadership,
- Save Our Parish Community,
- Optional Celibacy,
- A Million Voices (tools for resisting common abuses of authority in the US Church and continuing the discussion of women’s ordination),
- Organizing St. Mary of Magdala
- Celebrating Women Witnesses Programs
- Women and the Word (raising awareness)
While many have given up on the institutional Church, FutureChurch will not. We believe God's abundant mercy and just love are helping people like you and me create the critical mass needed for systemic change.
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
400 Renaissance Drive, Detroit, Michigan 48243 - 313-568-8000
Register in our online store, or call 216-228-0869 ext 5
Early Bird Registration by May 20th - $40.00 (lunch not included);
After May 20th - $50.00
To reserve rooms at the hotel visit: www.marriott.com and tell them you are with the American Catholic Council for special conference rates.