This two-day virtual event is co-sponsored by Union Presbyterian Seminary’s Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation (CSJR) and the Leadership Institute. The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation (CSJR) is grounded in a scriptural mandate with two goals: to remind seminarians of the significance of social justice work as part of ministry and to bring the activist community into the seminary. The full event will feature two keynote addresses to open and close the event, along with four workshop choices, to equip and inspire church and ministry leaders to enact social justice within their own ministry context and sphere of influence.

Dates:  Wednesday, February 24 & Thursday, February 25, 2021

Online Registration is open. Click here to REGISTER.

Event Format:

The entire event will be hosted virtually. Registered participants will receive access to the keynote addresses. All four workshops will be hosted via Zoom, to allow for collegial engagement between workshop leaders and participants. Each workshop will have an individual meeting link, and registered participants will receive the meeting link prior to the selected workshop(s). Participants will need an electronic device equipped with a reliable internet connection, built-in or external microphone, and a built-in or external webcam.

Full Event Schedule:

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 

Opening Keynote Address

The Opening Keynote will feature a recorded dialogue between Dr. Brian Blount, President of Union Presbyterian Seminary & Professor of New Testament, and Dr. Rodney Sadler, the Seminary’s Associate Professor of Bible & the Director of the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation (CSJR) will be shared, highlighting the need to bring and advocate social justice in the church, as well as remark on the impact of the church within social justice and racial justice issues.

11:00 A.M-12:30 P.M. EST – Online Workshop #1

Be My Witness: A study of Acts 1:6-8

Led by: Dr. Marvin McMickle, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program & Professor of African American Religious Studies, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

This workshop will examine the challenge given by Jesus to the disciples to see something going on in the world around them, say something truthful about what they have seen, and be prepared to suffer something in the way of backlash or criticism in response to what they have said. This is the heart and soul of prophetic preaching. It is what Cornel West refers to in the Greek word parrhesia, which is bold speech uttered without regard for any consequences to the speaker. What are we seeing in our country and the world in 2021? What are we prepared to say about what we see? Are we prepared for any negative reactions that might be directed at us when we speak truth to power?

3:00-4:30 P.M. EST- Online Workshop#2

Teaching Social Justice in Comfortable Congregations

Led by: Dr. Rebecca Davis, Associate Professor of Christian Education, Union Presbyterian Seminary

This workshop will explore practical ways church leaders and educators can bring educational curriculum focused on social and racial justice into their congregation and ministry context. Dr. Davis will provide various approaches and strategies for integrating social justice into the teaching ministry of the church. Participants can expect to leave with a curriculum example as well as a fresh perspective for teaching social justice in the church.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. EST – Online Workshop #3

Cultivating Anti-Racism Practice in the Congregation

Led by: Rev. Jason Williams and Nikkeia Lee, of Little Tree, a Multi-racial Consulting Cooperative, based in North Carolina

This interactive workshop will explore the following questions in developing an approach to anti-racism for our congregations:

Do you understand the need to address racism, but don’t know how?

Have you attended conferences and read books but still find yourself still confused about what to do about racism?

Are you determined to move your congregation forward, but are unsure how to handle resistance?

Do you feel the weight of current events, but are overwhelmed with the time and resources needed to make a difference?

3:00-4:30 P.M. EST – Online Workshop #4

Church in These Streets: Pandemic, Protest and Public Theological Witness

Led by: Dr. Brandon McCormack, Associate Professor, Department of Pan-African Studies & Department of Comparative Humanities, University of Louisville

This workshop engages participants in guided reflection of the interplay between theology and praxis. Participants will focus upon the significance of embodied public theological witness as a mode of resistance to the intensification of precarity among already marginalized and vulnerable bodies in the wake of the global pandemic and nationwide protests over racial injustice.

7:00-8:30 P.M. EST – Closing Keynote Address

Building on a Firm Foundation, by Dr. Marvin McMickle

The closing keynote address will be based on Matthew 16:13-20 and will be live-streamed in Webinar format.

Cost: Both individual and group registration options are available; group registration consists of up to 4 individuals from the same church or organization. For individuals attending three to four workshops, the best value is the “All-Access” Individual Registration Pricing. Those who are in a group registration may choose as many of the workshops as they would like.

“All-Access” Individual Registration Pricing (includes all 4 workshops and 2 keynotes):

$75 per individual, if register by February 7, 2021. (Note: Beginning, February 8, individual price increases by $25. Register early and save!).

Individual Workshop Pricing (select which workshops to attend; 2 keynotes are included):

$25 per individual, if register by February 7, 2021. (Note: Beginning, February 8, individual price increases by $10. Register early and save!).

Group Registration Pricing (for 1 church/organization, with 2-3 participants; choose any workshop/workshops; 2 keynotes included):

$150 per group (up to 3 participants from the same church/organization), if register by February 7, 2021. (Note: Beginning February 8, group registration price increases by $25. Register early and save!).

Financial assistance may be available for this event. To inquire, please contact Erin Mills, Coordinator for the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation (CSJR).

Registration: Online registration is open. Click here to register. Participants will be able to select the number of workshops to attend. Access to the keynote addresses will be free, with registration required.

Registered participants will receive Zoom meeting links ahead of the workshop dates. The keynote addresses will be provided as separate links for participants to view.

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