Church of the Brethren Agencies Encourage Brethren Young Adults to Participate in Peace Conference Oct. 8-10, 2005

“Shift Your Space Transform the World: Young Adults Connecting Ecumenically for Peace and Justice,” October 8-10, 2005 in Chicago, IL, is an event for young adult leaders in peace and justice work that will provide opportunities to draw on the strength of the unity of the church by building ecumenical connections. Seminarians, students and youth delegates to the WCC’s 9th Assembly will find links between their peace and justice work and the World Council of Churches, and engage with the vision for peace promoted by the initiative, Decade to Overcome Violence: Churches Seeking Reconciliation & Peace 2001-2010 (DOV).

The gathering will be Saturday, October 8 at noon through Monday, October 10 at noon in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL. Hyde Park is home to the University of Chicago Divinity School, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, McCormick Theological Seminary and others. “Seminarians are at the forefront of innovative peace and justice work,” says Jenny Phillips, US Decade to Overcome Violence Program Assistant and coordinator of this event. “We look forward to the wisdom and insight Chicago seminarians can share.”

Activities will include participation in local peace and justice projects, including an action with the Chicago chapter of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. There will be time for sharing resources, and space for theological reflection with peace and justice leaders in the WCC and member communions. In addition, attendees will participate in a visioning process with members of the US Decade to Overcome Violence Committee to determine how the committee can best support young adults in ecumenical peace and justice work.

The Church of the Brethren is represented on the US Decade Committee by Phil Jones of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and Matt Guynn of On Earth Peace. "It is our hope that Brethren young adults will be able to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to explore peace and justice in this ecumenical, academic, and interactive setting", Jones states. Scholarships are available for Brethren who might need assistance in order to attend.

“Shift Your Space Transform the World” will overlap with the Annual Meeting of the US Conference for the World Council of Churches and the WCC 9th Assembly Pre-Event, which will be held October 10-12, 2005 at the O’Hare Crown Plaza Hotel in Chicago, IL. The morning of Monday, October 10 will be used to prepare a young adult presentation for the Annual Meeting plenary to be held that evening. Young adults are invited to stay and participate in the Annual Meeting for as long or as little as they like. “The 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches has been deemed “the youth assembly” by General Secretary, Dr. Sam Kobia,” says Rev. Deborah DeWinter, Program Executive for the United States. “We are excited for the wisdom and passion US young adults will bring to the US Annual Meeting and 9th Assembly Pre-Event.” Registration information is available at www.wcc-usa.org.

“Shift Your Space Transform the World” will cost $75 for the event, food and hostel-style lodging at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Youth Center. For those who live in the area or prefer to secure other lodging, the event will cost $35, including lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.

Those adults attending the Annual Meeting of the US Conference for the World Council of Churches and the WCC 9th Assembly Pre-Event can register for “Shift Your Space Transform the World” on the Annual Meeting registration form, available at www.wcc-usa.org.

The registration deadline is Friday, September 16, 2005. If you have questions, or would like to receive information about future US DOV young adult events, email Jenny Phillips, US DOV Program Assistant at us-dov@wcc-coe.org.

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