Come to the Table 2023 Workshop | Ekklesia
Workshop Title: Ekklesia: Reclaiming the Church’s Public Ministry To The World
Description: The church in America has a "branding" problem because we do not engage the world with the fullness of our witness to the new creation. Rev. Daniel Pryfogle describes this lack of the “fullness of a critical and creative witness” when he writes:
We critique unjust systems but neglect the creation of countercultural ventures. The critique is the basis of theological education, the focus of faith-rooted community organizing, and the content of much congregational teaching and preaching. But the Church has little to say about the creation of ventures that heal the world….
Consider that we advocate for living wages, but who will create the jobs? We push for policies to protect the environment, but who will create the new technologies that reduce carbon emissions, recycle waste, and harness sustainable sources of energy? We critique the unjust systems that trap people in poverty, but who will create the enterprises that build wealth in the broken places?
Our partial witness spiritualizes the new creation. Lacking the imagination to see God’s “new thing” as a material thing, the new creation is other-worldly. Yet the new creation concerns the whole of the created order. The new creation is not a replacement but a recovery project. It is the tikkun olam, the repairing of the world. The prophetic vision is nothing but concrete. Highways are made straight. Cities are rebuilt. Streets are restored as places in which to live (Isaiah 58).
This workshop aims to provide participants with tools that help them develop the “new creation,” through faith and asset-based community and economic development. Participants will leave with tools that help them:
Identify opportunities for community engagement that take into consideration the church’s resources;
Identify potential partners to address community issues and opportunities; and
Create imaginative projects that inspire the entire community to bring financial and human resources to take steps towards healing relationships and community issues and opportunities.
Workshop Leader :
Dr. Felicia LaBoy
Dr. Felicia LaBoy, is an Elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, faculty member of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry program in Strategic Leadership for Black Churches. She has a Ph.D., M.Div. Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary with concentrations in evangelism, theology, ethics, and history; MBA from Duke University; and a Master's degree in Christian Ministry from Indian Christian Ministry. In addition, she is the author of Table Matters: The Sacraments, Evangelism and Social Justice; Unstuck: 8 Steps You Can Take Right Now to Possess Your Promise; and Prophets to the Nations: Black Methodism, Black Methodism, Liberation, and the American Quest for Racial Justice. Her forthcoming book, Not for Women Only: Leadership Lessons from Women in the Bible, is scheduled to be released in Winter of 2023. Felicia is well known for her practical, pragmatic, and common-sense approach geared towards measurable results in business, academic, and church settings. In addition, Felicia is an experienced Fortune 100 company leader with over 30 years of experience in community and professional organization leadership. She continues to make her mark in the fields of community economics and leadership development; organizational transformation and redevelopment; and diversity beyond inclusion.
Registration is now open for Come to the Table scheduled for October 20 – October 22. We will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday with dinner and end at 12 noon on Sunday with worship. Please note that each person is required to register individually. If you wish to share a room with someone, you should include that person’s name on your registration form and vice versa. Single or double occupancy rooms with a private bath are available on a first come, first served basis. We are delighted to announce that the Synod is providing a subsidized registration fee of $225. This includes each person’s lodging and all meals except for Sunday lunch. If you wish to stay for Sunday lunch, there is an additional $15 fee.
For Ministers of the Word and Sacrament to feel free to attend Come to the Table and remain through Sunday, the Synod will livestream the worship service from Silver Bay on Sunday. This will allow congregations to worship even if their pastor is at Come to the Table. This weekend is always beautiful at Silver Bay with the trees in full fall colors. We hope to see you there.