WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Thursday, October 18th, Workshops

• "Speaking the Truth in Love" -- a group dialogue about this major, ground-breaking paper that will constitute a protocol for the Council and its member churches on how they are to issue statements concerning issues that cause deep division within the Church universal and churches in and between their particular traditions. This dialogue will be led by the members of the Commission on Christian Unity of the Council. The paper has been five years in the drafting and will, we hope, make an important contribution to ecumenical work, not only in Kentucky, but in the whole world. This workshop will be offered twice to allow delegates to consider the document in depth.
  
• "Serving the Latino Population in Kentucky" -- The Migrant Network will present a panel on serving the Latino population in Kentucky. The panel will include discussion of legal, health care, and faith-based services available currently, and that are needed, in Kentucky, for our growing Hispanic neighbors.
  
• "Issues Facing the Churches"-This workshop, moderated Dr. Kemper, will feature a panel discussion among outstanding church leaders in Kentucky and pastors about the critical challenges confronting particular denominations. We will search for commonalities and think together about how these issues might be related to the central question: "What does the Lord require of us?"
  
• "Legislative Update On Economic Justice Concerns" -- The Kentucky General Assembly will meet in its "long" regular session in 2002. The workshop will address such topics as the continuing levels of poverty in Kentucky despite the drastic reduction in the welfare roles; the possibility of tax relief and earned income tax credits for the working poor; health care and mental health issues; and all the budgetary issues that will be confronting the legislature in a year of severe revenue short-falls. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to hear key legislators and not-for-profit advocates for the poor discuss these issues. This workshop will be led by various members of the Commission on Justice Ministries of the Council.

Friday, October 19th, morning Workshops

• "Speaking the Truth in Love" a group dialogue about this major, ground-breaking paper that will constitute a protocol for the Council and its member churches on how they are to issue statements concerning issues that cause deep division within the Church universal and churches in and between their particular traditions. This dialogue will be led by the members of the Commission on Christian Unity of the Council. The paper has been five years in the drafting and will, we hope, make an important contribution to ecumenical work, not only in Kentucky, but in the whole world.
  
• "Legislative Update on Gambling Expansion, the Environment, and Criminal Justice" -- Participants will have an opportunity to talk with legislators and other key leaders from social justice organizations about these critical and pressing concerns.
  
• "Being Prophetic in A Pastoral Way"-- This workshop, especially for clergy, will feature conversation with Bill Coffin on how to preach and work with members of your church on controversial matters of social justice.
  
• "Working on Race Relations by Having Fun: One Community's Experience"-a presentation by Kathy Miles, chair of the KCC's Rural Life Issues Program Unit, and J.H. Atkins, Jr., of Center College, that will showcase Danville's efforts to break down walls and divisions caused by racism.
  
• "Churches Uniting in Christ: Implications for Local Ministry and Practice" -- Led by Dr. Michael Kinnamon, executive director of the Consultation on Church Union, workshop participants will have an opportunity to reflect with Dr. Kinnamon on how we can live into the new reality of "churches uniting in Christ", to be inaugurated at the COCU annual meeting during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January, 2002. Dr. Kinnamon will also address, briefly, the entire assembly on Friday morning on the topic: "Churches Uniting In Christ and The Unity We Seek."