August 16, 2005

The Diocese of Chicago, in conjunction with Province V is offering a unique learning opportunity for those working with adults, youth and children in lifelong Christian formation, called "Whose Church is it Anyway?"

This two-day event, held August 26-27 at the conference center of the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois, is geared towards adult formation leaders, church school teachers, catechists, clergy, youth ministry coordinators, youth group leaders, religious education directors, youth ministers, Journey to Adulthood (JTA) leaders, and others.

Those in attendance will participate in interactive workshops, hands-on use of resources, and brainstorming sessions for exploring questions and exchanging ideas and experiences. The Rev. Linda Grenz, director of LeaderResources, will conduct the plenary sessions and serve as the event's narrator.

"Whose Church is it Anyway?" will offer more than 50 learning experiences on topics related to adult learning, youth and young adults, children, technology and stewardship. Participants will leave with a notebook of handouts from each of the learning experiences.

Registration fee includes lodging, meals, and materials: single $150; double $125; commuter $40 per person, per day (fee includes meals and materials.) Scholarship assistance is available.

For information call Anne Cothran in the Office of Christian Formation, Diocese of Chicago, at 312.751.4206 or email acothran@epischicago.org. The registration brochure and form are also available online at http://www.epischicago.org/.

Note: The following title is available from the Episcopal Book/Resource Center, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017; 800.334.7626; http://www.episcopalbookstore.org/.

To Read: AN AMAZING JOURNEY: The Church of England's Response to Institutional Racism by Glynne Elizabeth Patricia Gordon-Carter, B.A. Dip. Ed, M.Sc. (London, England: Church House Publishing, 2003).

From the publisher: How has the Church responded to the challenge to combat institutional racism? To what extent are the issues being addressed by church schools, clergy and parishes? How are theological colleges and courses responding to the importance of preparing and training ordinands for leadership in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-faith Britain?

These are some of the questions that have challenged the Church of England in its struggle to understand racism and the way that it is used by institutions, maybe unwittingly, to disadvantage minority ethnic people.

The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report acted as a catalyst and forced the Church to take a fresh look at itself with respect to its record in combating institutional racism. An Amazing Journey provides a fascinating view of the Church at the start of the 21st century.

Glynne Elizabeth Patricia Gordon-Carter is Jamaican by birth and was educated at Mannings High School, St Andrew High School, the University of the West Indies and London University.

She has lived and worked in Trinidad and Tobago primarily in the field of education and became inaugural Principal of Bishop's Centenary College in 1972. In 1987, while living in Britain, she was appointed by the General Synod of the Church of England to develop the work of the Committee on Black Anglican Concerns. This was a new area of work because for the first time the church was being challenged to combat institutional racism at the heart of its structures. She was the first Black person to be appointed to a senior position in the church structures at the national level- Senior Executive Officer.

Gordon-Carter recently served as conference coordinator for the Third International Conference on Afro-Anglicanism, which was held in Toronto, Canada July 20-27, 2005. She currently resides in Trinidad with her husband Gilbert and serves as director of Bishop Anstey High School East and Trinity College East, two new Anglican secondary schools.

Episcopal News Service