Andrea Cano, who works for the United Church of Christ and is based in Portland, Oregon, sent along this e-mail for distribution. For additional information contact the Central Pacific Conference of the UCC.
Portland, OR – God is Still Seeking Racial Justice is the theme of a timely multiracial, multicultural national consultation slated for Nov. 10-13, 2005, Ambridge Event Center, 300 NE Multnomah St, Portland, Oregon, as part of the retirement celebration of the 41 years of ministry of the Rev. Dr. Hector E. Lopez, Co-Conference Minister of the UCC Central Pacific Conference.
The planning team comprised of the leadership from the CPC Conference in partnership with the UCC Office of General Ministries, Local Church Ministries, Justice and Witness, Wider Church Ministries, and representatives from the Council for Hispanic Ministries, Pacific Island and Asian American Ministries, and United Black Christians, is extending a wide invitation and extravagant welcome to all people who see racial justice as a foundational element of the United Church of Christ to come and share with each other their mutual stories.
Explains Rev. Lopez, “As I pondered my upcoming retirement I wondered how best to celebrate the ending of my journey of ministry within the community of the UCC. The thought of a vast banquet with countless people roasting me was not too exciting. But then I thought that the fulminating reason for my coming to ministry was God’s incessant call to our generation for racial justice. The events and people of the 1950’ and 1960’s such as the Brown Act, Rosa Mae Parks, Dr. King Jr., Larry Itliong, Wounded Knee, and Cesar Chavez were the impelling reason for my heeding a call. So, I thought it would be appropriate to end as I began, with the focus on racial justice. The consultation can be a helpful resource to local churches, conferences, ecumenical partners, and our national church as we assess the state of our mutual ministry for racial justice and discern what God is calling us yet to do.”
Speakers confirmed to date are former UCC President Paul Sherry, Linda Jaramillo, and Larry Burnley. The event will feature the voices reflecting upon the past, present and future from every major community within the UCC family on an intergenerational basis – African American, Latino, Pacific Islander, Asian American, Native American, European American, and the international presence, through worship, plenaries, mixed groups to discern God’s call to the People of God, fellowship, cultural and artistic expressions, and visits to local exemplary racial and ethnic projects in the Portland Metropolitan area. It is anticipated that inspired common resolutions emerging from the discussions will contribute to a Convent of Unity and Commissioning at the close of the consultation.
Registration for the event is $75 which will include the closing banquet. Pre-registration and information about housing at union hotels, homestays, travel can be obtained by calling (503) 228 3178, by requesting via e-mail: [email protected], or visiting the website in early June: www.cpcucc.org.
