“Shift your space - transform the world" provides young adults with ecumenical connections for peace and justice

“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 9^th 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.

“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 Ninth 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 Ninth 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 9^th Assembly Pre-Event.”

“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 Ninth Assembly Pre-Event can register for “Shift your space — transform the world” on the Annual Meeting registration form.
Those who are not attending the Annual Meeting can register by emailing the following information to us-dov@wcc-coe.org:

Name
Address/City/State/Zip
Phone
Email
Date of Birth
Denomination
Occupation
Anything you would like to share about your interest/work for peace and justice.

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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SCHEDULE

Housing is located at 1118 East 54th street at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Youth Center. 

Saturday – October 8, 2005

Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV):  Summary and Issues

Gathering and program will be held at Augustana Lutheran Church on 55th St. between Woodlawn and University. 

Sunday – October 9, 2005

WCC Broader Vision/Ecumenical Connections

Program will be held at Augustana Chapel, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago  

Monday – October 10, 2005

US Conference for the World Council of Churches Pre-9^th Assembly Gathering  

Participants who are not attending the Annual Meeting of the US Conference for the WCC will return home. Participants who are attending the Annual Meeting of the US Conference for the WCC will help plan a Young Adult led plenary presentation. This planning session will be held at the site of the Pre-Assembly event, in Love International A at the Crowne Plaza (O’Hare) Hotel, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018 Tel. 1-888-642-7344.