In the context of America’s rising Christian nationalism, pastors and church leaders face a particular challenge: how to navigate the hot-button issues that are being used to divide people while leading public witness at a moment when many see faith as a principle driver of division. This 4-session seminar is a Lenten journey designed to help church leaders understand the history and culture of Christian nationalism, analyze how their own congregation and community is impacted by it, and develop practices for growth in public moral witness.

Participants will:

Receive a copy of Revolution of Values: Reclaiming Public Faith for the Common Good

Meet as a cohort with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, 12-1pm EST on Fridays, March 4th-25th (in person and virtual options)

Participate in a one-on-one consult about public ministry in their context

Connect with colleagues who seek to offer a faithful public witness in this moment

Cost: $100

Scholarships available. Donate here if you would like to sponsor this opportunity for someone.

Join us in Americus, Georgia, for a gathering to celebrate Clarence Jordan’s prophetic witness by plotting how to build up a new world of peace, community, and racial justice today. In addition to keynotes from leaders of today’s God Movement, the Symposium will offer trainings in nonviolent direct action, moral fusion organizing, and sustaining practices for Christian community.

REGISTER NOW FOR EARLY-BIRD RATES

Intensive pre-symposium trainings will be offered at Koinonia Farm during the day on Thursday, March 8th.

Our large group gathering will be hosted Thursday evening thru Saturday afternoon in Americus, Georgia at the First Baptist Church and the First Methodist Church. It is especially moving to have these two churches hosting this special event. In 1967, deacons at First Baptist removed members of Koinonia from a Christmas service because the delegation from Koinonia Farm was a mixed-race group. That same year congregants at First Methodist blocked the church doors not allowing Clarence Jordan, African-American friends, and others to enter. Americus has come a long way. Let our world go further.

In gathered worship, we’ll join some of the 21st-century’s most compelling Freedom Singers and cultural artists in imagining the new world that God makes possible.

In workshops, we’ll engage in intergenerational conversation about where we are and where we go from here, inviting Civil Rights Movement veterans to hear and speak to young leaders engaged in today’s justice movements.

And on Friday night, your Symposium registration includes seat at the historic Rylander Theater for Sumter Player’s live production of The Cotton Patch Gospel Musical, based on Clarence Jordan’s Southern translation of the Gospel story.

Chaired by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, the Symposium is the culminating celebration of Koinonia Farm’s 75th birthday.

Registration includes lunch on Friday and Saturday as well as access to all Symposium events and activities. Pre-Symposium trainings at Koinonia Farm on Thursday require a separate registration. Stay over for a birthday party and a Koinonia Family Reunion to celebrate Koinonia’s 75th birthday on Sunday (also requires a separate registration; contact Koinonia Farm directly). 

Joining Koinonia Farm as co-hosts are:

School for Conversion

Repairers of the Breach

Fellowship of Reconciliation

Red Letter Christians

Area Hotel Information:
The following local hotels have a special rate under “Koinonia Farm” and breakfast is included:

Quality Inn
1205 S. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
Americus GA 31719
229-924-4431
Room rate is $74.00 + tax for reservations made by 2/22/2018

Hampton Inn
1609 East Lamar Street
Americus GA 31709
229-924-3890
Room rate is $89.00 + tax for reservations made by 3/1/2018

Days Inn
1605 East Lamar Street
Americus GA 31709
229-924-4001
Room rate is $77.00 + tax for reservations made by 2/18/2018

The Windsor Hotel has specials rates under “CJS” and does not include breakfast:

The Windsor Hotel
125 West Lamar Street
Americus GA 31709
229-924-1555
Room rates are $103.49 + tax and $206.99 + tax (for suites) for reservations made by 2/8/2018.

Church Beyond the Walls is about building friendships between church communities and people returning home after incarceration.

Our spring Church Beyond the Walls 101 retreat is March 24th & 25th. The class is designed for churches or organizations who seek a deeper understanding of incarceration in the United States, its historic connection to race, and how to begin to build an effective prison ministry within a beloved community to embrace those directly affected by mass incarceration. We encourage groups from various church communities to attend together, so that they can have a shared experience and bring back to their larger community.

Space is limited. Click here to register. (Scholarships are available; SFC works hard to make all of our events available to anyone who wants to participate.)

For more information, please contact:

Scott Adams, School For Conversion
Director of Church Beyond The Walls
Scott@schoolforconversion.org
(443) 992-5487