Workshops
Morning and afternoon workshop sessions are designed to for both experienced leaders as well as emerging practitioners.
Who is my neighbor?
This conference is focused on learning other peoples’ stories so that we can better know our neighbors, and build Christian community together with them. Several workshops are designed to help participants learn from church leaders of specific groups. Other workshops are designed for you to learn from experienced practitioners or from leading experts in the field of multicultural churches and organizations.
A complete workshop directory will be announced in September. Currently these titles and topics have been finalized.
-
Biblical Foundations and Christian Formation Strategies for Multicultural Congregations
Understanding biblical reconciliation creates a necessary foundation for congregations who embrace the task of empowering leaders, forming disciples, and building Christian community in an otherwise diverse society.
-
Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate
Immigration is one of the most complex and controversial issues of our time. Voices on all sides cry out for action and change. Many Christians find themselves torn between the desire to uphold laws and the call to minister to the vulnerable.
-
Understanding current socio-economic indicators and their relationship to historic racism
An attempt to understand how historic racism in America created systemic patterns and structures that still contribute to the socio-economic disparities experienced today, even in Minnesota.
-
Leading cultural and organizational change in a multicultural church setting
Three leaders of established congregations will share lessons and principles for leading organizational change as a congregation becomes more diverse.
-
Engaging local churches around questions of immigration
Soerens discusses a variety of ways that local churches across the country have learned about immigration, educated their congregations, and begun to reach out to serve immigrants in their communities
-
Scripture & Advocacy 101
Scripture calls us to advocate—to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” but many Christ-followers are unsure of how to do so. World Relief Advocacy and Policy Director Jenny Hwang provides practical tools for advocacy
-
Immigration: Legal basics for clergy and laypeople
*en español
This workshop will discuss the different paths to immigrate to the U.S., challenges to immigrating, immigration vocabulary, local resources, and best practices for clergy and laypersons. -
The ministry of historic African-American churches in Twin Cities’ neighborhoods.
Led by Rev. Richard Coleman, three pastors from historic African-American churches share their perspectives from many years of ministering within a larger society divided by race and ethnicity, and offer their hope and vision for reconciliation between neighbors.
-
Principles and building blocks for creating multicultural churches (and organizations)
Three pastors describe the foundational principles they are using to create a multicultural congregation.
-
Let God Be Free – Reclaiming the Kingdom in Our Discourse
How can people of faith be the counter cultural voice in a polarized public discussion? How do we capture the high ground of biblical sanity in the midst of clashing world views? Join Russ Knight and Peter Sjoblom as they continue a conversation which began 40 years ago and will continue till Jesus comes… maybe even beyond then.
-
Hispanic Christianity in Minnesota
3 Hispanic pastors give insight into the Hispanic population in Minnesota, the Christian community among them, and how other evangelical churches can better partner with these church communities.
-
Lunch Forum – Mechanisms to Foster Conversation
Join Russ Knight and Peter Sjoblom as they model principles for reclaiming the Kingdom in our discourse with one another. This forum is associated with the morning workshop Let God be Free, but attendance at that workshop is not necessary for this lunch forum.
-
Lunch Forum – Dialogue with Samuel Rodriguez
(en español) An informal dialogue with Samuel Rodriguez in Spanish. Bring questions, thoughts and ideas to the table while you converse over lunch.
Un diálogo informal con Samuel Rodríguez en español. Traer preguntas, pensamientos e ideas a la mesa mientras conversan durante el almuerzo.
-
Lunch Forum – Open Networking
Utilize lunch time to meet, network and dialogue with other leaders and conference participants.
