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2008 Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, July 20 – Wednesday, July 23rd
Tentative Schedule (subject to change)
What a great time to be alive! What a great time to be together! The ICCC will hold its 59th Annual Conference beginning July 20th with a worship service that will include a Mass Choir of singers from area churches in Los Angeles.
The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, one of America’s premier preachers will deliver the sermon. And that’s just the beginning; after worship we’ll gather for our all-conference luncheon, a new innovation two years ago with increasing attendance each year. The luncheon now attracts more people than any conference event with the exception of the Church in Radburn Foundation Bible Study and the closing banquet.
 The Spirit Chorale of Los Angeles
will perform at Conference!
The Spirit Chorale celebrates over 14 years on a journey of preserving music
of African American composers; especially the Negro spiritual. Director and
founder, Byron J. Smith has the pleasure of working with some of the most sought-after voices in Los Angeles to make up this dynamic choral ensemble. The chorale will perform a concert on Monday evening. Director Smith will provide many outstanding gospel and uplifting arrangements! Visit their website for more information. www.spiritchorale.com
James Forbes to Preach at Conference
by Michael Livingston
I have had the great pleasure to hear many of the great preachers of today, Gardner Taylor, Fred Craddock, Thomas Long, Barbara Brown Taylor, Jeremiah Wright, Renita Weems, Frederick Buechner along with others that could be named. Among that number belongs the name of the Rev. Dr. James Forbes Jr., the Pastor Emeritus of one of the great churches in modern America history, the Riverside Church in Manhattan. Dr. Forbes is the latest of a distinguished line of brilliant preachers that have brought the gospel to life for our time: Harry Emerson Fosdick, Ernest Campbell, and William Sloan Coffin Jr. Dr. Forbes will be the opening preacher for the Annual Conference in Los Angeles on Sunday morning July 20th. He will also be the bible study presenter on Monday morning at 9:15a.m. and will be our guest at lunch on Monday to be in dialogue with ICCC pastors (though all are welcome to the lunch).
There are many people who can like me remember the first sermon they heard Jim Forbes preach. For me it was a sermon that used the acronym “HANNAH,” representing “Heaven’s Agenda and Needs and the Needs and Agenda of Humanity.” It was a masterful interpretation of a vividly recalled biblical narrative. Dr. Forbes is a regular at the Festival of Homiletics, an annual continuing education event that features many of the best preachers and teachers of preaching in the nation and attracts hundreds of pastors from all over the country. I had the pleasure of introducing him this past summer when he preached at the 60th anniversary of the beginning of Faith and Order work of National Council of Churches. Like other great preachers of the past and the present, Dr. Forbes addresses major questions of our time by plumbing the deep truths of scripture and casting the light of God’s truth and grace upon the condition of our humanity. He does so with passion, creativity, spirituality, insight and humor. He helps us to laugh at our foolishness, to weep at our sorrow, to challenge our complacency and to act for justice for our own salvation and the healing and salvation of our world.
For more of ICCC Executive Director, Michael Livingston's article, click here.
Context at the Crossroads: Eileen Lindner to Speak at Annual Conference
by Michael Livingston
 Eileen Lindner’s tenure at the National Council of Churches is peerless. For over thirty years Dr. Lindner has served the ecumenical movement through her scholarship, her research, her wit, and her profound commitment to children in our society. The Rev. Dr. Eileen W. Lindner is Director of Organizational Development of the National Council of Churches USA. She is editor of the NCC's annual Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches, widely recognized as the most accurate and complete compilation of facts and figures on U.S. and Canadian churches and organizations.
Just what are some of the roads converging that challenge the church with a radically re-ordered religious and cultural landscape at the beginning of the 21st century? Dr. Lindner is ideally prepared to offer a provocative analysis of the religious crossroads at this moment in history and will be our keynote speaker on Tuesday morning.
To learn more about Dr. Eileen Lindner, click here.
Town Hall: Sunday Evening
Sunday evening we’ll set up the microphones and open the floor for the free expression of perspectives about whatever is on your mind. I suspect that many of you will want to express your views about the presidential election that is generating so much excitement and passionate debate. This contest is a forum on the many critical issues that each of us confronts as individuals and that we face as a nation in our troubled world: war, health care, gas prices and home foreclosures, education, the environment, and many more. Through the town hall format we’ll demonstrate a vital part of our heritage—the conviction that we value unity through our God given diversity. We are not going to agree on everything, and it will not diminish our love for one another or our belonging together in the body of Christ. We’re at a crossroads in our national life; will we elect a woman or an African American as President?
Travelin' Oops will entertain us during the Banquet Dinner on Wednesday. Oops is part of The Life In Christ Circus, a clown ministry troupe out of Omaha, NE. Christ Clowns add a new dimension to the circus clown. They are "fools for Christ" in the best sense of those words of St. Paul (1 Cor. 4:8-13). For more information about The Life In Christ Circus, click here.
2008 Scheduled Worskhops
The Tribal Church
As many families and churches are at an important crossroad, it is vital for us to understand the particular situation of adults in their twenties and thirties. In this workshop, Carol Howard Merritt will discuss the realities of ministering to adults under the age of forty by discussing their sociological context, looking at our congregational gifts, and developing a concrete, practical plan for intergenerational community. Rev. Carol Merritt received the 2008 Award of Merit from the Religious Communicators Council for her book, Tribal Church.
 Prayer: Life Force of the Church
The Revs. Ina Brooks and Cay Randall-May will explore the many ways that prayer and meditation have catalyzed positive change in the Church during historical and modern times. Because we value a balance between study about prayer and actual participation in prayer, this workshop will be an interactive experience. We will pray together for Holy Spirit to open our minds and hearts to the issues that challenge today’s Church at the crossroads. Discussion will begin with the role of prayer in the historical Great Spiritual Awakenings which have occurred in this country and elsewhere in the past two centuries. We'll look at patterns of change in the Church in response to these revivals of prayer activity. Next we'll examine how prayer activity is g magnified through modern technological advances, such as the internet, and the impact of these advances on the Church's prayer life. We'll brainstorm ways to strengthen the ICCC through prayer to unite congregations and individuals and strengthen our spiritual mission.
 The Poverty of Global Climate Change: Effects on the Church
Join National Council of Churches’ environmental director, Cassandra Carmichael, as she presents information on how global climate change is affecting core church ministries such as hunger, refugee resettlement, and disaster relief. Discover the effects of global climate change in the U.S. and abroad, especially on vulnerable populations. Through discussion and interactive activities, participants will learn how the church can respond to build a more sustainable and just world in the midst of global climate change.
Race and Religious Pluralism: New Challenges for the 21st Century
The United States is challenged by an increasing racial, cultural and religious plurality today.
This workshop, led by our Executive Director, Michael Livingston, will examine some of the
dynamics that are changing the racial and religious landscape of our society, explore the challenges of religious pluralism, and offer models for encouraging dialogue across the barriers of race and religion.
Families at the Crossroads: Retirement
The subject of this workshop will be the decisions faced by working people and their families as retirement age approaches. Those decisions are complicated by the need for adequate retirement income and issues involving healthcare, housing, family and community in an increasingly expensive society. The workshop will be lead by the Rev. Cecil Miles, who along with his wife founded the Crusaders Community Church in Inglewood, CA. Rev. Miles has a Master of Social Work degree (MSW) from the California State University, Sacramento. He worked for 37 years as a Social Services Administrator for the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services retiring in 2001.
 Street Youth: The Poorest of the Poor
Father River Sims of the Society of Franciscan Workers will explore ministry on the streets: how the church can minister to the “poorest of the poor.” We will discuss the need for the presence of the message of Christ on the streets. We will discuss ways of working with street youth, and how it can become a vital ministry of the local church. Father River has been the head of Temenos Catholic Worker, working with street youth and male sex workers for the past thirteen years. He offers a ministry of presence and of sacraments. Fr. River has worship weekly on the streets, provides meals, and simply offers presence.
ICCC: From Today to Tomorrow
Nearly 60 years from its beginning; the ICCC is at a crossroads. Where are we today and how do we get to tomorrow? What does or could our future look like? This workshop will be a discussion led by President Leroy McCreary and our Executive Director, Michael Livingston. Other board members may be present to lend their perspectives and to reflect recent work by the board on the vision for the future of the ICCC.
F amilies at the Crossroads: Youth Challenges in Today’s World
We hear about shootings in high schools, gang activity in the big cities, death as a result of illegal road racing, teen pregnancy and more. How are our Christian young people dealing with the challenges of today’s world events? How can we as adults, parents, and church leaders help our youth deal and succeed? All this will be discussed in an active workshop led by ICCC Vice-President, Saundra Nelson.
How Did We Get From There to Here? – Christ at the Crossroads throughout the Council’s History
This workshop will feature a panel led by Immediate Past President Herb Freitag. The panel will offer perspectives on the reasons for the community church movement and the history of the Council. Panelists will also offer anecdotes from their experiences in the Council, both serious and humorous.
Conference Leaders
Youth Program
The director of the youth program at conference this year is Libby Pearce. Libby has attended the previous three conferences as chaperone to the teens from Chapel by the Sea. Libby was their youth group/teen leader for several years and remains an active member of the Chapel. She lives in Clearwater, FL and has three children.
 Music Director
Roberta Smith, from Wilson Memorial Union Church in Watchung, NJ returns this year as our Music Director. Watch upcoming Christian Community Newsletters and mailings for scheduled choir practices open to conference attendees.
Available Positions
The Nominating Committee is seeking suggestions for individuals to be considered for Council Leadership. If you have suggestions, or would like to be considered yourself, please submit names NO LATER THAN May 30, 2008. Click here for details.
Volunteers are needed!!
The Annual Conference Planning committee needs volunteers for this year's conference. Individuals are needed to work registration, the book store and worship services, just to name a few. If you are available for a few hours during your stay and would like to help, please contact the Council office to be scheduled.
Call for Conference Chapel Volunteers
We will offer a Chapel for prayer and meditation during the 2008 Conference. We need your help. Could you guide prayer or meditation, lead a prayer vigil, or sit in worshipful silence with someone in need? please contact Rev. Ina Brooks (510-261-9345 or ina.e@sbcglobal.net) or Rev. Cay Randall-May (602-404-8646 or caypraynow@aol.com). We welcome your suggestions for service, and will make some of our own, to enrich your Conference experience as a Chapel Volunteer.
2009 Annual Conference in St. Louis, MO
 The ICCC Board of Trustees took action to invite members of the Council to develop visual representations of the annual conference theme, for consideration to use on the conference book cover and T-shirt. Both hard copy and electronic copy should be sent to the Council Office by May 30, 2008 in preparation for the 2009 conference. It must be camera-ready and consist of no more than 4 colors.
Theme: Christ, Color, and Context: Reconciliation in the Body of Christ
Text: Galatians 3:27-29
“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.”
Entries may be submitted by individuals or congregations. If your entry is selected, you will be awarded $100.00.
 Hold The Date!
Ecumenical Work Week
August 17-23, 2008
New Orleans, LA
Be an ICCC volunteer along with Michael Livingston, 2nd Vice-President Saundra Nelson and a host of ecumenical volunteers from NCC churches in a week of work in New Orleans and Mississippi (probably Biloxi or Gulf Port). Visit the National Council of Churches website for contact information and an application. www.ncccusa.org
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