Welcome & Opening Worship

Rev. Nannette Dixon

Opening Ritual Litha Booi

Rev. Dr. Lis Valle-Ruiz

Plenary 1: Reframing Healing and Activism

In the age post-COVID, we are facing a public square that has challenges further exacerbated by the consequences of multiple pandemics. Our design challenge in theological education is to carefully and critically ensure that we do not “re-invest” in systems that operated to the isolation and exclusion of others. What Jesus did was to remind the bent-over woman that her current view was not all that she possessed. Even in the bent over-crippled state she already possessed what she needed to be well. So, he simply called it forth---You Are---You Are healed!! Another dimension of impact in the curriculum redesign is a focus on innovative solutions to the crippled state we find. How have we called out “ingenuity, persistence-connections-imagination and our faith” to create and sustain meaningful solutions to both personal and communal challenges.

State of McCormick

Mr. David Crawford, President

Plenary 2: Connecting Theological Education and Professional Life

Culturally Responsive Practice

Dr. Dominica McBride

Given our historic and current state as a society – oppressive systems, stark disparities, and a lack of public healing discourse, we must consider how we transcend both spiritually and practically. Considering the potential of culturally inspired social innovation and divesting from oppressive systems, this workshop will deepen into Culturally Responsive Practice. It will explore how we, professionals, leaders, and residents of neighborhoods and cities, can lead and participate in social innovation with communities and create new programs, structures, and ecologies based on cultural strengths and being contextually responsive and responsible. It will walk participants through a theoretical and practical approach and process to co-creating fitting solutions that help us evolve past current conditions and into a liberated and thriving society.

Plenary 3: Modeling Solutions

We Already Have All That We Need

Participants will engage in activities of imagination and problem-solving around key curiosities/questions.

Alumni Celebration

Opening with Musical Selection