The Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia 100th Annual Convention

Saturday @ Diocesan Convention January 26, 2019 Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, Virginia

The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Keynote Speaker Presiding Bishop

Morning Program, Bishop Mark Bourlakas’s Address, & Bishop Curry’s Keynote – 9:00 AM

Afternoon Workshops – Following Lunch at 1:00 PM

Gainsboro Pilgrimage: A Neighborhood Walk for Reconciliation Reconciliation and justice pilgrimages are part of The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice, and are a recommended vehicle for “Practicing the Way of Love”. Adults and youth will receive an overview of urban renewal in Roanoke and walk a few blocks in the Gainsboro neighborhood, immediately adjacent to the Hotel Roanoke. Participants will stop at key sites to reflect on what was destroyed by urban renewal and the long-term effect of it on residents, mostly African American. The pilgrimage will conclude at the Dumas Center, where adults who grew up in the Gainsboro neighborhood and lived through urban renewal, will share their stories. Presiding Bishop Curry will offer final words and prayer for reconciliation and healing. Signups for this walk will be limited. Warm coats, hats, and gloves are recommended. Only the worst of weather will cancel this event! Episcopal Evangelism 101 through the Way of Love – Mill Mountain Room A not-so-basic training designed to introduce a fresh, humble, effective and Episcopal approach to the spiritual practice of evangelism as experienced through the Way of Love. Participants will be given the resources needed for understanding the Jesus Movement, the genesis of the Way of Love practices, and the process of redefining evangelism, along with an Evangelism Tool-Kit -packed full of ideas and tips for beginning this work in any context. Jerusalem Greer, Consulting Evangelist for The Episcopal Church and member of The Way of Love creation and leadership team, will lead this workshop. Digital Missioning – Monroe Room The worldwide web is a new missionary context, a real place where people experience a world of relationships, challenges, and growth. This workshop includes Exploratory Exercises designed to prepare people to practice evangelism as they use social media. Participants will be given resources such as: Best Practices, Tools for Creating Content, and how to lead an Adult Forum on Exploring Evangelism through Social Media in any context. Christopher Sikkema, Manager for Special Projects in the Office of Communication for The Episcopal Church, will lead this workshop. Episcopal Migration Ministries: An Introduction – Buck Mountain Room Today, there are more than 68 million people forcibly displaced worldwide; of that number, more than 25 million are refugees forced to flee their home countries and seek safety in another. This is the largest forced displacement since World War II. At the same time, anti-refugee and anti-immigrant sentiment is on the rise throughout the western world. Join Allison Duvall, Program Manager for Church Relations and Engagement, from Episcopal Migration Ministries to discuss the refugee resettlement work of The Episcopal Church, and learn ways you and your congregation can take part in education, advocacy, and direct service to support refugees and immigrants.

43