Building Our Faith; Building Our Cities
UUA Continental Conference on Urban Ministries

Congress Plaza Hotel
Chicago, Illinois 60605
March 8-11, 2001

This conference was for Unitarian Universalists from congregations and organizations committed to urban ministry through location, programs, projects, interest or funding. Our goals were to build our skills, our networks, and a deeper faith; remembering that it is our calling to help build cities committed to justice.

Third Urban Ministry Conference Begins
with Music, Celebration, and Challenge for the Future

(Chicago, IL; March 8, 2001) The third Continental Conference on Urban Ministry began on Thursday, March 8 at the Congress Plaza Hotel with the Rev. Mary Grigolia's piece, "Are You Ready to Sing", led by the Urban Ministry conference Choir. The choir, under the direction of Roberta Wallis, music director of the UU Congregation of the Palisades (New Jersey), energized the audience, seated in the ballroom of the stately hotel which was built in 1898.

170 people from across the continent have registered for this conference, which builds on the success of the first gathering, held in New Orleans in 1997, and a second conference, held in Baltimore in 1999. Following a chalice lighting that honored the work that all UUs do together, a musical 'geographical cheer' was offered, celebrating the places UUs have come from in traveling to the conference.

The Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris, Deputy Director of the UUA Department of Congregational, District and Extension Services, welcomed the group and introduced members of the local planning committee for the conference, who comprise the UU Urban Coalition of Chicago. Also thanked was Robin Nikora Dorson, Administrator of the department of Congregational, District and Extension Services, and coordinator of the event.

Members of each of the Chicago congregations that make up the UU Urban Church Council, welcomed those in attendance. Richard Pardo, past president of the UU Urban Church Council, talked about the impact of UUism on Chicago, noting particularly the Chicago Childrens Choir, which was started by the Rev. Christopher Moore. The Council, Pardo said, wants to strengthen the congregations and the voice of UUism in the community.

Following another musical selection, "So Glad I'm Here," by the conference choir, the Rev. William Sinkford, Director of the Department of Congregational, district and extension services, introduced the keynote speaker for the evening. (Click here for a full report on the keynote address.) Imam Al-Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid is the spiritual leader of one of the oldest extant Sunni Muslim congregations in America, the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Inc., located in Harlem, New York City. The Imam will remain at the Urban Church conference and will facilitate feedback discussions on his keynote address during the weekend.

The UUA's Urban Church Conference continues at the Congress Plaza Hotel through Sunday mid-day.

Reported and photographed for the web by Debbie Weiner; formatted for the web by Julie Albanese.

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Conference Program Highlights

Keynote Address:
"The Challenge of Modern Ministry in the Prophetic Tradition" 
Speaker: Imam Talib Abdur Rashid Imam Al-Hajj

Worship:
Friday Worship: Faithful Fools Street Ministry Inspires Urban Church Conference Attendees
Friday Worship: Sermon by the Rev. Kay Jorgensen, Faithful Fools Street Ministry, San Francisco  
Saturday Worship: Urban Church Conference Pays Homage To Cities
Saturday Worship: Sermon by the Rev. Edward Searle, Unitarian Church, Hinsdale, Illinois  
Sunday Worship: Urban Church Conference Participants Celebrate at Peoples Church in Chicago

Forum:
Candidates for UUA President and UUA Moderator
Moderated by: the Rev. William Murry, President of Meadville Lombard Theological School, Sponsored by UU Urban Churches of Chicago

Theology, Class and Race: Conference Dialogue:
Dialogue Process Guide
Dialogue on Race, Class and Theology Marks Focus of Urban Church Conference  
Speaker: The Rev. Jose Ballester
Bowens-Wheatley Sets Stage for Continuing Conversation on Race, Class and Theology 
Speaker: The Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley
Conversations on Race, Class and Theology Advance Congregational Dialogues on Urban Issues
Reflection on Race, Class and Theology UUA Urban Church Conference
Speaker: Robette Dias
Friday Reflection on Race, Class and Theology
Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Tracey Robinson-Harris
Where Race and Class Unite
Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Tracey Robinson-Harris

Workshops

A Theology of Solidarity
Speaker: Tony Johnson

A UU Agenda in the City
Speakers: Larry & Nancy Hutchison

Beating the Parish Bounds: A Path to the Streets
Speakers: Kay Jorgensen & Carmen Barsody

Beyond the Racial Divide 
Speaker: Jose Ballester

Building an Urban Outreach Ministry
Speakers: Ken Brown & Sherri Puchalsky

Cities as Solution: The Role of the Urban Church in Moving Toward Environmental Sustainability
Speaker: Clare Butterfield

Class, Young Adults (18-35) and Social Change
Speaker: Hank Pierce

Embracing the Challenges and Opportunities: Cyberspace and Your Congregation
Speaker: Deborah Weiner

Giving for the Future: Basic Bequests Program
Speaker: Susan Dame Greene

Heart Beat, Heart Beaten: UUs Help Survivors of Domestic Violence
Speaker: Kiessa Kay

Jesus and the African American UU Church Experience
Speakers: Elizabeth Ellis & Joe Cook

Leadership Training: Economic Justice and Community Development
Speakers: Pam Kelley & Damon Harrison

Make Times, Make Places
Speaker: Nina Grey

Ministry with Urban Youth
Speakers: Greg Stewart & Stillman White

Race, Ethnicity and Class
Facilitators: members of Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)

The Power of Covenant Groups for Urban Ministries
Speakers: Mellen Kennedy, Vicky Combs, & Connie Grant

Third Unitarian and Its Neighborhood
Speakers: Michelle Bentley & Stan Williams

Transformative Religious Education: Community Engagement & Theological Reflection
Speaker: Susan Harlow

Transgender 101: an introduction
Speaker: Barb Greve

Transitions in Urban Congregations
Speakers: Angela Merkert & Ken Brown

What Are We Called To Do?
Facilitator: Margaret Shaklee

What's New about Urban New Starts?
Speaker: Margaret L. Beard

White Anti-Racist Ministry: Comin' Into the Storm
Speakers: Kurt Kuhwald & Hope Johnson

United Power for Action and Justice
Speaker: Carol Skinner

Unstoppable! Feel the Pulse of Our Cities
Speaker: Janice Marie Johnson

Urban Church Coalition: Vision & Strategy for a New Coalition
Speaker: Bob Johnsen

UUs For Social Justice
Speakers: Bob Johnsen and Barbara Wells

This Conference is a program of the UUA Department for Congregational, District and Extension Services,
funded in part by the financial support of our congregations through the Annual Program Fund.

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