Crossing Borders, Encountering God

an experiential conference on border issues confronting the church and the world…

If you're not able to attend the Convocation of Peacemakers on the east coast, you may want to consider this conference in the southwest.

The conference is designed as a conversation where American participants can join with leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the National Presbyterian Church in Mexico (Iglesia Nacional Presbyteriana de Mexico) to learn and explore Biblical understandings of immigration, living in a cross-cultural society and eliminating injustice and fear. Workshops will be offered on 24 different topics, including health care and education issues within immigrant communities, Presbyterian border ministries, PC(USA)’s immigration policy statements and advocacy, building cross cultural ministries in presbyteries, Middle Eastern Christians in the United States, and equipping congregations for immigrant ministries.

Conference leaders include the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 219th General Assembly and the Rev. Saul Feria, the moderator National Presbyterian Church in Mexico; Dr. Minerva Carcaño, bishop of the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church; Dr. Claudio Carvalhaes, assistant professor of worship and preaching at Louisville Seminary; Dr. Carlos Cardoza-Orlandi, professor of world Christianity at Columbia Seminary and staff of Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/PW ministry area of the GAMC.

"‘Crossing Borders: Encountering God’ provides an opportunity for a bi-national conversation about border and immigration issues,” said the Reverend Janet DeVries, synod executive and stated clerk of the Synod of the Southwest, “We discover ourselves as neighbors and friends in faith through honest dialogue about complex issues of church and culture.”

“The conference is addressing important and timely issues that are of concern not only to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), but to the nation,” said the Reverend Raafat Girgis, associate for multicultural congregational support at the GAMC. “Multicultural ministries are about breaking barriers and boundaries, and welcoming new immigrants into the life of the church.”

The cost of the conference is $140 for registration only and begins at $275 for registration and lodging. The pre-conference is an additional $200. Registration is offered through the Synod of the Southwest website, www.synodsw.org.