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Calendar of Events Description of Events Seattle area Kalispell, MT Ritzville area Western Mennonite School Zion Mennonite Church Idaho area Bend, Oregon Regional Peace Gathering Salem Mennonite Church Drift Creek Camp (DCC) Publicity: PNMC Poster PNMC Brochure Zion Poster Zion Bulletin Insert Young Adult Event DCC Annual Meeting Scholarship: Published Works Online Works Living the Word, Liberated by Law |
Perry Yoder Visit to Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference
The Peace and Justice group from Zion Mennonite Church has had the goal of planning and sponsoring a weekend seminar on a peace and justice topic since its beginning in December 2004. We had such a good series of these events in the area that the idea was put on the back burner. We picked up the discussion in the fall of 2005. At our November 21 meeting, we made this the primary topic of discussion. It was important to us to have the blessing of our pastor and Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference (PNMC) leadership from the outset so we invited the following conference leaders to join us for the discussion: • Sheldon Burkhalter, Conference Minister, • Charlotte Hardt, Conference Moderator-elect, • Duncan Smith, Conference minister • Jon Yoder, Chair of Christian Nurture Committee • Our pastor, Todd Lehman is a member of our group All were eager to participate, but Duncan was unable to attend due to a last minute conflict. We had a very productive meeting resulting in the decision to contact Perry Yoder, recently retired writer and professor of Old Testament at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, exploring his interest in and extended preachingand teaching tour of PNMC. It was agreed that our group should shoulder the primary responsibility for planing and organizing this event with regular communication with conference leadership, including Matt Friesen, PNMC Peace and Justice Committee chairperson. John and Sheldon were given the assignment of arranging a conference call with Perry to explore this idea. Perry was enthusiastic about this opportunity so we agreed to a November 25, 2005 conference call to explore the idea further. Please use the links on the side bar to exlore the events that we are planning. Thank you. November 25, 2005 Sheldon and John had a very enjoyable and productive 45-minute conference call with Perry; following is our notes from this visit... Notes from 11.25.05 conference call w/Perry Yoder (Sheldon and John) Seminar/Workshop Topics suggested by Perry Yoder, professor of OT emeritus, AMBS • Jesus’ God: Justice, Vengeance and ReconciliationSermon Topics suggested by Perry (could also be workshop topics) • Workers in the Field Parable, equal pay for unequal workUnderstandings for planning • Perry has penciled in dates for trip to NorthWest, last weekend in September through second weekend in November • he is commited to the Peace and Justice mission of the church and understands limited budgets of these groups and conferences, so does not request honorariums (this does not mean we should not provide them) • we need to cover all travel, food, lodging and related expenses for Perry and Elizabeth • OK to stay with host families, but need need some time alone (motels/RV) • need couple of free days (3?) each week for rest and recreation • will make his own arrangements to visit family in the area • no particular attachment to any congregation, been away for 45+ years • open to visit to Western Mennonite School, would need to be understood that it would be teaching and not evangelistic as they may expect • open to all the audiences we’ve listed; we would need to prioritize, eliminating some as schedule restricts • next communication following Regional Peace Gathering (w/Leo Hartshorn and Valerie Wideman) planning meeting in January Scheduling Weekend events: Since weekends are a premium, we would like to follow these guiding priorities as we make decisions scheduling weekend events: (a) seek to have the greatest impact for the most number of people (this suggests larger, easily accessible locations) and (b) select settings that bring people together from several congregations permitting more people to hear Perry and bringing people together for fellowship and mutual support. |
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