March 29 – 30, 2007
Sessions held at Souderton Mennonite Church
Register for the event by March 23, 2007 through email, phone, or at http://www.mosaicmennonites.org/index.php?P=120
EDC and FMC ministry teams have invited Brenda Martin Hurst, a professor of practical theology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, to lead us in addressing the issue of pornography. Brenda led a workshop at the Mennonite Church USA Assembly in 2005 and wrote an article for The Mennonite addressing pornogrpahy. Since then she has spoken with other groups of leaders on this theme and has agreed to be with us March 29 and 30, 2007, for teaching and to raise personal and pastoral awareness.
The seminar will be divided into two parts. Both sessions will be held in the Fellowship Hall at Souderton Mennonite Church. We invite, [EDC encourages], and [FMC expects] credentialed leaders to attend both events. There will be .5 of Continuing Education credit available through these seminars.
Schedule:
March 29, 2007 ~ 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Lay leaders are particularly invited to attend. This session will provide an overview of the topic and raise consciousness on the challenges pornography presents within congregational life.
- Worship led by Julie Prey-Harbaugh, FMC associate and James Lapp, FMC Senior Ministry Consultant
- Presentation by Brenda Martin Hurst
- A personal story of struggle with pornography
- Response from pastors: Scott Benner, Zion Mennonite – Sandy Drescher-Lehman, Souderton Mennonite
March 30, 2007 ~ 9:00 a.m. – Noon
This session is designed for pastors, youth ministers, and chaplains.
- Worship led by Julie Prey-Harbaugh and James Lapp
- Presentation by Brenda Martin Hurst
- Gender specific group interaction led by Brenda and Carl Yusavitz, Penn Foundation
- Response and reflection on the next steps in growth and accountability led by: Warren Tyson, EDC Conference Minister and Ertell Whigham, FMC Director of Congregational Resourcing and Equipping
Register online | View the brochure PDF
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.
I received a handful of brochures about the event addressing pornography this past week as the administrative assistant at West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship. I placed a few on our literature rack in the foyer, and posted some on the bulletin board. This afternoon, another person who works in this shared-space church building came into my office holding up the brochure. “Is this for real Rebecca?” he asked me. I assured him it was. “But won’t it be controversial?” he wondered. I hadn’t thought of it in exactly those terms, but conceded that there’s at least some taboo about sexual issues even when there isn’t open controversy. Coming from another denominational background, he commended the Mennonite effort and bravery to talk openly about this issue.
May this be an added encouragement to leaders and participants as they move ahead.