Immersion Education for Religious Leaders of All Faiths: October 17-19, 2010
This BorderLinks delegation is a two-day immersion experience, connecting clergy and leaders of all faiths with the daily realities and stories of their immigrant neighbors. The delegation will assist religious leaders in understanding the immigrant experience in Chicago and the surrounding area. Participants will return home with practical resources and insights to engage their congregants around the divisive issue of immigration. Intentional reflection time will focus on appropriate and caring ways to accompany a congregation confronting this timely issue. For a brochure with more detailed information, click on the attachment here.
Youth and Young Adult Delegation to Chiapas: December 27, 2010-January 5, 2011, "Building Peace in Chiapas."
Only five more slots open! Youth and young adults will learn the strength and courage of the Chiapan people, how our partner organizations work on a daily basis to build a lasting peace, and how life in Chiapas affects the immigration crisis in the United States. Present work project includes building a structure for the distribution of Western and folkloric medicines to be distributed to the rural poor. To see the brochure and a fuller description of the delegation click here or contact Rev. Mike Mulberry.
Airfare and trip expenses included, this price does not include course tuition.
Description: Until the Spanish conquest over 500 years ago, the country we know as Mexico today was the land of indigenous people. This began a long history of slavery, oppression, and genocide that still continues throughout Mexico. This trip will focus on the southern most state of the country, Chiapas. While there we will experience the pervasive strength of Mayan indigenous culture and spirituality. We will meet individuals and communities working for change and liberation there: 1. The ongoing struggle for autonomy and liberation of the Zapatistas, 2. The active non-violence strategies of Las Abejas, and 3. The liberation theology influence of Bishop Samuel Ruiz who served the Diocese of San Cristobal for over thirty years. During our time in Chiapas we will visit co-operatives, ecological projects, religious communities, worship in Acteal with Las Abejas, and spend time with some of the Zapatista leaders.
DeadlineFor Initial Refundable Deposit: September 15, 2009
This trip is open to UTS students first, and then we always welcome guests. If you have further questions please call Chris Smith at 651-255-6128 or e-mail her at csmith@unitedseminary.edu
Name ______________________E – Mail ________________________
For guests, will you please send your $200 deposit made out to United Theological Seminary, and the simple form above into Adam Pfuhl, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, 3000 Fifth Street Northwest, New Brighton, MN55112
Guests:
At some point in the process you will need to pay a $225 audit fee
If you are not an alum of the seminary, and you have not enrolled
as a non degree student before this trip, you will need to fill out
a non degree student application form at some point as well
3.If you are a clergy person you will have the opportunity to take the
course for professional continuing education
You do not need to take care of anything right now except the initial deposit and turning in the basic information above to Adam Pfuhl.
Sponsored by Illinois Maya Ministry of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ
Friday, October 16 - Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday, October 16:Arrive at the Romero Center.Settle at hotel and meet at the center for evening dinner. Leave for home after lunch on Friday, October 23.(Book return flights for 2:30pm or later).
Centro Romero Center for Border Ministries
173 W. Hall Ave
San Ysidro, California92173
This week long event will center on issues concerning the USA/Mexico border region.The group of 10-15 members and friends of UCC churches in the Illinois Conference will be organized by the Rev. John Buttrick and the Rev. Faye D. B. Buttrick, members of Illinois Maya Ministries.
The purpose of this immersion experience is to be introduced to the complexity of life on the border and to develop a better understanding of the impact of the global economic trends and economic policies on social conditions, health, gender, culture, immigration and labor rights as well as on the environment.There will be opportunities to experience firsthand life in communities like Chilpancingo, Dolores and Colonia Postal, among others in Tijuana.Participants will also meet farm and maquiladora workers, newly arrived migrants from Mexico and Central America and government immigration enforcement officials on both sides of the border.
Faye is an Intentional Interim Minister in the Illinois Conference of the UCC and is on the national boards of the UCC Wider Church Ministries and Common Global Ministries, a partnership of the UCC and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).John recently retired as the Western Association Minister of the Illinois Conference, UCC.Faye has traveled to Chiapas, Mexico and Guatemala.She has volunteered at Humane Borders in Tucson, AZ.John has made several trips to Chiapas, walked the 78 mile desert Migrant Trail from Sasabe, Mexico to Tucson, Arizona, and spent time at one of the Arizona desert camps set up to rescue migrants in distress.Both John and Faye have participated in Borderlinks educational programs out of Tucson, Arizona.
FINANCES
A fee of $450.00 covers pre-immersion reading materials, shuttle from the airport, food, programming and international health insurance.
Lodging will be $27.50+ tax double occupancy (total for seven nights, $192.50+ tax).
$55.00+ tax single occupancy, (total for seven nights, $385+ tax).
Register at the Economy Inn, San Ysidro:619 / 428 – 6191
Approximate roundtrip airfare to San Diego:(Feb 28):from Peoria, $407, From Chicago, $369 - $413.These rates will probably fluctuate between now and September.You may have your own source for a good fare.We researched Travelosity, Orbitz, and Expedia.Plan to arrive in San Diego between 2 & 4 PM, if possible, on Friday October 16.Book return on Friday October 23, 2:30 or later.
Mail Registration by September 15, 2009 to:Border Experience, Revs Faye and John Buttrick, 1006 N. Maplewood Ave, Peoria, IL 61606
Name:
Address:
Phone & e-mail:
Church affiliation:
Any mobility or dietary issues:
Enclose $450.00 registration fee.Make checks out to Illinois Conference of the UCC.
IMPORTANT ITEMS FOR YOUR PLANNING
+ You must have a valid passport, to be used for our trips to Mexico.
+ As we receive your reservations we shall send e-mails to all registrants so that you may connect with one another if you need aroommate.
+There will be a block of rooms reserved at the Economy Inn, San Ysidro in the name of Centro Romero.To book your lodging phone :619 / 428 – 6191
+After you have made your flight reservations, e-mail your itinerary to John and Faye so we can coordinate transportation from airport to Centro Romero.It would be helpful if we can all plan to arrive in San Diego between 2 and 4 PM to be picked up by the shuttle.(Return flights on Oct. 23 should be no earlier than 2:30pm)
+Therewill be an orientation meeting for all participants:Saturday, October 3, 2009
+Questions, more information:John and Faye Buttrick, 309 / 637 – 5749 or buttrickfj1@att.net
Centro Romero is a ministry of Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ and the California-Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Delegation The purpose of our delegation is to experience the international border between the United States and Mexico in the company of Mexican pastors, guided by the Borderlinks staff. Borderlinks provides food, lodging, translation, accompaniment and program staff. You can find out all about them at their website: www.borderlinks .org
Our Journey We will meet at BorderLinks in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, May 8 at 9:00 am. Most will arrive a day or so earlier may meet us there. Please be on time. We will conclude on Thursday, May 14 with supper. Please check with Michael Swartz before you buy your airplane tickets.
Accommodations Simple, comfortable dormitory style accommodations arranged by Borderlinks. Good food. Do look at the website.
Travel Please make your own arrangements after conferring with the delegation leadership. We can help make sure you are traveling with one or more delegation members.
Leadership Who is going so far? · Rev. Felix Ortiz-Cotto, Common Global Ministries. · Rev. Michael Swartz, Illinois Maya Ministry. · Rev. Justino Perez, CGM Missionary · A representatives of: · AlianzadeIglesiasCristianasEvangelicasDiscipulosdeCristo · Junta General deIglesiasCristianasCongregaacionalesde Mexico · ConfraternidaddeIglesiasCristianasEvangelicasDiscuplosdeCristo · We can accommodate 13 persons in total on the delegation.
