Timely topics, thoughtful questions and lively discussions along with stories and song marked seven workshops offered convention-goers at lunchtime Saturday, Feb. 7.
Arranged by Fred Mackara, member of St. John, Johnson City, and an East Tennessee State University economics professor, the 45-minute workshops were packed, receiving a consistent comment: "Too short!"
During each workshop, participants also were asked to note specific prayers for later use at the convention in the "Prayers of the People."
Communicating with Angry People about Difficult Matters
"If you know you are going to have a conversation on difficult subjects, it's critical to agree on some ground rules in advance," said presenter Dr. Bill Kirkwood, ETSU communications professor.
Kirkwood offered a seven-item checklist of ground rules to facilitate discussion on potentially difficult topics.
He urged the 75 attendees when in discussions to try to see themselves in action, as others see them. This visioning allows people to listen and pay attention, slowing down the rush of heated exchanges and negotiating understanding as they go.
He also recognized that "At our core, we are all a little bit nervous about expressing ourselves, especially about our faiths."
Creatively Communicating the Gospel
Storyteller Rebecca Alexander, who has an ETSU master's of education in storytelling, travels the country sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
In this workshop that drew 55 participants, she presented such reasons for using storytelling in ministry as the power of "once upon a time," the certainty that stories capture attention and help people remember, the permission that stories give people to feel and the connection that stories give us to the past and to healing.
"Lay readers could become lay storytellers," she said. "It would be using Jesus' own method of getting the point across."
Donning costumes, Alexander entered and told the story of Abraham and Sarah, becoming Sarah.
"We were entranced. She engaged us," commented Ann Vandevate, a participant from St. Paul, Kingsport.
"Jesus taught us in this manner, and we should follow the example of the greatest storyteller," Alexander said.
Hate Crimes
Presenter Gene Rosenburg, Knoxville, member of the diocesan Commission on Hate Crimes, employed a "traveling trunk" to focus the 25-member audience on hate crimes.
From this mobile exhibit of racial, ethnic and religious persecution and hatred, he pulled out such authentic items as a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood, a lynching rope, a drinking fountain sign marked "colored" and rubble from the Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing.
"Change starts on a small scale," Rosenburg said. "It can begin with an act of kindness or refraining from a cruel act."
Sexual Misconduct Prevention
General Convention Resolution #B008 requires all dioceses by 2006 to implement new programs of sexual misconduct prevention.
Gwen Stout, business manager at St. John's, Johnson City, gave an overview to eight attendees of what will be "Safeguarding Our Children," guidelines for this diocese.
Guidelines include a church workers' and volunteers' screening and selection process, behavioral standards, a monitoring process, education and training and guidelines for responding to concerns. Training sessions will be made available to all.
Church Marketing
"Church marketing is more than simply evangelism plus advertising," said the Rev. Dr. Susanna Metz, School of Theology, Sewanee, and associate at St. John the Baptist, Battle Creek.
Church marketing involves evangelization, stimulation, persuasion, invitation, communicating, knowing yourselves, liking yourselves, being creative, having fun, organizing and working.
"Blending marketing concepts with parish realities is not easy," Metz advised the 36 listeners, "but the payoff can be measured in the pews and in the community."
Islam and Christianity - Seeking Peace and Unity
between Children of the Same Father
Leaders of this panel discussion implored the 70 participants to focus on the commonalities between Islam and Christianity instead of the differences to enhance understanding and to improve relations.
"We are all from God," said Taneem Aziz, a native of Bangladesh who is worship leader at the Johnson City Mosque.
Ramsey Harb, a lifelong Anglican, has lived in East Tennessee since age 12 when he moved from his birthplace in Palestine.
His grandmother was a Church of England missionary. He said she had walked the streets of Ramallah, preaching the gospel, where "many religions existed together in harmony."
"We worked together, celebrated festivals together and shared worship of one God."
Traditional and Sacred Music
"You go to your church and I'll go to mine. Let's walk along together," sang Jack Tottle, director of the Bluegrass, Ole Time and Country Music program at ETSU.
Raymond McClain, the program's assistant director, and Stephanie Cole, program alumna, assisted in the workshop for 86 attendees.
"There was a need dating back to the Wesleys for songs that would get people in the church," Tottle said. "Instruments allowed a wide range of songs."
Tottle played the mandolin and guitar, McLain played the guitar and banjo and Cole played the electric bass to illustrate music types that have sacred content: folk music, African American spirituals, blues, bluegrass and gospel.
"Very uplifting and joyous; we all needed that," said Ellie Pickett, St. Matthew, Dayton.
"There was unity here," she added.
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