Come to the Table 2023 Workshop : Welcoming the Stranger
Workshop Title: Welcoming the Stranger
Description: Welcoming the stranger, especially the refugee, is central to our Christian mission, but how do congregations discern ways of welcome appropriate for their community context?
Workshop Leader :
Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark Clemot
Rev. Dr. Clemot, a lawyer and pastor, explores the plight of refugees as undocumented immigrants, and ways of sharing God's love with them. Based on her award-winning book, Discerning Welcome, centered in the Reformed Faith tradition and theologies of welcome provided by Augustine, Calvin, and Barth, and exploring modern sanctuary movements and class action refugee litigation wins by the ACLU, Dr. Clemot presents a palette of compassionate choices that congregants can assess as they discern what ways of welcome make most sense for the needs of the newcomers and the communities in which they live.
Registration is now open for Come to the Table scheduled for October 20 – October 22. We will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday with dinner and end at 12 noon on Sunday with worship. Please note that each person is required to register individually. If you wish to share a room with someone, you should include that person’s name on your registration form and vice versa. Single or double occupancy rooms with a private bath are available on a first come, first served basis. We are delighted to announce that the Synod is providing a subsidized registration fee of $225. This includes each person’s lodging and all meals except for Sunday lunch. If you wish to stay for Sunday lunch, there is an additional $15 fee.
For Ministers of the Word and Sacrament to feel free to attend Come to the Table and remain through Sunday, the Synod will livestream the worship service from Silver Bay on Sunday. This will allow congregations to worship even if their pastor is at Come to the Table. This weekend is always beautiful at Silver Bay with the trees in full fall colors. We hope to see you there.