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Information on these workshops can be found on pages 6 and 7 of the March 2008 edition of Connections.

A DESCRIPTION OF EACH WORKSHOP AND THE PRESENTER IS PROVIDED BELOW

Keynote speakers Joy Melton and Jim Fenimore will headline the workshop days at Cicero and Watertown respectively. “We're hoping people will register for both sessions,” says Kim Snyder, conference associate lay leader who has been working with Lay Leader Chuck Forbes in setting up the workshops. “While some of the workshops will be duplicated at both sessions, the keynote speeches and their workshops are well worth the travel and time,” said Snyder.

Melton's keynote
Melton, author of the Safe Sanctuaries material, will speak on Safe Sanctuaries on Saturday morning and will also present an afternoon workshop. “A church is at greatest risk whenever they choose not to believe that abuse could happen in their congregation,” says Melton. “That kind of denial keeps us from preparing in advance for carrying out our ministries safely and, in turn, that kind of denial creates opportunities for child abusers to have easy access to our children and youth.” Her sessions will be held in the Cicero sanctuary and therefore will not be limited in size as to how many can attend.

Fenimore's keynote
Fenimore, a district superintendent in the Troy Conference, will offer a keynote on “Participatory Worship Design – Liturgy as the Work of the People." at the April 19th workshop only. “Worship can be the most unifying and inspiring experiences of the divine we have on this earth. And yet, worship is often a divisive and contentious experience in the life a church,” says Fenimore. “For most churches the pattern of worship is rarely modified and often endures far longer than pastors at a local church. The worship service is created by the pastor and sometimes lay persons assist with a reading or prayer. But what if our worship was created by clergy and laity and all had significant roles in the worship service?”

Friday, April 11 there will be a training from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Cicero United Methodist Church. This training is FREE (yes, free), but advance registration is required so that we have enough materials on hand. Safe Sanctuary books (the blue book - Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church and the green book - Reducing the Risk of Abuse in Youth Ministries) will be available for sale for $10 each (you will save $3 on the book buying it through this training). Please indicate on your registration form how many books you would like to purchase so that we will have plenty on hand. Please register online or call Glenda Schuessler at 315-287-0746.