2592 West 14th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
800-653-0799
216-861-0779
office@ucccoalition.org
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2592 West 14th Street
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| What do you want to find? | National Gathering | ||||||||
    National Gathering
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Register Now for National Gathering 2010Early-bird registration for National Gathering 2010 in San Diego, CA, is now open. The National Gathering 2010 Planning Committee is hard at work finalizing the agenda, and we think this is going to be the best National Gathering ever. Don’t miss it! National Gathering 2010 will take place in San Diego, CA, July 14–17, 2010. Early-bird registrants will also receive a complimentary one-day pass for the San Diego Trolley, which has a stop across the street from the hotel. Come this year and reconnect with friends from across the country. Are you a member of a newly declared ONA congregation? Come to get tips on how to more fully incorporate ONA into your local church. Wondering how to encourage other congregations in your Association to consider the ONA process? Come and talk with UCCers from across the country and share ideas. Everyone will go home energized and full of ideas on topics such as church growth and inclusiveness, advocacy and empowerment, reaching out to LGBT youth and young adults, etc. Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s BodyThe overall theme of this year’s National Gathering will be Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body, following up on the Accessible to All resolution passed by the 25th General Synod in Atlanta, GA, calling on UCC congregations and instrumentalities to be physically, spiritually, and emotionally open and affirming to people with disabilities. We hope to address these issues specifically and in the wider context of living out God’s extravagant welcome to all. There will also be important sessions about transgender issues as the Coalition continues its work to encourage the full inclusion of transgender people within the UCC. Geoffrey Black To Speak at Banquet Celebrating 25 Years of ONAUCC Coalition President, Kathy Church, has confirmed that UCC President and General Minister, Geoffrey Black will speak at National Gathering. Kathy commented, “the Coalition is very proud of our relationship with the denomination, and we are pleased that he has committed to be with us in San Diego to continue our collaboration on social justice ministry.” Rev. Black will speak at the ONA Banquet on the evening of Friday, July 16, 2010. The focus of the Banquet will be the 25th anniversary of the passage of the ONA resolution at General Synod XV. The celebration will include recognition of new ONA settings and some of the pioneers of the the Coalition’s early efforts within the denomination. Other confirmed speakers include...
Presentations and BreakoutsA sample of the presentations and breakouts that will be offered include: Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body
Youth & Young Adults
Advocacy & Empowerment
ONA Consultant Training
ONA Process & Next Steps
Recruit Your Friends and Get a FREE RegistrationWant to attend National Gathering 2010 for free? Help us promote this year's National Gathering and you can! Register today for National Gathering 2010. Encourage your friends and colleagues to register as well. Once nine of them have registered and indicated during their registration that you recruited them, we’ll refund you the cost of your basic registration (not including hotel, meals, or other add-ons). And, if you also purchase the meal plan or a banquet ticket, we’ll reserve a table at the National Gathering banquet for you. You can either invite the friends you recruited to sit with you, or you can host the new friends you’ll meet at National Gathering 2010. Border Immersion ExperienceAttendees can also register to attend an optional pre-Gathering border immersion experience facilitated by the Centro Romero (http://www.ucc.org/justice/centro-romero/). After crossing the border from San Diego, CA, participants will have the opportunity to meet farm and maquiladora workers, newly arrived migrants from Mexico and Central America, and government immigration enforcement officials on both sides of the border. Participants will also have the opportunity of conversing with business people in the maquiladora sector. The intentional border experience will challenge participants to re-examine their own assumptions and beliefs. The experience will take place on July 13, 2010, from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm and from 9:00 am to noon on July 14, 2010. If you plan to take part in the border immersion experience, please plan to arrive in San Diego, CA, by the evening of Monday, July 12, 2010. You can book additional nights at the Doubletree at the conference rate to cover your early arrival. Conference Hotel and Meal PlanNational Gathering 2010 will be held at the Doubletree Hotel San Diego-Mission Valley where we have negotiated a discounted rate of $99 per room, including the option to book your room for several nights before or after National Gathering if you want to spend a few days sightseeing in San Diego, CA. Note that San Diego’s Pride Festival is July 18–19, 2010, and we are looking into marching as a UCC contingent in the Parade. Rooms may be booked by going directly to a hotel web page specifically for National Gathering 2010. The hotel is located at 7450 Hazard Center Drive in San Diego’s Mission Valley neighborhood and is part of the Hazard Center (http://hazardcenter.com/). The Fashion Valley Mall, the largest and finest shopping destination in San Diego, is just a couple of blocks from the hotel and the San Diego Trolley Green Line is just across the street. San Diego International Airport (SAN), championship golf (Salt Creek Golf Course, Maderas Golf Club, Torrey Pines Golf Course, and Riverwalk Golf Course), and beautiful beaches (Pacific Beach and Sunset Cliffs) are minutes away! The Hillcrest area, home to many of San Diego’s LGBT bars, restaurants, and businesses is just a short cab ride away. Details about the hotel’s accommodations and facilities can be found at www.ucccoalition.org/programs/gathering/hotel/. Be sure to bring your swimsuit so you can enjoy the beautiful indoor and outdoor pools and hot tub. The facilities also include a fitness room, a sauna, and a tennis court. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle (wheelchair accessible) pickup at the airport, but the return shuttle trip will cost you $10. Overnight self parking in the hotel garage is available to National Gathering participants at the special rate of $10 per night. If you choose not to stay at the conference hotel, complimentary daytime parking is available at the Doubletree. Most hotel brands have a location on Hotel Circle just a few minutes away, if you prefer to stay with your favorite chain. Attendees may also purchase a meal plan for $175 which includes two lunches, two dinners and the ONA25 Banquet (all taxes and gratuities are included). Or you can opt for just the Banquet for $50. Other options for meals include the hotel’s restaurant and a number of casual dining options in the Hazard Center and the Fashion Valley Mall. Make your hotel reservation now!Financial Aid AvailableThanks to the generosity of the UCC Office for Health and Wholeness Advocacy (HWA) and the HRC Foundation’s Religion & Faith Program, aid is now available to assist those with financial need to attend Gathering in San Diego. HWA is providing a substantial grant to enable people with financial need to attend National Gathering. The National Gathering Planning Committee is using this grant to partially cover attendance costs in order to maximize the effectiveness and reach of the grant. Assistance is available upon request that covers the cost of registration and three nights in a shared room at the conference hotel. The Office for Health and Wholeness Advocacy (HWA) works to further extravagant welcome and radical inclusion offered with evangelical courage. The two primary areas of ministry focus are places where much struggle and pain, as well as hope and joy, have been experienced. They are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ministries and HIV and AIDS ministries. Mike Schuenemeyer, Executive for HWA, noted, “The UCC national offices and Health and Wholeness Advocacy Office, in particular, deeply value our partnership with the Coalition and the vital leadership the Coalition provides to the United Church of Christ and the world.” In addition, a grant has been received from the Religion and Faith Program of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation to enable five young adults (between 18 to 30 year olds) to attend the pre-Gathering Border Immersion Experience. The Religion and Faith Program’s mission is to change the conversation about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and faith. Harry Knox, Director of the HRC Religion and Faith program, commented, "We’re pleased to be able to support scholarships for some young people participating in the border immersion experience. It is vital that we LGBT and allied folk stand with our immigrant sisters and brothers as we work together for a just world for all." To request assistance from either grant, please contact Michelle Sims in the Coalition office, projects@ucccoalition.org, or 800-653-0799. When making your request, please indicate that you have a financial need, identify which assistance program you are requesting, and address why it is important to you to attend. ChildcareWe are making arrangements for childcare and expect to make an announcement shortly (posted 3/18/2010). If the provision of child care is an important factor in your decision about National Gathering 2010, please forward your concerns to the UCC Coalition office so we can plan accordingly, projects@ucccoalition.org. Other Questions or ConcernsIf you have questions or concerns about any of the information presented here or need additional information, please contact Michelle Sims in the Coalition office at 216-861-0779 or projects@ucccoalition.org. |
National Gathering 2010Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body National Gathering 2009National Gathering 2009 was held June 22–25, 2009, in Grand Rapids, MI, with the theme "Growing BOLD." These were the days immediately before Synod. National Gathering 2008National Gathering 2008 was held June 25–29, 2008 in Dallas, TX, in conjunction with The Fellowship. The theme was "One Tribe, One Table." National Gathering 2007National Gathering 2007 was a great success! |
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