Harrisonburg, VA: So You Must Forgive: A Conference for Peacemakers

Keynote Speaker — Kim Phuc
On June 8, 1972, Kim’s village of Trang Bang came under attack by South Vietnamese planes, which mistakenly dropped napalm on a Buddhist pagoda. While running for safety with other children, Kim was severely burned by the napalm. The famous photograph of Kim Phuc taken by the Pulitzer Prize winning AP photographer, Huyng Cong Nick Ut, is evidence of the cruelty of war toward child victims and became a symbol of civilian suffering in the Vietnam War. Kim suffered many years of painful burn therapy, but her incredible strength and spirit are evident in that the fact that her life focus has become forgiveness and helping children. When Kim met Captain John Plummer, a pilot who helped coordinate the air strike on her village, she forgave him. She will share with us her story of overcoming pain and bitterness through forgiveness. For more on Kim and her story, visit www.kimfoundation.com.

Featured Leader for the Week — Rob Voyle
A native of New Zealand, Rob Voyle specializes in Appreciative Inquiry (AI). Based on AI, he will help us explore forgiveness as a possibility rather than a problem – a chance for creative solutions for the future more than punitive punishment for the past. He uses a very active, participatory teaching style focused on being helpful, humorous, and healing. He invites us to come to leave behind shame, guilt, and resentment while becoming one with God’s forgiveness. Rob will lead the morning sessions for the whole group as well as an intensive optional afternoon workshop series. For more on Rob and his work, visit www.clergyleadership.com.
 
Worship Leader –- Angela Yarber
Angela Yarber is the recently-named pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC and has a PhD in Art and Religion from the Graduate Theological Union at UC Berkeley.  She is also a dancer and artist.  Angela was hugely popular as an artist in residence (and an impromptu Bible Study leader one morning) at our gathering in 2009. This year, she returns to coordinate the evening worship services. With her background in arts and worship, we can expect rich, moving, multi-layered services which speak to all our senses. For more on Angela’s art, research, and ministry, see www.angelayarber.com.

Other leaders for the week include…

Musician D. E. Adams, who served as a musician-consultant to church organizations for 30 years before becoming communications director for EDGE OUTREACH, a non-profit working to create sustainable water solutions in developing countries.

Storytellers –

• Camilo Mejia - The first combat veteran to publicly refuse to return to the Iraq war, Mejia served a US Army prison sentence and now champions the causes of Conscientious Objectors. He is author of Road from Ar Ramadi – The Private Rebellion of Staff Sargeant Camilo Mejia.
• Adalia Guiterrez-Lee - A medical doctor and ordained minister with deep Baptist roots, Adalia serves with her husband, Ray Schellinger, as an American Baptist missionary to the Baja Baptist women of Tijuana, Mexico. They also offer workshops on topics such as alternatives to violence and relationship skills.
• Joao Matwawana - A Canadian born in Angola, Joao has served as a pastor and chaplain in Nova Scotia. He also helped equip dozens of pastors to create reconciliation between Hutu and Tutsi factions in Rwanda in the early 1990s and is a recipient of the Lotz Human Rights Award from the Baptist World Alliance.
• Robin Lunn - Robin is the executive director of the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB) and interim pastor at Sharon Congregational Church (UCC), Sharon, Vermont. She is a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School and also served American Baptist churches, camps and other ministries from more than 10 years.

The week will also include workshops on a wide variety of topics, participatory worship, moving music, chances to tell your own peace-making stories, nurturing programs for children and youth, and a supportive and loving group of people with whom to share it all.

The site is in the midst of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley. There are two national forests and a national park within an hour for your travels before or after conference. Recreational opportunities abound for free time during the week as well.

VOUCHERS FOR REGISTRATION COSTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SEMINARY STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY ATTENDING FOR THE FIRST TIME. REGISTRATION VOUCHERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES FROM BPFNA PARTNER CHURCHES.