Our Booth and New Resources

Our Booth!
Our booth space this year focuses on a phrase from the Conference theme scripture: “…in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” (2 Cor. 5:19) As we discussed the scripture together as a Steering Committee, we kept coming back to the idea that God had entrusted this crucial message to the community of faith and we began to think about what message God had entrusted us with. Out of a lot of other ideas, we focused on this one and also the powerful symbolism of the butterfly. So, our booth is covered with butterflies — butterfly fabric, butterflies stickers, butterflies everywhere. And, we have three messages we believe that God has entrusted to the Caucus community — the message of equality, justice, and wholeness for all people. We could have used a number of others — but our booth designer (that would be me!) kept coming back to those three. Check out some pictures below!

New Resources
We are offering a bunch of new resources at the booth this year. You can go to our resources page and download them below. All are Single Sheets on a particular topic and include lots of great information in a very small, easily digestible package!

Inclusive Language and the Bible — This is a single sheet that offers an overview on what inclusive language is and why it is helpful and important to use in church life. Most of the current Bible translations are categorized by how inclusive they are and we have a whole list of reasons to use inclusive language! Download this for yourself and give a copy to your pastor and worship team/committee!

Creating Safe Space — So often, our churches are the last place we want to talk about the things that are most important to us. Many churches are not safe spaces. What is safe space? What does it feel like when you’re not in a safe space? When you are? And how do we create safe spaces where no one need fear being shamed, embarassed, attacked, judged, etc.? Download this Single Sheet for not only discussion starters, but concrete suggestions for ways to make your spaces safer!

Women in Ministry — As of the last survey of persons in ministry, women made up only 13% of pastors in our churches. Why? What do women training for ministry and engaging in ministry experience? This is a great Single Sheet full of facts and thoughtful questions. It also has a full page of ways YOU and YOUR CONGREGATION can support women in ministry!!

Consciousness-Raising Groups — This is a Single Sheet introduction to our relatively new Consciousness-Raising curriculum, including where to find the videos and other discussion starters.

So, download away!

And now for those pictures…

peace –
Sharon Nearhoof May