Episcopal Justice Ministries Make Plans for 'Big Tent' Meeting in October

Even so large a dream as justice has its practical side; there must be meetings, there must be plans, there must be--most important of all--the brisk alchemy of dedicated minds and searching spirits coming together in cooperation and community.

Such a meeting will take place in October, when the various justice ministries of the Episcopal Church gather in Atlanta to assess the past and dream of the future. The Consultation, a number of justice organizations under the Episcopal aegis, will hold a "Big Tent" meeting Thursday, October 7 through Saturday October 9. The meeting will be hosted by All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta.

The gathering will center on a Festival Eucharist, to be celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, with a sermon preached by Winnie Varghese, Columbia University chaplain. A final night banquet will honor the "Giants of Justice" who have walked so many trails before us.

Filling every cranny of time between will be celebrations (both the Episcopal Women's Caucus and Integrity are marking 30-year milestones), workshops, discussions and, of course, time simply to talk of problems, dreams and strategies, time to be refreshed and recharged.

The "Big Tent" gathering will end on Saturday with morning sessions and a final "send-us-out" session by a speaker still to be named.

Members of the Consultation include:

Integrity
http://www.integrityusa.org

Episcopal Urban Caucus
http://www.episcopalurbancaucus.org

Episcopal Peace Fellowship
http://www.episcopalpeacefellowship.org

Episcopal Women's Caucus
http://www.ewc-ecusa.org

Union of Black Episcopalians
http://www.ube.org/

Episcopal Ecological Network
http://eenonline.org/

Episcopal Church Publishing Company
http://www.thewitness.org

Episcopal Network for Economic Justice
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/peace-justice/

Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry Advocates
Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission
http://www.associatedparishes.org/

Province 8 Native American Ministries Network