Speaker: Dr. Mark Lewis Taylor, Professor of Theology and Culture, Princeton Theological Seminary

This conversation will look at the United States as empire. This will be addressed in Dr. Taylor’s remarks and in looking at the document, “Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth,” adopted by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in Accra, Ghana in 2004. Dr Taylor is author of the recent book, Religion, Politics, and the Christian Right: Post-9/11 Powers and American Empire.

First Presbyterian Church, 2100 4th Avenue North, about 5 blocks from the Convention Center.
Ticket price: $15.00

Wednesday, June 14, 8:30 to 10:30 pm (immediately following Covenant Network dinner)

Speaker: Eugene Teselle, Witherspoon Society Issues Analyst, and Friends.

This regular Witherspoon Society event for commissioners and others provides a progressive look at the Assembly and the issues, ideas on how to be an effective participant, and a chance to meet other progressives.

Location To be announced
Ticket price: $15.00
 

Time for a break!  This is a great chance to relax and enjoy great music, dancing and conversation and also a good time to meet others at the Assembly.

Sheraton Ballroom XII
Ticket price: $20.00
 

Sunday, June 18, 12:30 to 2:30 pm

We first invited the Rev. Eugenia Gamble as our major speaker for the Witherspoon Luncheon at General Assembly, because we had heard so much about her exciting and creative ministry from 1996 to 2005 as Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, where the Assembly will be convening.

While in Birmingham she provided leadership in the development and implementation of the vision of First Light, Inc., a center for homeless women and children. First Light provides emergency shelter, long term shelter for the disabled homeless, day programming, and on site psychiatric services. It was just such work that earned her the Outstanding Woman of the Year award for 2004, presented by the Women’s Center of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

But there is much more in her experience and varieties of ministry that promises an interesting and challenging luncheon address for all of us, as she talks of ways the church does indeed “embody love.”

Since her ordination in 1984, she has served congregations in Colorado, as Staff Associate for Leader Development of Women under the General Assembly Mission Council, and Associate Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, before being called by the Birmingham congregation. Along the way she has participated in various regional and national committees, including the Committee of 15 to draft “A Brief Statement of Faith.”

She has been the keynote speaker at numerous conferences, schools and colleges, presbyteries and synods, including Montreat Conference Center, Mo-Ranch Conference Center, Presbyterian Women national meetings, Epworth by the Sea Conference Center, and the dedication of the Third World Church Leaders Center in Seoul, Korea. She has also been the featured preacher on the Protestant Hour international radio broadcast, and the “30 Good Minutes” television broadcast.