Gatherings : A Church that Won't be Silenced! New Pentecost Forum 2006 (NP2006) Australia

The workshop sessions or "gatherings" are organised in the spirit of the free space method of organisation which aims to encourage participation, responsibility and self-initiative. You are free to organise a pre-registered or spontaneous thematical, skill-sharing or action-planning workshop. We will not endorse or reject any initiative but gatherings should be within spirit of the Forum. We may evaluate proposals and suggest activities that could be merged together. This will reduce duplication and promote greater collaboration.

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[+] Click here to find out how you can register your workshop or gathering

Guidelines for workshops:

1. Check the current workshop listing below. We encourage you to organise a workshop if you think there is an important topic that is not covered but should be, and you are willing and able to organise a workshop on your interested topic. We ask that you contact the New Pentecost Secretariat to notify us of your intentions. You are responsible for the success of your workshop, including its organisation and promotion.

2. To get your workshop listed on this website and the printed program, email the Secretariat with the following details:

Name of presenter(s)
Publishable contact details (telephone, email, website)
Workshop title
Workshop description (1-2 paragraphs)
Recommended reading materials and web links (if any)
Preferred session time (12am, 3pm or 4.15pm)

3. It does not cost anything to register, but a solidarity contribution from organisations according to their means are needed to balance costs.

4. Registered workshop spaces will be allocated on a 'first come, best space basis'. However informal spaces and notice boards will be available on the day for your pre-planned or spontaneous workshop or meeting. Please note - gathering spaces will fill up fast!

Registered gatherings:

Listed below are registered gatherings. We encourage you to contact the presenters directly if you think there are opportunities to collaborate on a particular issue.

1. Trafficking - Modern day slavery in Australia

The session will start with a video clip on Trafficking from the UN. that will be an introduction to what is happening to Victims of Trafficking, world wide, and in Australia. Many Lay People and Religious Congregations are working in collaboration with NGO's and Governments to see what can be done to support women. children and men who have been trafficked. This will be followed by discussion on how we can make a difference for those who have been tricked into debt-slavery and violence.

Contact: Sr Margaret Ng
Organisation: Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and also on behalf of Religious Congregations Anti-Trafficking Working Group
Contact details margng@bgpond.com
Web links: http://www.sosj.org.au on justice issues or

2. Faith-based nonviolent action

Description: This workshop explores what Christian nonviolent action for social change might look like. We will start with a 30-minute video about the US Civil Rights movement and follow with discussion on insights about
the characteristics of active nonviolence.

3. Following the MAP to better activism

Description: MAP (Movement Action Plan) is a strategic framework for successful nonviolent social transformation developed by Bill Moyer from the Movement for a New Society. Drawing on his experiences in the civil rights and anti-nuclear energy movements in particular, MAP answers questions like why movements seem to fail after taking off and why activists end up fighting themselves rather than their opponents. Described as providing more "aha" moments than any other text on activism, MAP is an empowering model of social change that will leave you inspired about what you can achieve.

4. Making Indigenous poverty history

The Millennium Development Goals rightly raises critical issues of the poorest of the poor, including the majority of Indigenous peoples. But what about the poverty of Indigenous peoples at home? With measures of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) continuing on average to lag behind many of the world's poorest countries, a renewed will and resources are needed to address this deepest and most enduring disgrace of Australian society. This workshop, run by staff of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC), will outline how we can help Make Indigenous Poverty History.

5. "Canticle Road and Celestial City" - Think-along; Sing-along

This is a simple session intended to introduce - and especially to sing on this festival day - some of Fr John Bunyan's hymns in his book of this title, produced last year in a short run. The book was written over his 22 years as Rector of a Western suburbs Anglican parish and since his retirement in 2001. Subjects include the Christmas Bowl and Christmas in July, women, the Gospel birth narratives and the brothers and sisters of Jesus, doubt and drought, Fathers' Day, God and the Spirit. The hymns were used just to supplement traditional Book of Common Prayer liturgy and traditional and good modern hymnody. On the day two or three strong singers familiar with the old hymn tunes would be very welcome, (John is not very musical) and if possible, the use of a small CD player.

Phone: 02.46.272.586 with message bank
Mail: PO Box N109, Campbelltown North, 2560

6. Micah Challenge, the churches' response to the Millennium Development Goals

The presentation will revolve around the new "What can one church do?" resource CD produced by Micah Challenge which is full of inspiring, fun and powerful ways for local parishes to get involved in Making Poverty History.

7. World Youth Day 2008: The social justice and ecumenical response

The largest youth gathering in the world will be in Sydney in 2008 with more than 250,000 participants expected to attend. The official dates for WYD08 are 15-20 July 2008. Aaron Tang, who attended the WYD in Rome, 2000, will talk briefly about his experience at the WYD and will facilitate a discussion on the possibility of organising or coordinating social justice or ecumenical programs during the event.

8. New Pentecost and World Youth Day

The Christian feast of Pentecost was once a Jewish celebration that involved pilgrimage to Jerusalem. With a large foreign presence in the city during the celebration at the time, the apostles were able to spread their radical message across vast distances via pilgrims who received the good news. In 2008 there will be an opportunity in Sydney to do just this. You are invited to join in an informal round-table discussion with Minh Nguyen, the co-initiator of New Pentecost Forum, Aaron Tang and former World Youth Day participants, on a plan to bring greater awareness of Australia’s justice challenges to the young pilgrims at the WYD.
Organisers: Minh Nguyen and Aaron Tang

9. Coffee with a cause

This workshop and display will look at the issue of fair trade and community development through the eyes of the coffee growers and the consumer.
Organiser: Jan Smith

"Gatherings"

How NP2006 works:

Registered gatherings: