Applications open for the 2017-2018 Governor and First Lady Youth Leadership Council in September 2017! Up to 20 7th-12th graders will be selected to serve on the Council and help fight childhood hunger in Montana.

Applications are due October 13, 2017, with decisions made later that month. More details and application materials can be found online at www.fightchildhoodhunger.com

Episcopal Migration Ministries is offering a three-day training program on refugee resettlement in Denver from October 11-13, 2017.
 
There is information about the training and registration for it here:https://dfms.formstack.com/forms/lglndenver
 
I participated in the pilot training in Hartford earlier this summer, and I can recommend it very highly. There will be other regional offerings in the coming year, too.
 
Faithfully,

Richard J. Mammana | Communications and Social Media | Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations | The Episcopal Church

The International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) is seeking applications from education professionals that train future religious leaders to take part in the 2018 KAICIID International Fellows Programme. The Programme gathers religious teachers from around the world for in-person and online training in dialogue, mediation and promoting social cohesion that will bring the Fellows to Vienna to teach dialogue, become active facilitators and leaders in dialogue and be advocates for peace in their communities.

Set to commence in January 2018, the International Fellows Programme will support the Fellows development so they can develop and implement small-scale local and international projects during the course of the programme. There will also be opportunities to organize and attend dialogues, lectures, field visits and conferences
 
The deadline for applications is 31 July 2017.

“Civil Discourse: A Workshop Demonstrating Respectful Conversation About a Controversial Issue”
 
Have you ever been involved in a conversation or dialogue that suddenly became uncomfortable or antagonistic? Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I wish I had said …” sometime much later?  Do you discover it difficult to advocate for a point of view and still be tolerant of other opinions? These are issues of “civil discourse”. Our patience, listening skills, and respect for others is tested everyday. In church we are reminded of the Golden Rule, where it is compelling and effective to treat others (even the ones with whom we don’t agree) as we would like to be treated.
 
Plymouth Congregational Church – UCC in Helena recently received funding from Humanities Montana to hold two identical workshops this fall, focusing on civil discourse, specifically in reference to the refugee crisis in Montana. The first workshop will take place at University UCC on Saturday October 22 from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM.  The second will be in Helena at Plymouth - UCC on November 5.
 
Led by Bruce Whittenberg, Director of the Montana Historical Society, assisted by Senator Diane Sands of Missoula and by Jamie Doggett of White Sulphur Springs, former Meagher County Commissioner, each workshop invites only 20 participants. As hosts it is the responsibility and privilege of the congregations involved to provide gracious and welcoming space and a warm meal at mid-day. What better place to provide warmth and hospitality than in the Christian embrace of our fellowship.
 
The UCC Conference Minister, Rev. Marc Stewart, is assisting with financial and administrative support as we seek to introduce a very practical approach to the Golden Rule. It is hoped that the UCC’s role in modeling civility will earn requests from other faith-based institutions throughout the state to host similar workshops in the months and years ahead.
 
If you have questions you may contact Jennifer Jeffries Thompson, Project Director, in Helena at jjthompson@bresnan.net.

From:
Building Funds of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ and The Episcopal Church.

Ecumenical happenings are occurring across the USA and globe.   Even when we cannot attend, its good to know how Christians are working together.  Coming up in October is a symposium on "Repurposing: Our Buildings, Our Outreach, Our Stewardship, Our leadership"

Friday, October 28, 2016
Northway Christian Church
Dallas, Texas 75225

This one-day event is a collaboration of the Building Funds of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ and The Episcopal Church.

During the symposium, thought leaders will speak to the topics of creative building use, community outreach, and the leadership needed to foster that creativity and stewardship of building resources for mission. Following their presentations, attendees will participate in Table Talks and application labs, where you will delve more deeply into topics of interest and develop at least one action item you can take back to your church for consideration and implementation.
http://www.disciplescef.org/nw/

One of the major ecumenical events of this year, and this decade, will take place next month in Sweden. I'm writing to forward a notice about it below:

The Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church will hold a joint ecumenical commemoration of the Reformation on October 31, 2016 in Lund and Malmö, Sweden. It will begin with a liturgy in Lund Cathedral and continue with a public event in Malmö Arena that will be open to wider participation.

Pope Francis, LWF President Bishop Dr Munib A. Younan and LWF General Secretary the Rev. Dr Martin Junge will lead the common prayer service in Lund and the event in Malmö in cooperation with leaders from Church of Sweden and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockholm.

The event will take place in anticipation of the 500th Reformation anniversary in 2017. It will highlight the solid ecumenical developments between Roman Catholics and Lutherans and the joint gifts received through dialogue.

The event has its own website at http://www.lund2016.net , and there will be more resources available online as the date for it approaches.