Voices of Faith Conference
April 25 - 26, 2003
A Retrospective

“Voices of Faith,” a national gathering for progressive United Methodists, was held in Atlanta, Georgia in April of 2003. Sponsored by the Methodist Federation for Social Action with the cooperation of the Reconciling Ministries Network, the conference drew over 350 United Methodists, representing every jurisdiction and 30 different Annual Conferences, along with supportive ecumenical friends. Participants celebrated dynamic worship, were challenged by the preaching of Rev. Dr. Barbara Lundblad and enjoyed the music of Mark Miller and the band “Miller Light.” Twenty workshops were offered by leaders representing diverse ways to “be the church,” including presentations from United Methodist seminary faculty, students, laity, and clergy. Keynote speakers and panelists included Rev. Dr. Traci West, Rev. Gil Caldwell, Rev. Minerva Carcaño, Rev. Hal Taussig, Dr. John Cobb and Dr. Hyun Kyung. As the pictures below reflect, the Spirit of God was surely in that place.

Richard Bentley, member of the California Pacific MFSA chapter, and Gil Caldwell, retired UM clergy living in Denver, celebrate communion together.

Bishop Dale White presents the book United Methodism @ RISK: A Wake-Up Call by Leon Howell. Behind him on the stage are church leaders from across the country who comprise the board of directors and advisory committee of the Information Project for United Methodists (IPUM), the group that published the book. The project is co-chaired by Bishop C. Dale White and Ms. Beth Capen. www.ipum.org

Minerva Carcaño and John Cobb, Jr. take a moment to reflect with one another. Minerva spoke passionately about the future of the church and John challenged participants to be “passionate, progressive, penitent, Protestants.”

Sue Laurie and Cathy Knight, staff from the Reconciling Ministries Network, helped to staff the conference.

Millie Kim from the North Georgia MFSA chapter enjoys the bread and honey offered to participants, symbolizing the journey that each person traveled to be present at the conference.

An evening program with the theme “Daring to Let the Spirit Move Us” was led by Hyun Kyung, Associate Professor of Ecumenical Theology. Hyun Kyung moved participants (literally) in spite of distractions from the high school prom that was held in the room next to our meeting space.

Barbara Lunblad, Associate Professor of Homiletics at Union Seminary, enlivened worship throughout the conference. Her prophetic voice was a conference highlight for many.

Traci West, Associate Professor of Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University, shares her passion for justice as she speaks her vision of what God is calling the United Methodist Church to become.