The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns in partnership with the UCC Health and Wholeness Advocacy Office are writing to share about an exciting advanced leadership training opportunity and to ask for your help and support.   The advanced training called the Believe Out Loud Power Summit will gather around 500 leaders and will focus on living into the values of extravagant welcome known in the United Church of Christ as Open and Affirming (ONA).  It will take place October 9-11, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Orlando , Florida . 
The Believe Out Loud Power Summit is an ecumenical event which is being planned by Welcoming Church Program Leaders of the Institute for Welcoming Resources.  This advanced training is for local, regional and national leaders in the welcoming church movement, such as, Conference Ministers and Program Staff who support Open and Affirming (ONA) ministry, ONA Consultants, members of Conference ONA Committees, local church ONA leaders and other leaders engaged in faith-based or other pro-LGBT advocacy.  
Participants in the summit will not only strengthen their skills for ONA leadership in the UCC, but also leadership skills that can be applied to other areas of mission and ministry.  Concrete skills building workshops will include leadership development, cultural competency for working in diverse cultural settings, designing healthy church processes, navigating conflict, effective communication, media training, and public policy advocacy. 
The curriculum of the training program will address such questions as, "How can I be a helpful resource to local churches with their ONA process?" "We're ONA, now what?" and "What are we going to do about the LGBT related measure on the ballot in the next election?" 
The program will also include:
·         MovementBuilding - where we are, and what this particular moment in history needs from the welcoming faith movement.
·         The crucial intersections of pro-LGBT faith work and racial justice
·         The latest research on the welcoming faith movement and the wider Church
·         Advanced Biblical study
·         Powerful worship and inspiring preaching
·         Transgender Inclusion 201/301
·         Advanced community organizing and mobilizing techniques
·         How to activate congregations to secular political action
·         Building stronger organizations through the development of volunteers, leadership, and boards
 
There are no registration or program fees for the Believe Out Loud Power Summit because of a generous grant from the Haas Jr. Foundation.  However costs for travel, accommodations, meals and other related expenses are not included.  The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns and the UCC Health and Wholeness Advocacy Office have very limited funds, but, we are exploring ways to partner with others to support the expenses of getting a strong UCC contingent to the event.
We estimate the average cost, including air fare, accommodations, meals and ground transportation will be $910.00. This could be more or less, depending on the actual air fare and number of hotel nights.
 
Believe Out Loud Power Summit Travel Expense Estimate:
$300 Air Fare
$400 Hotel @ $119/night for 3 nights, plus 12.5% tax
$150 Meals @ $50/day for 3 days
$  60 Ground Transportation @ $30 one way
$910 Estimated Average Travel Cost
 
The Health and Wholeness Advocacy Office and The Coalition began partnering to provide trainings for Open and Affirming leadership in 2006.  Since 2008 we joined with the welcoming church programs a several other main line denominations and now there are more than 12 trainings per year across the country.  More than 60 UCC people have received training through this program.  We are eager to continue to develop their leadership and add to their numbers.  The Believe Out Loud Power Summit is an excellent opportunity to do just that.