Presbyteries in the Synod of Lakes and Prairies 

Administrative Personnel Association

sets regional conference in July

The Administrative Personnel Association Greater Midwest Region will conduct its 2014 conference July 27-29 at First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Ill. APA classes will be available to all members. Event details can be found in the brochure at "Midwest Region."

Multicultural Church Conference

set at end of July in Texas

The National Multicultural Church Conference will take place Thursday through Sunday, July 31-Aug. 3, at the Historic Hilton Fort Worth, Texas. The theme for this year's conference is "Journeying and Awakening into God's Diverse World." Details about the conference can be found at "Multicultural Church."

'Great Ends of the church'

renews focus for heading to GA

A new "Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding" study for adults surveys the great ends of the church in significant and accessible ways. It will help renew the focus of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders before the 221st General Assembly, according to the announcement from Congregational Ministries Publishing. The complete announcement can be found at "Great Ends."

Mediation skills training institute

planned in North Dakota

A mediation skills training institute, led by Richard Blackburn, executive director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, is scheduled Aug. 18-22 at St. Francis Convent & Retreat Center in Hankinson, N.D. The event is sponsored by the presbyteries of Minnesota Valleys, Northern Plains and South Dakota. Conference details and registration form can be found at "Mediation."

IRMS resources look 'ethnic

diversification,' prison in Iowa

One of the new resources at Iowa Religious Media Services of Urbandale - "Little Salsa on the Prairie" - offers implications for the larger world, chronicling the rapid ethnic diversification of Perry, Iowa, as Latinos come from Central America to work in that town's packing plant. Another resource, "The Grey Area: Feminism Behind Bars," is a study of the issues behind criminal justice  as it relates to inmates at Iowa's Mitchellville Women's Prison. 

Resource Center in Minneapolis

posts limited summer hours

The Resource Center for Churches, a project of Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and United Church of Christ churches in Minnesota, is open Tuesdays only in June and July, but continues to be available by email, phone and appointment. The Center reports that it has removed many older resources from its catalog and offers some on its "free table." The Center's current newsletter is at "Resources."

'Great Plains Presbyterian

Pilgrimage' planned at Calvin Crest

Another Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage, described as a sanctuary that allows attendees to "emerge refreshed, rested and ready to continue," is planned Oct. 2-5 at Calvin Crest Camp, Conference & Retreat Center near Fremont, Neb. The pilgrimage is described as a "journey in Christian community, designed to nurture Christians in their spiritual growth and to provide them with a renewed foundation for individual and community living." Details can be found at "Great Plains."

OWLS celebration planned

in September at Calvin Crest

The Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry/OWLS - for Older Wiser Livelier Saints - is planned this fall, Sept. 16-17, at Calvin Crest Camp, Conference & Retreat Center just outside Fremont, Neb. This year's theme is from the question Jesus asked, "Who do you say I am?" The keynote speaker is Donald McKim, author of the well-known "These Days." The event offers speakers, worship, music, food, fellowship, entertainment and more. Details can be found at "OWLS."

United plans annual Summer

Institute in Spirituality, Arts

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities will conduct its annual Summer Institute in Spirituality and Arts Saturday through Tuesday, June 10-13. The Institute is a four-day retreat that explores the intersection of art and religion. Details and registration information are at "Summer Institute."

UDTS to conduct its 4th annual CRE conference

The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary will conduct its fourth annual Commissioned Ruling Elder Conference June 12-14 with both basic and advanced CRE classes, and worship, fellowship and conversation. The registration fee for the conference includes tuition for one class, admission to the plenary addresses and two group meals. Details can be found at "Commissioned Ruling Elder."

Austin Seminary faculty back

Columbia faculty statement on schism

With the seemingly contentious 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approaching, the faculty of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary has issued a statement noting: "We believe, especially in these troubled times, that it is crucial to maintain faithful relationships with one another as members of the body of Christ." The Austin seminary statement echoes a similar statement issued by the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary earlier this month which declared that schism is "a profound theological and pastoral problem." Noting that "agreat many controversial questions will be raised at this Assembly," the Austin teachers warned, "It will be tempting to retreat into camps of the like-minded and to disparage our opponents." The complete Presbyterian News Service story can be found at "Seminary Faculty."

Hansen: Remembering the past

offers help for the present

Gary Neal Hansen, associate professor of church history at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, notes in his blog, "If you forget the past you are not really doomed to repeat it. However, remembering the right things from past can help you find wisdom, live in gratitude, and avoid certain things that would make you look like a doofus." Hansen writes at "Christianity as a second language." Hansen's first book, "Kneeling with Giants: Learning to Pray with History's Best Teachers," was named the Devotional Book of the Year by Christian Resources Together of the United Kingdom. 

Atlantic editor offers way

to address America's race problem

Your editor subscribes to Upworthy posts. It describes itself as "social media with a mission: to make important stuff as viral as a video of some idiot surfing off his roof." Your editor really didn't know about the roof-surfing video. But here's a video of Bill Moyers' interview of Ta-Nehisi Coates, a senior editor of The Atlantic magazine. It's thoughtful and powerful - just like any Moyers interview. It's viewable through "Upworthy" and the full version is on "YouTube."