Convocation Program Agenda

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

7:00 am – 10:00 pm     Early Arrivals / Hotel Check – In

Thursday, July 12, 2012

9:00 am – 7:00 pm        * Hotel Check – In         ( Hotel Front Desk )

• REGISTRATION                              (Mazatlan B )

7:30 am – 5:00 pm        PRE-CONVOCATION TRIP to CENTRO

                                     ROMERO   at  San Ysidro,  San Diego, CA

• Building Community
  173 W. Hall Avenue

San Ysidro, CA 92173
Phone: (619) 428-8700            

5:15 pm –7:00 pm        DINNER                            (Mazatlan C II)

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING    (Mazatlan C I )

7:00 pm – 9:45 pm       YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT

GATHERING / PROGRAM

                                          (Mazatlan A I & A II)

Friday, July 13, 2012

7:00 am – 8:30 am        BREAKFAST                         (Cabo San Lucas B)

8:30 am – 9:30 am       SACRED CONVERSATION – 1

                                               by Ron Fujiyoshi

          “To Build and To Plant” (Jeremiah 1: 4-10)     (Mazatlan C III)

• SPIRITUAL READING AND MEDITATION – 1

                             by Ernie Reyes                   (Mazatlan C II)   “To Build and To Plant” (Jeremiah 1: 4-10)

• YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT

                     SACRED CONVERSATION – 1               (Mazatlan C I)

9:30 am – 9:45 am       BREAK /COFFEE, DANISHES, COOKIES

9:45 am – 10:45 am       OPENING WORSHIP SERVICE

                                         WORDS OF WELCOME

                                                *Eppie Fahigal – Encabo

                                        National PAAM Moderator

                                               *Felix Villanueva

                                                 Conference Minister

                                             Southern California Nevada Conference UCC

10:45 am – 12:00 pm           BUSINESS MEETING – 1

                                                           (Cabo San Lucas A)

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm        BREAK /LUNCH                 (Cabo San Lucas B)

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm            WORKSHOP – 1

                                   YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT WORKSHOP – 1

                  (NOTE: Adults are welcome to sign up for YYA workshop)

2:30 pm –  2:45 pm      BREAK /COFFEE, DANISHES, COOKIES

2:45 pm – 4:15 pm         WORKSHOP – 2

                                   YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT WORKSHOP – 2

                  (NOTE: Adults are welcome to sign up for YYA workshop)

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm         FREE TIME…FREE TIME…FREE TIME

                                           REGIONAL MEETINGS

                                           EXECUTIVE MEETING (As needed)

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm              DINNER                             (Cabo San Lucas B)

7:15 pm – 8:15 pm           WORSHIP SERVICE        (Cabo San Lucas A)

                                       Led by the Youth and Young Adult

8:15 pm – 10:00 pm            SMALL GROUP SESSIONS:

                                                 Sharing Our Stories

• YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM

                                                                                          (Mazatlan AI)

Saturday, July 14, 2012

7:00 am – 8:30 am        BREAKFAST                              (Cabo San Lucas B)

8:30 am – 10:00 am          WORSHIP SERVICE        (Cabo San Lucas A)

                                    & A TIME WITH DAN

                               Keynote Speaker: Dan Romero

10:00 am – 1:00 pm     YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM

                                  Youth and Young Adult Community Service

                                        Orange County Food Bank

• Community Action Partnership Bldg.

                        11870 Monarch Street

                        Garden Grove, CA 92841

10:30 am – 11:30 am    * BIBLE STUDY: Sacred Conversation – A

                                                by Ron Fujiyoshi

                               “To Build and To Plant” (Jeremiah 1: 4-10)

                                                                                                               (Mazatlan C I)

* BIBLE STUDY: Sacred Conversation – B

                                                  by Chris Ponnuraj

                               “To Build and To Plant” (Jeremiah 1: 4-10)

                                                                                         (Mazatlan C II)

11:30 pm – 1:30 pm        BREAK /LUNCH

1:30 pm – 1: 45 pm         Community Singing              (Cabo San Lucas A)

                                       Sharing of Joys and Concerns

1:45 pm – 4:30 pm            BUSINESS MEETING – 2

                                        &  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

                                                         (Cabo San Lucas A)

4:30 pm –  4:45 pm      BREAK /COFFEE, DANISHES, COOKIES

4:45 pm – 6:00 pm         WORSHIP SERVICE

-         Communion

-         Installation of New National

      PAAM Officers

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm                  Free Time…Free time…Free time

7:00 pm – 9:30 pm               DINNER                        (Cabo San Lucas A)

                                         CULTURAL NIGHT FELLOWSHIP

                                      -Recognition of PAAM Honored Person 2012

9:30 pm – 10:30 pm           SMALL GROUP SESSIONS & 

                                                FELLOWSHIP

                                                Sharing Our Stories

-         Youth and Young Adult Program

Sunday July 15, 2012

 7:00 am – 3:00 pm  Check Out / Safe Travel Back Home

 8:00 am – 12:00 pm  Delegates will attend Sunday Worship

                                     with Local PAAM Churches

                                  (Please sign up)

————————–

GENERAL SESSIONS

• WORSHIP SERVICE, SACRED CONVERSATION, AND REFLECTIVE MEDITATION

• WORKSHOPS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND PRE-CONVOCATION IMMMERSION TRIP TO CENTRO ROMERO

• YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT led WORSHIP SERVICE AND PROGRAMS

• CULTURAL NIGHT DINNER AND FELLOWSHIP; and SMALL GROUP SESSIONS ( Sharing our Stories)

• BUSINESS MEETINGS, REGIONAL MEETING

PRE-CONVOCATION IMMMERSION TRIP

TO CENTRO ROMERO

• Building Community
  173 W. Hall Avenue

San Ysidro, CA 92173
Phone: (619) 428-8700

      Visiting Centro Romero is the best way to get to know us and to get inform about the challenges all of us are facing as individuals, churches, country and as a hemisphere. There are a lot of subjects to explore while you’re here. Most all visits will include a an orientation period, a guided-immersion experience to the city of Tijuana, including opportunities to meet our partners in Tijuana and a time to reflect, theologically, about the experience.

      But, during our PAAM Pre-Convocation event we will dedicate our time to exchange information, ideas and impressions about what is going on in our world, yours and mine, without being concern about how close or far your context is from the line that divides United States and Mexico, also known as the U.S.-Mexico border.

     Our time together will include educational periods, reflections as well as time for fellowship and community building. Our faith will be strengthened and our vision enhance.

-          Rev. Dr. Carlos J. Correa Bernier

SCNC Associate Conference Minister for Latino and Border Ministries and the Director of Centro Romero

KEYNOTE SPEAKER     

        Rev. Daniel Romero    

   The Reverend Daniel F. Romero is a native of Los Angeles, California and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the American University in Washington, D.C. He received his Master of Divinity degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California in 1970 and was ordained into the Christian ministry in June of that year by the Los Angeles Association of the Southern California Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC). He was called to serve as Minister of Education at the Community Congregational Church of Chula Vista, California from 1970-73, and was pastor at Morningside United Church of Christ from 1973-76.  In November, 1976, Rev. Romero was elected Associate Conference Minister for the Southern California Conference/UCC, and in December of 1984 received a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University Law School. He is a member of the New York Bar with particular interest in immigration and international law.  Rev. Romero was appointed General Secretary for Mission Program of the United Church Board for World Ministries in 1987. In 1996, he assisted with the establishment of the Common Global Ministries Board of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In November 1998, Rev. Romero was elected Conference Minister for the Southern California Nevada Conference. He has traveled extensively reviewing mission programs and policy with overseas partners and has served in a variety of capacities with the United Church of Christ, the National Council of Churches and in facilitating the UCC/Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ecumenical partnership. He is committed to working with diverse constituencies in shaping an authentic ecumenical and multicultural context for ministry. He is the author of “Our Futures Inextricably Linked: A Vision of Pluralism”, published by the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries.

 Centro Romero, one of the Centers for Education and Social Transformation, was a concept created at the Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ under the leadership of Rev. Linda Jaramillo in 2005. It was developed in partnership with the Southern California Nevada   Conference of the United Church of Christ and is named after the Rev. Daniel Romero.

The Rev. Romero is an avid Los Angeles Dodgers fan!

WORKSHOP TOPICS & FACILITATORS

1. 1.     Lesbian and Gay Concerns for PAAM Youth and Adults:

A Racial Justice Perspective

• Lesbian and gay concerns are often met with silence and shame in API churches. Sometimes the stereotyping and bullying of LGBT youth and persons are carried out by authority figures in the name of faith and family.  This workshop explores the ethical principles of engagement for discussing LGBT concerns from a racial justice perspective.

• Elizabeth Leung, PhD

      Elizabeth Leung, PhD, is an ordained minister and currently serves as the Minister for Racial Justice in the United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries.  She brings a rich background of theological study and spiritual practice, social cultural analysis, program and resource development, and the ability to think and act strategically in response to emerging racial justice issues within the UCC and in society.  From 2007 to 2011, Rev. Leung served as the Coordinating Minister of the Asian Pacific Islander Roundtable project at the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion at Pacific School of Religion, and worked collaboratively with API faith leaders, communities and LGBT persons.  She also expanded her inter-cultural exposure by working closely with African American and Latino and Latina colleagues in similar projects.   Rev. Leung not only has professional knowledge, but her intercultural and transnational personal life experiences contribute to her understanding of the intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status and other pressing justice issues.

1. 2.     A Walk Across

• Many times in our society, we do not believe that things actually happen to people until they put a face to an issue.  This is a time where we will be able to recognize and identify the different issues of oppression – visible and invisible; the privilege that we live within our communities

• Leian Cimarra

     Leian Cimarra is the No. CA PAAM’s  Moderator and Regional Young Adult Representative to PAAM’s Executive Committee and is on the Planning Team for the National Convocation.  Leian started serving the church in many capacities – locally, conference and national at a young age of 14.

She also works with a summer camp that encourages high school students to be leaders within their community through volunteerism, charities and extra-circular activities (sports, leadership, etc.)  Along with PAAM, Leian also serves on the NCNC Annual Gathering Planning Team, Bay Association Board of Directors, the Multi-Cultural Multi-Racial Transformation Team, “I’M CHURCH”, Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ (until 2015) and on the Centro Romero Ministry Council.

1. 3.     How the Gospel went to Chuuk and Its Fruits

• There is no known material that traces the Gospel from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission all the way to the Chuuk lagoon in Micronesia.  Using maps and original material, this workshop will chronologically trace the waves of missionaries that resulted in the Gospel arriving in the Chuuk lagoon.  The fruits of this labor will also be shared.

• Ronald Fujiyoshi,  Akendo Onamwar, Kachusy Silander,  Hanslynne Elieisar, and Nona Dereas

Ronald Fujiyoshi: Third-generation Japanese Christian, licensed minister, ex-missionary who served 29 years in Asia and the Pacific, visited Ebon in the Marshall Islands and Pohnpei and Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Akendo Onamwar is the Senior Pastor of the Island Community Church of Honolulu, a Chuukese congregation.  Graduated from the Hawaii Pacific University in 1978, ordained in 1984, he worked for the Micronesian government as clerk of the State Courts.

Kachusy Silander graduated from the University of Hawaii at Hilo in 1979, worked for the Chuuk State Housing as Executive Director, in 1987 was ordained pastor at Wichap Congregational Church, now an Associate pastor of the Island Community Church of Honolulu.

Hanslynne “Lynne” Elieisar is an 18 year old Chuukese young adult, the niece of the senior pastor of the Dereas Memorial Church on Uman Island, the first island within the Chuuk lagoon that received the Gospel.

Nono Dereas, is a 16 year old Chuukese youth.  She is the granddaughter of Rev. Eiki Dereas, the senior pastor of the Dereas Memorial Church on Uman Island, Chuuk

1. 4.     In Search of Just Immigration Policy      

• This workshop will review the historical development of U.S. immigration policy and law, look at the issues related to the current debate on immigration, and share stories and experiences of new immigrants who are locked in the immigration system and the elements of immigration reform.

• Dan Romero, Esq.

Dan Romero, former Southern California Neveda Conference Minister,  received  his M.Div. from Pacific School of Religion and Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University Law School. He was ordained into the ministry with the United Church of Christ in 1970.  Now in retirement, Rev. Romero acts as a consultant to the Daniel F. Romero Border Ministries Center in San Ysidro, CA.  He speaks and writes on immigration issues and is a volunteer immigration lawyer at El Rescate Legal Services in Los Angeles, CA.

1. 5.      From Local to Global: Understanding and Confronting the Cycle of Sex Trafficking

• This presentation will discuss the prevalence of sex trafficking in the world, the United States, and California and the factors that contribute to the problem. There will be information on different types of trafficking, types of traffickers, legislation, and how trauma impacts victims of trafficking.

• Carlos J. Correa Bernier

       Carlos Correa Bernier is passionately committed to living in a world without violence. His passion began in 1984 when he learned about the prevalence of sex trafficking as a modality of, in certain cases, family violence. From that point on, he has dedicated his  learning and career path to working in anti-familily violence as well as anti-sex trafficking. A family therapist, educator, theologian, community leader and the author of many chapters and articles in the areas of psychology, theology, the family and the environment, Dr. Correa is currently the SCNC Associate Conference Minister for Latino and Border Ministries and the Director of Centro Romero, a joint border ministry of the SCNC and Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ. A former urban pastor and clinician with a master degree in family therapy, a Master of Divinity, a doctorate in counseling psychology, Dr. Correa is currently completing the residency requirements toward a Ph.D.  in theology at Christ Church College, University of Oxford.

1. 6.     Doing God’s Business

• How can we bring new people through our church doors?  What’s the best way or tools to use?  Many business marketing ideas and principles apply to the church like any other business.  After all, we are Doing God’s Business.  This interactive workshop will give your church some creative ideas and solutions on how you can market your church to your community and extend what UCC calls “radical hospitality” to your community.

• Dick Hom

      Since 1996, Dick Hom has been the owner of Mustard Seed Promotions, a promotional products distributor.  He is currently serving as Moderator of the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC.  He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Pacific School of Religion, a seminary of the United Church of Christ, in Berkeley, CA. He was a former moderator and is a contributing member of NCNC PAAM.  He is heading the PAAM Nominating Committee. Mr. Hom is a long-time member since 1962 of the 138-year-old Chinese Congregational Church, UCC in San Francisco, where he serves on the church council.  His church was one of the original churches during the founding of PAAM.

1. 7.     The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, CCCS.  O Le Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa, EFKS.                              

• The workshop will highlight the humble beginnings and the life of the church in Samoa, its vision and mission in the early stages of missionary work throughout the Pacific.  It will also address how the gospel and culture work together in molding the fabric of the Samoan Way or the Faa-Samoa and its traditions.

• Andy Leavasa, facilitator; Ula Sa’o, & Robert Estrella

       Andy Leavasa – Pastor (10 years) of Vai Ole Ola Congregational Christian Church, UCC in Lakewood, CA (So.)  He is a graduate of Malua Theological College, CCCS’s 4-year college, and holds dual standing in the CCCS and the UCC.  He has served on the Conference Church Development Committee and the Board of Directors.  Rev. Leavasa is the present secretary for the Samoan Ministries Table that reports directly to the Conference and the Conference Minister.

“Ula” Lauiula Tofaeono Sa’o, an active PAAM member in the Midwest Region, served as its treasurer in 2005 then as moderator from 2005-2010.  She is currently on the PAAM Scholarship Committee.  She was a PAAM representative to the Christians Initiative Healthcare Reform and led a HI PAAM trip to Samoa in 2011 to visit Malua Theological Seminary. Ula has lived in Kansas City, MO since 1996 and attends the CCCS church in Independence, MO, where she serves as a deaconess

Robert Matsui Estrella is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Broadcasting Communication Arts.  He works as a freelance videographer for Balitang American ABS/CBN News TV and has his own small company, Tri-Star Video Data Services. He has had many volunteer/community experiences, currently as volunteer youth advisor at the Filipino UCC in HI.  He was HI PAAM’s co-moderator in the mid-90’s and has been on mission trips to the Marshall Islands and the Philippines.

1. 8.     United Governance: The Role of PAAM

• During the recent 28^th General Synod in Florida, the delegates considered the constitutional changes required to implement the proposal, and approved the Unified Governance revisions to the constitution and bylaws. The amendments combine the five existing governance boards into a unified governing structure, the 52 member United Church of Christ Board, diverse and skilled in varied ways, called to serve the life of the entire church with principles of good governance.

This workshop is designed to give PAAM members a better understanding  of  the recent changes to the governance of the United Church of Christ.  We will explore the role of PAAM in this new structure and how we can use it to further our goals and visions.

• Workshop Facilitators and Panel Members

Co- Facilitators: Mitchi Manacop- Reyes and  John Varga

Panel Members: Eppie Fahigal- Encabo,  Caitlin Kawaguchi (YA),            Foai Tanuvasa,  and  Libby Tigner

Mitchi Manacop-Reyes – Budget Director, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.  SCNC representative to the Office of General Ministries board.  Former SCNC Board of  Directors chairperson and chairperson of the Pilgrim Pines Board. Member and Treasurer of First Congregational Church of Glendale

John Varga – Pastor of Hollywood Independent, UCC, a multicultural church. Former member of the UCC Coordinating Center for Women in Church and Society board.  Bi- vocational – Education Coordinator for the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment, Head Start program, Los Angeles.

Eppie  Fahigal-Encabo – National PAAM moderator.  Former NCNC moderator and former chair of  the General Synod Nominating Committee.  Member of Faith Community Church, UCC, Oakland, CA.  “Nana” to Miles, McKenna, Joey (Jovenelle) and new born, Nikko Grey.

Caitlin Kawaguchi – 19, freshman at Long Island University, NY.  Former NCNC youth representative to the UCC Justice and Witness Ministries board, Outdoor Ministries, Annual Gathering Planning Team.  Workshop leader on Governance, 2011.  Former youth leader at Danville Congregational Church, UCC.

Foai Tanuvasa – National PAAM secretary.  SCNC representative to the UCC Wider Church Ministries board.  SCNC Moderator until June, historian for the Samoan Ministries Table. Former moderator, Central Association.  Present Sunday School Superintendent, First Samoan Church of Los Angeles, since 2007.

Libby Tigner – An ordained minister of the United Church of Christ.  She is the SCNC Associate Conference Minister for Church Relations. Former Associate Minister at First Congregational Church of Long Beach.  Former member of the UCC Executive Council and part of the team that drafted the Unified Governance model.  Moderator of General Synod 29, meeting in Long Beach in 2013.