{"id":2984,"date":"2012-03-12T10:00:14","date_gmt":"2012-03-12T15:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/ywupdate\/?p=2984"},"modified":"2012-03-02T14:36:05","modified_gmt":"2012-03-02T19:36:05","slug":"npu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/ywupdate\/2012\/03\/12\/npu\/","title":{"rendered":"NP Justice Summit and Reload Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cornel West, Jim Wallis highlight prominent speaker lineup<\/strong><\/p>\n

CHICAGO (February 2, 2012) \u2013 North Park University, Chicago, will host hundreds of people next month at an event for those who want to know more about justice as a way of life. Participants in the “North Park Justice Summit and Chicago Reload<\/a>,” event will learn how to engage in ministries of compassion and mercy, confront policies through advocacy and community organizing, and partner with programs and projects of community-based organizations, all from a Christian perspective.<\/p>\n

The Justice Summit and Chicago Reload is March 23-24. It combines\u00a0Chicago Reload<\/a>, an annual event for urban youth workers hosted by the University the past seven years, with a new\u00a0Justice Summit<\/a> to expand the audience and dig deeper into the subject of justice, including focus on systemic issues and policies. Event organizers are hoping at least 500 or more people will attend.<\/p>\n

Prominent\u00a0plenary speakers<\/a> highlight the event, and are expected to address justice, compassion and mercy from varied perspectives and contexts. They are Dr. Cornel West, Princeton (N.J.) University; Rev. Jim Wallis, Sojourners, Washington; Rev. Harvey Carey, senior pastor, Citadel of Faith Covenant Church, Detroit; Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, North Park Theological Seminary; and Rev. Judy Peterson, campus pastor, North Park University.<\/p>\n

“The whole idea is to gather folks around the issue of justice, and start the dialogue in a direction we think is holistic,” said\u00a0Tony Zambl\u00e9<\/a>, director,\u00a0North Park University Ministries<\/a>. “This idea gained traction because we believe North Park is uniquely positioned as an institution to lead the conversation on justice.” Justice Summit and Chicago Reload presenters will address the theological framework for justice ministry so participants understand what God calls them to do, and why, Zambl\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n

Justice issues are a significant component of youth ministry regardless of the context, said Alison Burkhardt, assistant director,\u00a0Center for Youth Ministry Studies<\/a>, North Park University. “There is a real electricity around Chicago Reload, and I believe it’s going to translate into the full conference. I’m hoping attendees will leave knowing that what they do makes a difference, having perhaps a different perspective on the impact they have on the communities they’re working with,” she said. Conference planners hope attendees gain “foundations and tools” for doing ministry that can be applied in multiple contexts, Burkhardt added.<\/p>\n

Attendees will be able to choose from a significant number of\u00a0workshops<\/a> organized into four tracks, said\u00a0Rich Kohng<\/a>, urban outreach coordinator, North Park University Ministries. Workshop categories include “Presence,” “Policy,” “Programs,” and “Perceptions,” he said. Some workshops are already planned, and others will be added in the coming weeks. Kohng said he hopes attendees will become “contemplative activists,” combining their relationships with Jesus Christ and activism as important components of the gospel.<\/p>\n

Conference\u00a0registration<\/a> is open online; early registration rates are available through Feb. 29. Regular registration begins March 1 and closes online March 21. For those who sign up, conference email updates are also available.<\/p>\n

Justice Summit and Chicago Reload sponsors are three University entities: University Ministries,\u00a0Campus Theme Committee<\/a>, and the Center for Youth Ministry Studies. North Park University is affiliated with the\u00a0Evangelical Covenant Church<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Use @npunews to\u00a0follow North Park University News on Twitter<\/a>. For further information or resources, contact John Brooks, Director of Media Relations and News,\u00a0via email<\/a> or at (773) 244-5522. Learn more\u00a0about North Park University<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Next Steps<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n