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CLERGY RENEWAL PROGRAM
Awesome! Educational! Spiritually uplifting! Wonderful music! Relaxing! Rejuvenating! These are just some of the words participants used to describe the time spent at Chautauqua during the first Clergy Renewal Week sponsored by the International Order of The King's Daughters and Sons and the Chautauqua Institution's Department of Religion. The only negative response was "the week ended too soon."
Ten senior clergy and spouses, representing six Christian denominations and one non-denominational church, attended the session August 4-11, 2007. The theme for the week was "Security and Preparedness" and featured many outstanding lectures by clergy, politicians, and former Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor. Hosts were the Order's International Vice-President/Spiritual Life Director, Carole Babel; her husband, David; and Betty Myers, IOKDS Chautauqua Program Director.
On Sunday evening, the participants attended a reception given by the Department of Religion. On Tuesday, following the lecture by Gregory Jones, Dean of Duke Divinity School, and the group met with Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Director of the Chautauqua Department of Religion for an information chat.
Members were treated to meals and several opportunities to gather and get to know each other. This was truly a week of renewal for all persons involved. One person said, "Please continue this excellent program! We clergy and spouses need this time away at Chautauqua." So, with the added blessing of the Chautauqua Department of Religion, plans are underway for Clergy Renewal Week July 26-August 2, 2008.Watch the IOKDS website for further information regarding this retreat for senior Christian clergy, including deadlines, approximate costs, the theme for the week, and an updated application form.
CLERGY RENEWAL WEEK 2008
It's time once again to visit with Senior Clergy in your area about attending the 2008 Clergy Renewal Week session at Chautauqua, NY, from July 26 to August 2. If you have, or have had, an opportunity to talk with any of the ten who attended the 2007 session, I'm sure that you have heard encouraging responses. They felt that the time spent there was educational, inspirational, relaxing and renewing.
Please be sure to inform anyone who might be interested that the requirements are minimal. We want everyone to know that (1) they must be recommended by a member of IOKDS, (2) the bedrooms in all of our houses are on the 2nd and 3rd floors, (3) most rooms share a bath, and (4) Chautauqua is a walking campus--cars are left in a parking lot across from the Main Gate--but bicycles and handicap motorized scooters are allowed. Our process of selection is basically on a first-come first-served basis, but priority will be awarded to those who will be visiting Chautauqua for the first time and those who are actively/currently serving as Senior Pastor of the congregation.
The theme for the lectures during Clergy Renewal Week will be "Healing the Globe." In partnership with the Global Health Council, they will be examining twenty-first century health concerns and responses to disasters, famine and pandemics. Lectures will be presented by powerful voices who have a vested interest in a healthy world.
Clergy Renewal Week is sponsored jointly by IOKDS and the Chautauqua Department of Religion. IOKDS provides housing, breakfast foods and two evening meals. This upcoming year we will have a Sunday afternoon reception so that guests from all the houses will have an opportunity to get acquainted, an evening meal on Tuesday to introduce the participants to the work of IOKDS, and a Friday evening meal to sum up the week's experience. The Department of Religion will provide gate passes for the Clergy and a time of fellowship to visit with Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, Director of the Department of Religion. Clergy are responsible for transportation, spouse gate passes (which we anticipate will be in the area of $250, but will not have the exact figure until some time after the first of 2008), all meals other than the above. Each house has limited refrigerator space, full kitchens and laundry facilities. More specifics will be sent to those who will be attending.
IOKDS members may receive an application by e-mailing me at babelcj@aol.com, or by phone at 573-442-0245. Applications may be forwarded to me between January 7, 2008 and March 31, 2008. I look forward to meeting new clergy and spouses and sharing another week of relaxation, rejuvenation, fellowship and spiritual renewal.
In His Name,
Carole Babel
Vice President/Spiritual Life Director
Chautauqua
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