Bearing Fruit
Exploring the Relationship Between Spirituality, Social Justice, and Partnership Building
Drawing from the wisdom imparted from communities and the work connected with the Presbyterian Committee on the Self Development of People, this workshop will look at how communities have much to teach us about the importance of relationship building.
This interactive workshop will also equip participants with missional strategies centered around community organizing to create and leverage congregational/communal power in engaging issues in the local church and community through direct action and advocacy.
Using asset mapping, biblical and intersectional understandings of justice, and our theological tradition, the workshop is also designed to encourage relationship, partnerships, networking, and community building among participants.
One aspect of this workshop will focus on salient issues of poverty eradication and systemic change in a post-COVID world.
Event details
February 16, 2024
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Chester Presbyterian Church
3424 W Hundred Rd
Chester, VA 23831
More Information
Speakers
Rev. Dr. Alonzo T. Johnson is the coordinator for the Presbyterian Committee of the Self-Development of People Program (SDOP) Presbyterian Church (USA). Rev. Johnson has over 25 years of experience in urban, congregational based organizing, youth/education, creative arts, peacemaking, prison ministry, anti-poverty and social justice ministries. Rev. Johnson was pastor at an urban congregation and presbytery in Philadelphia, PA and has worked as a volunteer chaplain in prison ministry for nine years. He has a BA from Bloomfield College and an MDiv and DMin from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He is also the convener of the Education Roundtable in the PC(USA).
Margaret Mwale is associate for community development and constituent relations with Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP). She coordinates and interprets the ministry of SDOP to Mid-Councils, Congregations and under-resourced communities and leads community development efforts for SDOP. Margaret has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bluffton University (OH) and master’s degrees in economics and education from Eastern Illinois University. She has also completed certification training at the Chalmers Center for Economic and Community Development at Covenant College. Prior to joining Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, Margaret oversaw community ministry programs with congregations in Mobile, AL, and Indianapolis, IN.