Montreat Conference Center

Current Conferences

About the Institute

The 3rd Annual Montreat Multicultural Institute, sponsored by the Presbyterian Multicultural Network (PMN) and the Office of Multicultural Congregational Support (OMCS), offers courses to enable and inspire clergy and laity in cultivating God’s biblical vision to gather people of diverse identities into inclusive communities of faith.

• Courses focus on the skills and proficiencies needed for cross-cultural ministries and transforming relationships.
• This year’s Institute offers Spanish Immersion, Cultural Proficiency, The History of Race In America, Embodying the Faith, Multicultural 101, and more.
• The Institute also includes empowering and illuminating group activities and inspiring and embodied worship each day.

Questions about course curriculum? Email Marcia Mount Shoop at mountshoop@gmail.com.

Please Join Us…

Our countryʼs diversity is increasing in every way. For the church this is a blessed opportunity. The PMN is committed to exploring a Pentecost vision and the skills we need for ministries that embrace and make space for Godʼs people to truly be “together in one place.” Our first two institutes have been great successes. Come and see how 2012 promises to be the best yet! ~ Dr. Marcia Mount Shoop, Dean

Course Selection

Please choose ONE of the following four courses. Note that Course I: Spanish Immersion begins on Monday, November 5th. Courses II, III, & IV begin on Tuesday, November 6th.

Course I:

The Spanish Immersion (begins November 5)
An immersion course that will have you speaking Spanish in the very first session and will send you home able to speak, read, and write Spanish.

• Lilia Maria Ramirez-Jimenez was born in Costa Rica, but also lived in Colombia and Venezuela. She has a bachelors degree and received her MDiv. from McCormick Theological Seminary in 2005. Since then, she has been working in The Presbytery of the Palisades serving both locally and nationally. She has participated in multicultural conferences and has been a faculty member of teaching Spanish at the Montreat Institute. Lilia was ordained in 2005 and she is the pastor of the Hispanic Presbyterian Church in Paterson, NJ. The Rev. Ramirez is also chair of the Latino Ministry Team of her Presbytery. She serves as Coordinator of the North Jersey Latino Project, a joint effort of the presbyteries of Elizabeth, Newark and Palisades.

• Gustavo Vasquez is from Caracas Venezuela. He has a degree in Social Communication with post-graduate studies in International Relations and Corporate Communication. He completed his Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in 2005. He has been lay leader in the Presbyterian Church in Venezuela, in Latin American Ecumenical Organizations, and in the United States. In 2007 he was ordained and became the pastor of the United Presbyterian Methodist Church in West New York, NJ. He has been serving on several committees at the presbytery and national levels in the PCUSA. Since 2006 he has been involved in multicultural ministries and a board member of the Presbyterian Multicultural Network (PMN). He has been a faculty member of the Multicultural Church Institute in Stony Point, NY, Ghost Ranch, NM and Montreat, NC.

Course II:

“O Lord, Hold Our Hands: Engaging and Overcoming Race in America” (begins November 6)
This course seeks to explore the continuing power of race as an idea and a force in American life, using historical analysis, present day issues, small group work, cultural exercises, and DVD’s. These and other tools will allow us to enter into America’s original sin and begin to acknowledge its power in all of our lives as well as begin to find ways to overcome it.

• Gibson (Nibs) Stroupe has been co-pastor with his wife Caroline teach at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, GA, for 28 years. Oakhurst is a nationally recognized leader in multicultural ministries, having been featured in Time Magazine, NBC News, CNN News, NPR, CBS Radio and others. Nibs is the author of three books and in 2007 was inducted into the MLK Board of Preachers at Morehouse College.
  
  

• Sterling Morse is the coordinator for Cross Cultural Ministries and Congregational Support for the General Assembly Mission Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Before joining the GAMC staff in 2010, Sterling was the pastor of Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. for 14 years. He also served on the staff of National Capital Presbytery in Washington, D.C., as the Associate for Mission and previously pastor of Hope Presbyterian Church in Detroit, MI, and Congruity Presbyterian Church, Sumter, SC. He was formerly moderator of National Capital Presbytery, 2001, and the Presbytery of Atlantic (an all Black Presbytery prior to reunion). A native of Chester, Pennsylvania, Sterling matriculated at Cheyney University (PA), earning a B.A. in Political Science; the Master of Divinity from Johnson C. Smith Seminary at the Interdenominational theological Center, Atlanta, GA, and the Doctor of Ministry from the Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit, MI. He has done extensive work in anti-racism training, coalition building, ecumenical and interfaith partnerships.

Course III:

“Living Harmony” (begins November 6)
Engage in story telling, soul singing, and embodied practice. Revitalize your spirit in this interactive course designed for healing and building more vibrant communities.

• Elise Witt was born in Switzerland, raised in North Carolina, and has lived in Atlanta since 1977. She tours the United States and the globe with her “Global, Local & Homemade Songs™. With her love of songwriting, improvisation, and world music, Elise uses singing as a healing force, and is known for turning any group into an Impromptu Glorious Chorus™.
  
  

• Paula Larke is a veteran of the professional stage, (New York Shakespeare Festival, New Federal Theatre, La Mama). She utilizes her music, poetry, and stories of real life heroes and “she-roes” as a modern day “djali”, or historical chronicler. Through stories, music, and theatre, she has promoted literacy, mocked intolerance, revealed African and American history, and modeled ethical consciousness and behavior for individuals and organizations for three decades. She provides counseling and motivational workshops through faith-based and community service organizations, works with young refugees from over four continents to help them acclimate to American language and customs and still honor the positive traditions and values of their own cultures. www.paulalarke.com
  
  

• Marcia Mount Shoop is a fourth generation Presbyterian minister. She preaches, teaches, writes, blogs, and leads retreats. Marcia is the author of Let the Bones Dance: Embodiment and the Body of Christ as well as the Dean for the last three years of the Montreat Multicultural Institute. Marcia has served churches in Chicago, IL, Tampa, FL, Oakland, CA, and Chapel Hill, NC.

Course IV:

Multicultural 101: Leadershift for the 21st Century (begins November 6)
Today’s church lives in a world that is ideologically and technologically changing by the minute. Rapid demographic shifts and population changes caused by waves of immigrants from the global south are providing constant challenges and opportunities. The discovering of a new paradigm shift in leadership development is not only necessarily but urgently needed to take us from where we belong to where we become a vital and growing church, where outsiders and insiders are equal partners in the shaping of its present and future. This seminar will help participants understand the growing diversity in their communities, discuss God’s intention for the church at this changing time, provide tools for innovative and holistic leadership that build bridges, incorporate differences, and bring innovation and growth.

• Raafat Girgis has been on the staff of the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 2001. He holds two undergraduate degrees and three Masters degrees in Social Sciences, Arts and Theology in addition to studies leading to the PhD (ABD). His cross cultural experiences, interfaith relations and multidiscipline academic backgrounds bring vast insight to the classroom and the sanctuary. His work experience includes ministering churches, teaching in undergraduate and graduate schools in North America and abroad and lecturing in varieties of national and international conferences. He is also the co-chair and the treasurer of the Ecumenical Network FOR Multicultural Ministries-International.

Tentative Schedule

Monday, November 5 (Spanish Immersion Class Only)

• 11:30am – Registration Opens for Spanish Class
• Noon-1:00pm – LUNCH
• 2:00-5:00pm – First Spanish Class Meeting
• 5:30-6:30pm – DINNER
• 7:00-8:30pm – Spanish Class in session

Tuesday, November 6 (All Classes)

• 7:30-8:30am – BREAKFAST (Spanish Immersion Participants Only)
• 9:00-Noon – Spanish Class in Session
• 10:00am – Registration Opens for All Other Classes
• Noon-1:00pm – LUNCH
• 1:30-4:00pm – All Classes in Session
• 5:30-6:30pm – DINNER
• 6:45pm – Evening Worship and Plenary Session

Wednesday, November 7

• 7:30-8:30am – BREAKFAST
• 9:00am-Noon – Classes in Session
• Noon-1:00pm – LUNCH
• 2:00-4:00pm – Classes in Session
• 5:30-6:30pm – DINNER
• 6:45pm – Evening Worship and Plenary Session

Thursday, November 8

• 7:30-8:30am – BREAKFAST
• 9:00am-Noon – Classes in Session
• Noon-1:00pm – LUNCH
• 2:00-4:00pm – Classes in Session
• 5:30-6:30pm – DINNER
• 6:45pm – Evening Worship and Plenary Session

Friday, November 9

• 7:30-8:30am – BREAKFAST
• 9:30am-Noon – Classes in Session
• Noon-1:00pm – LUNCH
• 1:00pm – Closing Worship Service
• 2:00pm – Multicultural Institute Ends

Registration Information

Registrations must be postmarked by October 23, 2012.

We have reserved a special block of rooms for this conference. When you register online, you will be asked to enter the group ID “MULTI1” if attending Course I or “MULTI2” if attending Courses II, III, or IV, then enter password “MONTREAT” to access these rooms. If you have any questions about the registration process, please email the registrar at susana[at]montreat.org or call 800.572.2257 ext. 339.

Course I: (begins Monday, November 5)

Comprehensive Fee $635 includes lodging in Assembly Inn Monday through Thursday nights, meals in the Galax Dining Room (Monday lunch through Friday lunch), community services fee of $1 per adult per night, and all conference fees.

Please note: To accommodate different schedules, an added night of lodging is $75 plus N.C. sales tax plus a community services fee of $1.00 per adult per night. Added meal costs are as follows: Breakfast—$7.75, Lunch—$9.00, Dinner—$11.75. All meal rates subject to N.C. sales tax. To extend your stay, please contact the registrar, Susan Akduman at susana@montreat.org.

Program & Meals Only $330 includes meals in the Galax Dining Room (Monday lunch through Friday lunch) and all conference fees.

Course II, III, or IV: (begins Tuesday, November 6)

Comprehensive Fee $495 includes lodging in Assembly Inn Tuesday through Thursday nights, meals in the Galax Dining Room (Tuesday lunch through Friday lunch), community services fee of $1 per adult per night, and all conference fees.

Please note: To accommodate different schedules, an added night of lodging is $75 plus N.C. sales tax plus a community services fee of $1.00 per adult per night. Added meal costs are as follows: Breakfast—$7.75, Lunch—$9.00, Dinner—$11.75. All meal rates subject to N.C. sales tax. To extend your stay, please contact the registrar, Susan Akduman at susana@montreat.org.

Program & Meals Only $265 includes meals in the Galax Dining Room (Tuesday lunch through Friday lunch) and all conference fees.

Refund Policy

Cancellations must be received by September 17 in order to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after September 17 but on or before October 29 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable) less $40. No refunds will be issued after October 29. All requests must be in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.

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