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Emerging Leaders Institute

“Healing the Heart of Democracy”
A Conference for Emerging Leaders in the Progressive Christian Movement
featuring Parker J. Palmer & Marcy Jackson from The Center for Courage & Renewal
July 16-18, 2012

In 2012, the Institute addressed the challenges facing Progressive Christians in an election year:

• The work of establishing and maintaining a healthy democracy does not begin or end with the task of electing representatives to govern us. It begins and ends in the heart, “that grounded place in each of us where we can overcome fear, rediscover that we are members of one another, and embrace the conflicts that threaten democracy as openings to new life” (Parker J. Palmer, Healing the Heart of Democracy). Thus, the work of democracy is about more than simply who is elected to any given civil role, it is about rejoining role with soul, as well as understanding that we all have a role to play in healing the heart of our democracy. This is work for which the church is particularly well suited, and and work to which progressive Christian leaders are called.

The Emerging Leaders Institute matches emerging leaders from around the country with nationally prominent mentors in the progressive Christian movement. It is sponsored by the Plymouth Center for Progressive Christian Faith, the Beatitudes Society and others.

Parker J. Palmer and Marcy Jackson are from the Center for Courage and Renewal. Follow them on Facebook.

The planning committee for the weekend included representatives from the Plymouth Center, Beatitudes Society, Graduate Theological Union, United Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary.

 

The Plymouth Center's mission is to articulate, share and act upon foundational and emerging values of progressive Christian faith that respect and care for all people and the Earth.

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The Plymouth Center also sponsored a national conference, "Voting Justice, Voting Hope," in 2008. It featured keynote speakers Jim Wallis of Sojourners, Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun and Ray Suarez of NPR and PBS, plus 30 sessions on various topics facilitated by 16 other progressive leaders.