Conference schedule draft, v2.1!
The conference schedule has been a major focus for the planning committee lately. It’s still a work-in-progress, of course — hence the "v2.1" at the top; we’ve already been through several iterations, and there will surely be more. With that disclaimer, here’s our current draft. Questions, comments, and suggestions all very welcome.
Once we have a finalized schedule, we’ll start looking for volunteers to help make these things happen: folks to collaborate in creating and leading the worship, folks to moderate different panels and sessions, etc. (We’re operating more-or-less on the unconference model, so we’ll be depending on everyone who comes to contribute to the various conversations. We’re all about collaborative conversations; we’re bloggers, after all.) For now, weigh in and let us know what you think!
(By the way, I’m planning to post again soon with some thoughts on what "ecumenical worship" can mean; so if you have thoughts or questions about that, bear with us, you’ll hear from me again soon…)
DRAFT SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST PROGRESSIVE FAITH BLOG CON, V2.1
FRIDAY JULY 14
afternoon — arrive, check into hotels, get conference packet & badge (Emily R. has offered to help with this)
7pm — welcome; ecumenical Jewish worship (led by Rachel of Velveteen Rabbi, Andrew of Semitism.net, and others TBA)
8:15pm — blogger dinner, social gathering
SATURDAY JULY 15
breakfast on your own
8am — ecumenical Buddhist meditation (led by Lorianne of Hoarded Ordinaries)
9am — kick off the morning events
9:15-10:30am — Panel 1: Roots and Branches, The Nature of Our Community
* Ecumenical and interfaith blogging engagement
* Challenges and blessings of pluralism
* Reaching out to those more conservative than we
10:45-12:15 noon — Breakout Session One: Religion Blogging
We’ll do this in two sessions of 45 minutes each. Bloggers can choose one breakout session in each group.
First Breakout Session by faith affiliation/interest:
* Jewish blogosphere
* Christian blogosphere
* Islamosphere
* Buddhist blogosphere
* Other affinity groups as participation warrants
Second Session around three topics. Choose one:
* Blogging about Scripture
* Blogging about Ritual
* Blogging about Meditation
12:15-1pm — Lunch break
1-2pm — Panel 2: Talking Tech
* Read Me! Increasing Site Traffic
* CSS, Podcasting, and New Software
* Building our internal network
2:15-3:45 — Panel 2: Faith and Politics, A Path to Engagement
* Relating faith and political action
* Blogging and its place in the history of progressive faith activism
* Faith is bigger than partisan affiliation
4-5:30 — Breakout Session 2: Politics
We’ll do this in two rotations of 45 minutes each; the same three topics each rotation. Attendees get to do two of the three.
* Int’l Relations/War on Terror/Peace
* Poverty and Hunger in the US
* Responding to the Religious Right
5:30-6:30 — Free time! :-)
6:30-8:15pm — Dinner break
8:30pm — ecumenical Muslim salaat/namaz (maghrib prayers, followed by remarks or Q-and-A; leader/s TBA)
9pm — Roundtable: What Does Progressive Faith Mean?
Featuring:
* Rabbi Arthur Waskow
* Rev. Dr. Bruce Prescott
…and others, TBA!
(Read roundtable participants’ bios here.)
10pm — Latenight gathering (would people enjoy an open-mike? acoustic music?)
SUNDAY JULY 16
9am — Brunch
10:30am — Christian ecumenical worship (led by Chris of Even the Devils Believe, with others TBA.)
11:30 — Brainstorming session: Where Do We Go From Here?
12:15 — Closing circle & goodbyes
(Afternoon: optional sight-seeing trip into NYC for those who are sticking around?)
Technorati tags: religion, politics, progfaithblogcon.
