The following announcement is available on Affirmation's website at:
http://www.umaffirm.org/news/2005voicesoffaith.html

Note that "An Affirmation Family Reunion" will be held on the evening
of April 2 in conjunction with this event.
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Voices of Faith: From Swords to Plowshares
March 31-April 2, 2005, Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Sponsored by the Methodist Federation for Social Action

United Methodists from across the nation will gather to recall and
reclaim our vocation as peacemakers.

Provocative theologian and biblical scholar, Ched Myers will anchor
the three-day conference by leading us through three one-hour Bible
Studies.

Gifted musician Jorge Lockward will serve as music leader and help us
raise our voices for justice through song.

We will be touched, moved and inspired by the preaching of United
Methodist ministers Rev. James Lawson, nonviolence activist and civil
rights leader and Rev. Janet Wolf, organizer, storyteller and advocate
for the poor and homeless.

Additional church and national leaders will be present including a
special program on Thursday night "Promoting Peace in Israel/Palestine
through Nonviolent Direct Action" featuring Mubarak Awad, Palestinian
Peace Activist and Chair of Nonviolence International.

ROOMS AT SHERATON GATEWAY

Reserve your room NOW (because they are limited) at the conference
rate of $95 (plus tax) by directly contacting the Los Angeles Sheraton
Gateway Hotel by phone at (310) 642-1111. Make reservations with the
"MFSA" code for the room discount rate. The hotel is within one mile
of the airport. Free shuttle transportation is available from the
airport to the hotel 24 hrs. a day at no cost.

The conference will begin promptly at 11am on Thursday with
registration opening at 9am, and conclude on Saturday at 12:30pm.
Several of MFSA's partner organizations are planning gatherings in Los
Angeles prior to and after the conference. Check the MFSA website for
the most recent schedule.

Registration forms can be found on the MFSA website [see link below]
and the conference schedule will be available soon. More details can
also be found in the next issue of the SQB.

Pre- and Post-Conference Events
Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual &
Transgender Concerns, an activist caucus of LGBT people and allies, is
holding "An Affirmation Family Reunion" -- an evening of fellowship,
worship, and celebration on Saturday, April 2, from 7:00 p.m.-­9:00
p.m. This event will be one of several Affirmation 30th anniversary
observances. For more information contact Affirmation at
umaffirmation@... .

Church Within A Church is also planning to meet prior to Voices of
Faith. More information about Church Within a Church and the details
for the March 30th meeting can be found on the web or by contacting
Cathy Knight, Marketing and Development Director for Church Within A
Church Cknight72@... .

Parent's Reconciling Network (PRN) organizers will gather Saturday
evening April 2-Monday, April 4 in Los Angeles. Contact: Barbara Olson
513/539-2524, reginald.olson@... .

Reconciling Ministries Clergy (RMC) will meet the day prior to Voices
of Faith. Join the RMC through the Reconciling Ministries Network
website and be sure to identify as clergy for information on this
meeting as it emerges. The Rev. David Meredith, Broad Street UMC,
Columbus, Ohio is the convener.

United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church (UMOC) is
sponsoring a meeting of progressive people of color Wednesday March
30th in Los Angeles. The theme for the day will be "Exploring the
Relationship between Racism and Heterosexism." Details forthcoming.
For more information please contact Dr. Traci West: TWEST@... .

Western Jurisdiction MFSA meeting: A meeting is being planned for WJ
MFSA conference participants. Details are still evolving. For
additional information contact Frank Wulf at res03ytz@... or
Richard Bentley rbentley@... for more details.

See also:

Registration Form for "Voices of Faith: From Swords to Plowshares"
(PDF format on MFSA's website):
http://www.mfsaweb.org/getinvolved/VOFRegForm8.pdf

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How to Contact Us:
Affirmation email: umaffirmation@...
Affirmation web: http://www.umaffirm.org
Snail-Mail: Affirmation, P.O. Box 1021, Evanston, IL 60204.

Affirmation: United Methodists for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual &
Transgender Concerns is an independent voice of LGBT people and their
allies who affirm full participation of all persons in the church and
society and who relentlessly pursue policies and processes to that
end. Together we proclaim a Gospel of respect, love, justice and mercy
for all. Affirmation is an activist, all-volunteer, not-for-profit
organization with no official ties to The United Methodist Church.