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American Asian
Disciples gather to "Remember our stories, ORANGE, Calif., Sept. 17, 2002 --More than 250 American Asian Disciples representing 10 different ethnicities of Asian/Pacific Islander descent gathered August 1-3 for the 12th Biennial Convocation of North American Pacific Asian Disciples on the campus of Chapman University to hear their stories, share their gifts and dream new dreams. Eunice Runes-Lewton, the featured worship speaker, in the sermon entitled, "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Belongs to NAPAD" reminded the congregation that, "Nature's way of remember is by repeating words (our stories), (therefore when faced with change) we begin right where we are....and we must overcome our racist behavior toward each other." The native of the Philippines serves The Northwest Regional Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) both as a member of the board and the Anti-Racism Team. She also represents the Pacific Northwest Region to the Washington state Association of Churches. Shanara Gabrielle Schweizer and Julio Vargas-Vidal, staff members of The Center for Transforming Worship, St. Louis, Mo., were among the headliners leading workshops. Schweizer, a professional actor and teaching artist uses the arts in worship. She led a workshop, "Worship Experience Through Theatre Arts". Vargas-Vidal, a graduate of the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico and the Berklee school of music in Boston teaches, facilitates and leads workshops in the area of liturgy and worship. Vargas-Vidal led the workshop, "Asian-American Multicultural Worship: A Hispanic Outlook". Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in other workshops such as: "Making Our Churches Safe for All: Preventing Abuse"; "Many Members, One Table: Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Initiative of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)" and "Leading the Church Through Change". This year NAPAD is celebrating ten years of rapid growth. In 1992, the first year the Office of North American Asian Ministries opened, there were eight NAPAD churches. Today there are eighty NAPAD congregations. Participants also installed new leadership for the NAPAD Executive Council for the term 2002-2004. Those newly installed are moderator, Kim Tran, New Orleans, La.; moderator-elect, April Lewton, St. Louis, Mo.; secretary/treasurer, Mary Lynn (Mia) Do, Tucson, Ariz.; and newsletter editor, Dan Sung, West Lafayette, Ind. Five members-at-large representing different constituency groups are: Bogim Morris, Chicago, Ill. (Women); Anthony Kim, Chicago, Ill. (Young Adults); Linh Ngo, New Orleans, La. (Youth); Christine Calderon, Los Angeles, Calif. (Seminarians); and Lian Jiang, Dallas, Texas. (Ministry). In other action, NAPAD voted unanimously to accept a resolution from the NAPAD Structure Task Force. NAPAD will remain in the Division of Homeland Ministries and resolved to continue to seek additional funding through the normal processes. The additional funds would be needed to support a second staff person to assist with programming in the rapidly growing Asian/Pacific Disciples ministries. Homeland Ministries, a general unit of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), commits to connecting people to the life-changing love of God by developing partnerships throughout the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that strengthen congregations and leaders to make a difference in the world by revealing the light of Christ. -- End -- 02-81 Contact: |