One of the stated goals of the RevGalBlogPals is to apply for grants to support such things as an International get together of folks associated with the ring. Today's Friday Five asks us to dream about that event.
1. What would the meeting be like? (Continuing Ed? Retreat? Outside Speakers? Interest Groups? Workshops? Hot Stone Massages? Pedicures? Glorified Slumber Party?)
Probably needs to have something other than just support groups if we are to justify the trip to our various boards/congregations. Obvious topics for workshops or speakers would be technology in ministry and issues particular to women in ministry. We probably have folks within the ring that could lead the workshops, thus eliminating high fees for outside speakers. Workshop leaders could have their registration and room fee comped.
2. When in 2008 might you be able to attend? January? Shortly after Easter? Summer? Fall? Some other time?
Could we tag it on to the beginning or end of some other even that lots of us might be going to anyway, like the Festival of Homiletics? I don't know when/where that is happening in 2008, but if the RGBP event was a two day affair just before or just after, then we'd only have to buy one plane ticket and take one block of time away from home/work. And there is already a tradition of RGBPs meeting up around that event.
3. Where would your dream meeting location be? (Urban Hotel? Rural Retreat Center? New England Camp? Southwestern Fantasy Hotel? Far away from civilization? Nearby Outlets or Really Great Thrift Stores?)
If we don't want huge shuttle and/or rental car costs in addition to registration and airline tickets, it probably ought to be an airport hotel or a city that has really good cab service or public transit to the airport.
4. Who would make a great keynote speaker? (That's if #1 leads us in that direction.)
As I said, I think we could find leadership within the ring.
Anything else?
We'll need to address the confidentiality/anonymity issue. Enough of us have had problems with individuals or congregations having strong negative reactions to discovering a pastor's blog that this will be a concern I think. Hypothetical nightmare situation: RGBP on the plane on the way home to seatmate, "Oh I was just at the most wonderful conference of clergy-bloggers. I met a woman from Xville who writes the most hysterical blog posts about the dumb things her clerk of session does. . . . " Seatmate: "That's interesting. I'm the clerk of Session in Xville." So we'll need to think about how to handle this.
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7 comments:
Oh people keep thinking of good ideas: technology is a great topic.
technology IS a good idea. ANd I was going to suggest the tagging it to the end or beginning of some major event, as well.
good practical thinking here- mine was more pipe dreams :-)
Good question about the confidentiality issue.
And, you know, Hawaii has some great airport hotels.
By interest groups I didn't mean support groups, but I see your point.
I really REALLY like the idea of tacking it on to next year's Festival of Homies, as I was hoping to go this year and had almost persuaded the diocese, when a must do wedding intervened...so there's a bit of softening up already started. It's not going to be easy, but oh, I would so love to be with all of you, somehow.
So practical. You are right about the anonymity issue thing too.
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