Presby Peace Conference, Part 1

I returned last night from The Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference. I think there were around 250 in attendance at the campus of Chapman University in Orange, California. I took the airport shuttle from LAX.




Thought you would want to see the view from the shuttle.



We passed by Disneyland.




Here is the closest I will likely get.






Chapman University is just a mile or so from the Angels' Stadium.





Yup, there is me with moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow.




Since I am dropping names and posting pics...



...here is me with Mark Koenig, the master peacemaker.




Mark blogs at Swords Into Plowshares. By the way, Mark is visiting Holston Presbytery this September.

But you all need to know that peace begins with Ervin Bullock.



She coordinates the presbytery peace people.





Ervin and Mark are on staff of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program. There were other staff as well at the conference, but seeing three pictures of me in that blue Hawaiian shirt should be enough to ruin anyone's day.



This guy is one tremendous preacher. Rev. Dr. Mark Lomax of The First Afrikan Church of Lithonia, Georgia, outside of Atlanta.




He preached and offered theological reflection throughout the conference.

On the piano is Patrick Evans of Yale. He introduced us to songs from around the world. It is amazing the sounds he could get from us just by moving his arms.


I have more pics and some reflections on the conference to come! In the meantime, you might want to check out some other blogs, Sarah Reyes (Bruce's Mom), Being Barbara, Swords Into Plowshares, Food and Faith, and others as I, or you, find them.


The Presbyterian Outlook posted some stories,

• Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference Gets Underway in California,
• Lomax Urges Peacemaking Conference to "Unplug from the Peripherals", and
• Peacemakers Challenged to be Called and Sent.