Schedule for the Direct Action at the 2008 UMC General Conference
This schedule is subject to change, so please check back frequently.
Updated 4/18/2008
| Friday, April 25, 2008 | |
| 12:30pm – 2:00pm | Picnic in the Park with Transgender People of Faith featuring Soulforce Board Member Judy Osborne, UM Affirmation Spokesperson Diane Delap, Rev. Drew Phoenix, and many others. Join us for lunch, listen to moving personal stories, and ask questions in an informal environment. Free lunch for GC delegates and volunteers sponsored by Soulforce, Transgender Advocates of Central Texas, UM Affirmation, and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Institute for Welcoming Resources. General Worth Square (9th and Main, across from the Convention Center) |
| 6:00pm | Registration Marriott Dallas/Fort Worth Airport South – 4151 Centreport Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas |
| 7:30pm | Soulforce 10th Anniversary Reunion Celebrating a Decade of Relentless Nonviolent Resistance! Marriott Dallas/Fort Worth Airport South – 4151 Centreport Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas |
| Saturday, April 26, 2008* | |
| 6:00am | Bus Departs Marriot Dallas/Fort Worth Airport South for downtown Fort Worth |
| 7:00am – 7:30am | Training in Nonviolent Resistance – General Worth Square (corner of Main & 9th Street – directly across from the Fort Worth Convention Center – site of the UMC Conference) – featuring Rev. Jimmy Creech and Rev. Dr. Mel White |
| 7:30am – 11:00am | Vigil outside the Fort Worth Convention Center – 1201 Houston Street. |
| 11:00am – 1:00pm (tentative) | Join Haven Herrin and her team from Soulforce Q for the Youth and Young Adult Rally and March of the Reconciling Ministries Network. Details TBA. |
| 1:00pm | Bus departs to return to hotel. |
| 2:00pm – 5:00pm | Soulforce Volunteer Forum – "Envisioning the Second Decade Together" – led by Marsha McDonough, Ph.D. (Be part of the planning process as we discuss our goals for the future) |
| 6:00pm (optional event or dinner on you own in downtown area) | Soulforce to join the Affirmation OUT Awards Dinner in Fort Worth (Intermodal Transportation Center, 1001 Jones Street). The dinner is $20, payable at the door, and is available to the first 75 Soulforce volunteers that make a reservation (due to space constraints at the dinner). To reserve a space at the Affirmation dinner, please type "Affirmation Dinner" in the comments box when you register for the Soulforce 10th Anniversary. If you plan to attend the dinner you need to do this by no later than April 18. (If you have already registered for the Soulforce 10th Anniversary and want to attend the dinner, please send an email to kara@soulforce.org.) Come help Soulforce support the great work of Affirmation! |
| 8:00pm | Free outdoor screening of For The Bible Tells Me So (General Worth Square – corner of Main & 9th Street). Soulforce will sponsor dessert for the Methodist delegates and the Dallas/Fort Worth community and begin the free screening of this prize-winning film at dusk. Producer Dan Karslake, Rev. Dr. Mel White, Rev. Jimmy Creech, and Mary Lou Wallner (all featured in the film) will be in attendance. |
| Sunday, April 27, 2008* | |
| 6:00am | Bus Departs for Downtown – Fort Worth Convention Center – 1201 Houston Street |
| 7:00am – 11:00am | Vigil outside the Fort Worth Convention Center – 1201 Houston Street (site of the UMC General Conference). |
| 11:00am – 12:30pm | Lunch on your own in downtown area |
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | The Struggle Continues: Racism and Heterosexism in the Church – a panel discussion featuring Rev. James Lawson, Bishop Melvin Talbert, Rev. Phil Lawson, and Rev. Gil Caldwell – General Worth Square (corner of Main and 9th Street) |
| 2:00pm | Reconciling Worship with Reconciling Ministries Network, First United Methodist Church, Preacher: Don Guest of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church |
| Conclusion of worship service | Bus returns to hotel. Those staying the weekend only will depart. |
| Monday, April 28, 2008* | |
| 7:00am – 9:30am | Vigil outside the Fort Worth Convention Center – 1201 Houston Street. Sign up to vigil here. |
| 9:30am – 12:30pm | Break |
| 12:30pm – 2:30pm | Continue vigil outside the Forth Worth Convention Center. Sign up to vigil here. |
| 2:30pm | Return to hotel – evening free |
| Tuesday, April 29, 2008* | |
| 7:00am – 9:30am | Vigil outside the Fort Worth Convention Center – 1201 Houston Street. Sign up to vigil here. |
| 9:30am – 12:30pm | Break |
| 12:30pm – 2:30pm | Continue vigil outside the Forth Worth Convention Center. Sign up to vigil here. |
| 2:30pm | Return to hotel – evening free |
| Wednesday, April 30, 2008* | |
| 7:00am – 9:30am | Vigil outside the Fort Worth Convention Center – 1201 Houston Street. Sign up to vigil here. |
| 9:30am – 12:30pm | Break |
| 12:30pm – 2:30pm | Continue vigil outside the Forth Worth Convention Center. Sign up to vigil here. |
| 2:30pm | Return to hotel – evening free |
| Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2, 2008* | |
| Soulforce will provide supportive collaboration in planning activities with the Reconciling Ministries Network. Details TBA. Sign up to vigil here. | |
*Scheduled activities are tentative and subject to change based on the events that occur within the UMC General Conference. Schedule changes and updated times will be reviewed and communicated to Soulforce volunteers on a daily basis. If possible, please plan to stay all week and help us to peacefully challenge the injustice within the United Methodist Church.
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