Clarence Jordan Symposium
September 28 & 29, 2012; Americus, Ga.
Kirk Lyman-Barner, Chair
President Jimmy & Mrs. Rosalynn Carter,
Honorary Chairs
Celebrating Koinonia Farm’s 70th and its co-founders Clarence and Florence Jordan’s 100th birthdays begins with an educational powerhouse: The Clarence Jordan Symposium. It is an event we’re already considering repeating in the future.
This year’s chairman Kirk Lyman-Barner has done a tremendous job lining up an array of thinkers and doers from wide-ranging fields. What these scholars, authors, artists, farmers, activists and intentional community leaders have in common is that Clarence Jordan has had a powerful influence on their thinking.
Fed by his understanding of Jesus’ teaching and how the early church lived, Clarence committed himself to a way of life and lived out that way at Koinonia Farm. An intelligent man, he used his knowledge of Greek to mine the New Testament and used his knowledge of farming to nurture and heal the land.
Clarence’s impact has been far greater than Greek or Agriculture, though. People from all walks of life, all around the globe have been touched by his life, through his traveling, writings, speaking engagements, and welcoming visitors to the community he co-founded. He and his fellow community members sought to live a way of life that embodied peacemaking, simplicity, radical sharing and the brotherhood/sisterhood of all people. They strove to live the Sermon on the Mount and to demonstrate the way of Jesus as an alternative to materialism, militarism, and racism.
Much has been born out of this demonstration plot: Agricultural advancements, racial reconciliation, affordable housing, stage plays, a Cotton Patch version of the Gospels, other intentional communities, books on a variety of subjects, and more. Much has been born out of Koinonia’s efforts to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, visit prisoners and the sick, and bury the dead. Most of these topics and many others will be discussed at the upcoming Symposium. Whether it be a keynote address or in one of the seminar sessions, expect what you hear to impact your thinking.
Help us spread the word!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Rylander Theater
10 am, 2 pm Group tours at Koinonia Farm 5:00-7:00 pm Registration at the Rylander Theatre 5:30 pm Dinner with the Carters at the Historic Windsor Hotel
Click here for more information and to purchase a seat for this intimate event with the Carters>>7:00 pm Welcome 7:15-7:30 pm Opening Remarks, President Jimmy Carter 7:30-8:00 pm “Clarence Jordan and the God Movement”Clarence Jordan Impersonation | Al Staggs 8:00 – 9:30 pm “Cotton Patch Gospel,” one man version | Tom Key
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Georgia Southwestern State University
8:00-9:00 am Registration at the GSW Storm Dome 9:00-9:10 am Welcome and housekeeping | Bren Dubay, Director Koinonia Farm 9:10-9:30 am Joyce Hollyday | United Church of Christ Historian 9:35-9:45 am A moment of whimsy | Dennis Hassel 9:50-10:15 am Shane Claiborne | The Simple Way 10:15-10:30am A moment of whimsy | Ted Swartz 10:50-11:50am Seminar Session 1 (Below) 12:00-1:30 pm Lunch | BOOKSTORE OPEN 1:30-1:50 pm Charles Marsh | Center for Lived Theology 1:50-2:00 pm A moment of whimsy | Ted Swartz 2:10-3:10 pm Seminar Session 2 (Below) 3:15-3:25 pm A moment of whimsy | Ted Swartz 3:25-3:55 pm Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove | Rutba House 3:55-4:55 pm Community Conversation | Vincent Harding, Moderator 4:55-5:05 pm A moment of whimsy | Ted Swartz 5:05-5:35 pm Philip Gulley | Quaker Minister 5:35-6:30 pm BOOKSTORE OPEN 8:00 pm Performance of “The Glory Man,” play by Dennis Hassell
Click here to purchase a ticket for this fundraiser.
10:50 – 11:50 am Arts & Story Telling Humor and Story Telling | Tom Key Church & Society Philip Gulley Church & Society Greg Wittkamper | Former Koinonia Kid Church & Society Joe Gatlin | Habitat for Humanity Church & Society Sam Mahone | Americus Civil Rights Movement Church & Society Greg Carey | Lancaster Theological Seminary Church & Society Tim Downs | Southeast Conference UCC Christian Community Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove| Rutba House &Shane Claiborne | The Simple Way Christian Community David Hooker | Grassroots Peacemaking Fair Trade, Stewardship, & Agriculture Tripp Pomeroy & Bill Harris, Jr | Cafe Campesino & Cooperative Coffe
2:15 – 3:00 pm Arts & Story Telling Al Staggs | Theologian and Clarence Jordan Impersonator Arts & Story Telling Dallas Lee | Author Church & Society Nora Tisdale | Yale Divinity School Church & Society David Snell | Fuller Center for Housing Church & Society Ronnie McBrayer | Author, Pastor Church & Society Bill Carlson | Bethel University Christian Community Ann Coble | Author, Professor Christian Community Don Mosley | Jubilee Partners Christian Community Linda Fuller Christian Community Dolphus Weary Fair Trade, Stewardship, & Agriculture Wayne Weiseman | The Permaculture Project
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Koinonia Farm
11:00 am Ronnie McBrayer preaches at Fellowship Baptist Church in Americus
Dolphus Weary preaches at First Presbyterian Church in Americus1-5 pm Koinonia Farm Welcome Center and Gift Shop open 2:00 pm Group tours at Koinonia Farm 6:00 pm Gathered Worship at Koinonia Farm, includes potluck dinner
- $ 175.50 General Public – 10% Discount for Groups of 5-9 people
- $ 156.00 General Public – 20% Discount for Groups of 10+ people
- $ 150.00 Student
- $ 135.00 Student – 10% Discount for Groups of 5-9 people
- $ 120.00 Student – 20% Discount for Groups of 10+ people
- $ 35.00 Friday Evening Only
- $ 25.00 Student – Friday Evening Only
- $ 150.00 Saturday Only
- $ 125.00 Student – Saturday Only
Includes Friday evening at the Rylander Theatre, all workshops on Saturday and Saturday lunch.
Sojourner Magazine readers and local Georgia residents, please call 229-924-0391 to register.
Many thanks to our friends at the Fuller Center for Housing for managing the registration process for the Clarence Jordan Symposium.
Unfortunately, we are out of space here at the farm during the Symposium. However, we have worked to get you special discounts at area hotels. Here is a list of those hotels and their rates.
