Faith and Feminism/Womanist/Mujerista Conference, Ebenezer herchurch Lutheran, San Francisco, California, November 2-4, 2012

Dr. Chung Hyun Kyung is a Korean Christian theologian and an Associate Professor of Ecumenical Studies at Union Theological Seminary in New York. In 1990 she introduced Asian women’s theology in her book Struggle to be the Sun Again. In it she interprets the Gospel as a Korean woman saying she’s in search of what it means to struggle for wholeness and interprets her people’s historical fight for freedom.In 1991 she spoke at a World Council of Churches gathering and was accused of syncretism, combining Christian teachings with elements of other traditions. Her retort included a challenge to Western values imposed on the Third World. Her research and teachings include feminist theologies and spiritualities from Asia, Africa and Latin America, Christian-Buddhist dialogue, revolutionary social change as well as the history of various Asian Christian theologies.

Professor Chung’s teaching and research interests include feminist and ecofeminist theologies and spiritualities from Asia, Africa and Latin America; Christian-Buddhist dialogue; Zen meditation; approaches to disease and healing in varied religious backgrounds; mysticism and revolutionary social change; Goddesses and women’s liberation in Asia; interfaith peacemaking; as well as the history and critical issues of various ecumenical theologies (e.g., Minjung theology, EATWOT theology, Gospel and Culture, inter-religious dialogue).

Professor Chung’s published works include Struggling to be the Sun Again: Introducing Asian Women’s Theology (1991); In the End, Beauty Will Save Us All: A Feminist Spiritual Pilgrimage, Vols. I and II, published in Korean, (2002); Letter from The Future: The Goddess-Spell According to Hyun Kyung, published in Korean, (2003); and Hyun Kyung and Alice’s Fabulous Love Affair with God (2004), co-authored with renowned American novelist, Alice Walker; as well as numerous articles. She is currently working on a new book, Salimist Manifesta: Korean Women’s Theology of Life. She is also conducting ongoing interviews with scholar-priest and ecotheologian Thomas Berry for a prospective book project, Four Seasons with Thomas Berry.

 Rev. Robyn Hartwig is the director and founder of EcoFaith Recovery.  EcoFaith Recovery is a collaborative effort among faith communities based in Portland, Oregon. EcoFaith Recovery develops and supports spiritual recovery from the addictive patterns of human life that contribute to the climate crisis, heighten social injustice, deprive people of spiritual meaning, and threaten life on earth. The means of fostering eco-spiritual recovery includes retreats, workshops, spiritual practices, institutional reform, and pilgrimages to reconnect with the natural world.

EcoFaith Recovery was founded with a seed grant from Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries which provides grant funding to expand creative ministry opportunities for LGBT clergy like Robyn. It is now sustained through the generosity of individual donors and a new grant from the Lutheran Community Foundation. Robyn’s leadership of EcoFaith Recovery was enhanced by being accepted into the GreenFaith Fellowship National Training Program in 2009-2010.

In November of 2008, Robyn was additionally called to serve as part-time associate pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon. The primary aspects of her call are preaching, worship leadership, caring ministries and developing small group ministries.

Robyn was invited to participate in the 2008 training of 150 religious community leaders by former vice-president Al Gore and the Climate Project. In the fall of 2010, she was trained by Lutherans Restoring Creation to serve as a “Green Congregations” trainer and also by the Industrial Areas Foundation in its Northwest Regional Leadership Institute.

In her free time, Robyn enjoys hiking, drumming, dancing and bicycling.

For more information, see www.herchurch.org, and to register: http://www.herchurch.org/id14.html.

Registration is $195  which includes keynote presentations, two workshops, musical, two lunches, two breakfasts, Saturday dinner, coffee hours and receptions, materials and conference activities.

EARLY bird registration (before August 15) registration fee is $125!