Founder of Center for Courage and Renewal to speak in Denver

Submitted by the Rev. Paul Kottke
Superintendent, Metropolitan District

Parker Palmer, founder and senior partner of the Center for Courage & Renewal, will be speaking at St. Andrew United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. March 16. Palmer is coming specifically in support of the vision of Mountain Sky Area Bishop Karen Oliveto's Beloved Community. This event will also be live streamed.

In 2011, Palmer wrote a book titled, Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit. Following the experience of the latest election cycle, the theme of this book in more important than ever. It seems that the very core of what we hold most dear within democracy has been shaken to its very foundation. As Christians, do we have the courage to hold to/help recreate a politics worthy of the human spirit? Our Bishop Karen is challenging us to create within our local churches and our surrounding communities Beloved Community - a community which truly embraces the diversity of who we are as God's creation.

In his book, Palmer invites us to embrace five habits of the heart which encourage us to truly celebrate the diversity within our congregations, to allow our congregations to be safe places where conservative and liberal voices are heard, to be safe places where all to feel welcome (majority and minority), safe places where orthodox and progressive theologies can gather together - in short, where congregations can be places in which our individual stories are heard and honored.

In the months that proceed Palmer's speaking engagement, there will be several opportunities to gather in sessions with clergy and laity to experience these "Five Habits of the Heart." One such opportunity is a three-day retreat at Cathedral Ridge in Woodland Park, Colorado, beginning Monday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. and ending Wednesday, Feb. 23 at noon. The retreat is titled, "Where Have We the People Gone?" See this flyer for more information. Deadline to register for this retreat is Feb. 1.

Questions? Email Paul Kottke at pkottke@rmcumc.com.