October 24 , 2010
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
UCC Fellowship Hall

(See the links on the left for information about Forums held at UCC.)

From the schoolroom to the boardroom and the halls of Congress, from the streets of Chicago to our family dinner tables, we are increasingly bombarded by rude, uncivil, even violent behavior.  Often the media, TV shows and the internet seem to encourage and provoke this lack of respect for each other, our religious beliefs, our political values and our institutions. It’s time we address this as a Christian community.

On the afternoon of Sunday, October 24, UCC’s Endowment for Creative Ministry is bringing another stimulating program to our church.  The topic is Confronting Incivility: Living Our Spiritual Values. Bob Lively will present his perspectives, followed by a choice of four break-out groups on timely issues of incivility, and ending with a large group discussion.

Reverend Dr. Bob Lively, an ordained Presbyterian minister, theologian, newspaper columnist, speaker, and author of books and award-winning short stories, is known for his great storytelling style.  He will address the topic of incivility from Christian perspectives, promoting spiritual transformation in an age of self-absorption.  He will also lead a small-group session on incivility in the workplace.

Julia Span will be leading a group on abuse in the home and family.  Ms. Span has been Executive Director of SafePlace in Austin since 2005, where she previously served as Chief Program Officer.  With a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work, she brings 22 years of experience in the human services field, and has led agency and community planning efforts focused on women's and children’s issues, poverty, basic needs and homelessness.

Jill Kolasinski founded the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) in Austin Public Schools in 2002, after learning first-hand about the educational inequities for students as a teacher in East Austin.  She served as a pioneer teacher at the original KIPP Academy in Houston.  KIPP schools have an outstanding record for putting under served students on the path to college.  Ms. Kolasinski will be leading a small-group discussion on instilling civility in our schools.

Melody Chatelle, PhD., will be leading a group in exploring civility and incivility in our public life and the media.  Dr. Chatelle is a respected and effective veteran in the national and state legislative arenas.  She is president of Chatelle and Associates, her own political and communications consulting company founded in 1999.  Prior to that she worked for 12 years as Director and Vice President of Government Affairs for Mariner Post-Acute Network, a large health care company, and 10 years as a legislative aide to a former Texas State Senator now serving in the US Congress, and aide to the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

Please put this event on your calendar.  The program will begin at 1:30 PM in the UCC Fellowship Hall and will last two hours.  Between church service and the program, the Endowment is offering lunch and fellowship.