PANA Update - June 19, 2007

Friends and supporters of PANA’s R2W youth leadership program:

you are invited to the

R2W Jam and Closing Celebration

Storytelling, testimony, art, music, spoken word, and dance from
R2W youth and young adult leaders!
Food and reception will follow

Thursday, July 5, 2007
7:30pm
PSR Chapel

at the Pacific School of Religion – 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

Represent to Witness (R2W) is an Asian and Pacific Islander youth leadership program of the PANA Institute at the Pacific School of Religion. For more information, check out our website at www.represent2witness.org or call (510) 849-8202

More news for friends of PANA:

Announcement:
Job Opening: Youth Minister, Berkeley UMC

Calendar:
June 23 - July 7: “Imagine Us” - R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute
July 5: R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute - Public Closing Celebration
September 10-15: "Women and Militarism" evening dialogues
October 20-21: API Faith and Justice Gathering
January 7 -18: Community Course: “Theology of Struggle in Diaspora: Constructing an Asia-Pacific Islander Political Theology” with Professor Eleazar Fernandez
April 24-27, 2008
Third Annual PANA Pilgrimage to Manzanar

Scroll down for more information, or visit the PANA website at pana.psr.edu


JOB OPENING: YOUTH MINISTER

Berkeley UMC (Asian American congregation)
(not far from PSR!)
Approximately 10 hours per week

Berkeley Methodist United Church is historically Japanese American (now Pan Asian) church in Berkeley. We have extremely cooperative parents and a volunteer youth advisor (a seminary grad) who took on some of youth leadership responsibility, but he is not able to focus on it as much as is needed (quite understandably given his schedule). So we are looking for someone who can be the central organizing spirit, and get our youth group off the ground, mostly by building relationships with the youth.

In addition, we have an active Youth Choir (with a Director) and a youth Basketball program. It may sound as if we have a lot going on, but it is a relatively small group of about 12-15 that are identified as "Youth Group", a sprinkling of younger children, and we also have a strong potential for gathering children age 5 and younger (including some toddlers). It is most likely that this work could be done in less than 10 hours per week outside of Sunday.

I would be happy to offer this as simply a job; however, if you are interested in a broader range of responsibilities, I am open to discussing this as an internship placement, that could be structured according to your interests.

Please respond to:

Naomi Southard
Pastor, Berkeley Methodist United Church
1710 Carleton
Berkeley, CA 94602
tel: 510-530-7139
email: nosouth_AT_aol_DOT_com

imagine us

Represent 2 Witness Summer Youth Leadership Institute
for Asian Pacific Islanders and other youth of color ages 16-19
lower income and LGBT persons encouraged to apply

June 23 - July 7, 2007
Pacific School of Religion
Berkeley, CA


IMAGINE US

DOING
theology (the study and action of God in the world)
dynamic Bible study martial arts community action

MEETING WITH
poets professors community leaders DJs muralists

DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP
through a soul-stretching process called critical faith

CELEBRATING AND WORSHIPPING WITH
young leaders age 16-19
of Asian, Pacific Islander, African American, Latino, and other ethnic background

IMAGINE US
creating a just and blessed future
being the future
the future is
now

Get your discipleship on

R2W is an institute in which you live, study, and celebrate living the collegiate lifestyle for 14 days with other high school-aged students in the beautiful Pacific School of Religion/UC Berkeley community. R2W uses the Asian Pacific Islander experience as a lense to see and act on problems and solutions as new Christian leaders. Participants receive a full scholarship covering transportation to and from Berkeley, room, board, and activities. Enrollees pay a registration fee of $150. We encourage your church to support you by covering this fee. (A fee waiver is available to all with financial hardship.)

See what's up at: www.represent2witness.org and www.myspace.com/represent2witness
or contact Michael, Lauren, or Crystal or (510) 849-8202

Thursday, July 5, 7:30pm
R2W Summer Youth Leadership Institute - Public Closing Celebration
Chapel, Pacific School of Religion – 1798 Scenic Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

Storytelling, testimony, art, music, spoken word, and dance
from R2W youth and young adult leaders!

Food and reception will follow.

Represent to Witness (R2W) is an Asian and Pacific Islander youth leadership program of the PANA Institute at the Pacific School of Religion. For more information, check out our website at www.represent2witness.org or call (510) 849-8202

Looking Ahead

September 10-15, 2007
"Women and Militarism" evening dialogues

October 20-21
API Faith and Justice Gathering


January 7 -18, 2008, 2:00-6:00 pm:
Community Course: “Theology of Struggle in Diaspora: Constructing an Asia-Pacific Islander Political Theology”
with Professor Eleazar Fernandez
Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley 94709

Together as a learning community we will engage in a search for an Asian-Pacific Islander transformative political theology. We will enter this search through the lens of Theology of Struggle (Filipino theology), its background, context and main tenets in the larger global context of the imperial project and predatory globalization. We will identify connections between the struggle of Filipinos, Filipino-Americans and other Asian-Pacific Islanders and identify post-colonial strategies and practices for social transformation. Course is open to GTU students for credit, pastors and lay leaders for C.E.U. and for the wider community for personal enrichment and study. This course is being offered as part of the Civil Liberty and Faith project of the PANA Institute.

Eleazar Fernandez is Professor of Constructive Theology at the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. He is the author of “Toward a Theology of Struggle” (1994) and has published extensively on Filipino Faith, post-colonial theology, and cross-cultural mission. He has served as a pastor in the United Church of Christ Philippines and is active in the United Church of Christ U.S.A.

To register for the class please contact: Rev. Deborah Lee, (510) 849-8260.


April 24-27, 2008
Third Annual PANA Pilgrimage to Manzanar

AABA Update from Louis Lee (MESA) - 04.05.07

This AABA (Asian American Bay Area) Fellowship update contains the following notes -

1. Please go see the "Amazing Grace" movie ASAP!
2. New Covenant Church in Martinez seeks part time pastor for college/career ministry.
3. Missionary from Hong Kong seeks housing and car in Bay Area for this summer.
4. Men's Conference in San Jose by Iron Sharpens Iron ministry, Sat April 28.
5. New discounted prices for SF Giants tix for 2007.

*******************************************************************************************

1. Please go see the "Amazing Grace" movie ASAP!

My biggest regret in seeing the movie "Amazing Grace" earlier today is that I waited this long to go see it! It is the best movie I have ever seen (and I have seen a lot of movies!). The life of William Wilberforce is dramatically presented in his successful fight to end the slave trade in England in the late 1700's. Amazing Grace is a high quality film (even by Hollywood standards!) with terrific Kingdom values. Most of you know how I am about saving more to give more. But this is one of those exceptions. I believe Christians should support movies that reflect wholesome values, so I spent the extra money to go see this movie at the theatre rather than waiting until later to rent the DVD.

**********************************************************************************

2. New Covenant Church in Martinez seeks part time pastor for college/career ministry.

New Covenant Church in Martinez is prayerfully seeking for a part-time minister (seminarian or ordained pastor) who would start college/single ministry with 10-15 people (currently attending) and about 20+ away (who visit during summer and winter break). We are looking for someone with multi-ethnic vision and heart for college students.
Diablo Valley College is only 5 minute away from NCC and UC Berkeley is about 30 minute away.
Job description includes occasionally preaching on Sundays, occasionally leading Bible study, discipleship training, campus visits, leading small groups, and member care while working closely with other staffs.
If you are interested, please contact Loren Chong 925.577.3677

***********************************************************************************

3. Missionary from Hong Kong seeks housing and car in Bay Area for this summer.

David Pardini is a graduate of Dallas Seminary and has been serving for decades as a missionary teaching at the China Baptist Theological College as well as in various Asian nations on behalf of Asia Baptist Theological Seminary, and also ministers in various churches in Hong Kong.

David, his wife, and their college aged son, are seeking a place to live in the greater Bay Area while on furlough this summer. Since they must continue to pay their rent in Hong Kong, they need a place where they can stay for free. They also need the use of a reliable car.

If anyone can help with either of these needs, please contact David directly.

*********************************************************************************

4. Men's Conference in San Jose by Iron Sharpens Iron ministry, Sat April 28.

IRON SHARPENS IRON
Men's Conference in San Jose, CA

Date: Saturday, April 28

Location: Valley Christian High School

Time: 8:30 am - 4:55 pm

Cost: Begins at $39.00

Keynote Speakers: Bruce Fong & Ted Roberts

16 Equipping Seminars To Choose From

For Men of All Ages

LINKS

Conference Information & Registration Forms: <http://buildingmenofcharacter.echurchnetwork.net/AboutUs/OurConferences/default.aspx>

Iron Sharpens Iron Website <http://ironsharpensiron.net/>

Building Men of Character Website <http://www.buildingmenofcharacter.org/>

The following presenters for this men's conference on Sat April 28, are available to serve as guest preachers for churches in the Bay Area on Sunday, April 29. If you are interested in inviting any of these speakers, please contact JR Selby.

Dr. Dan Erickson
Author of Finding Your Greater Yes., currently pastor at Lee's Summit Community Church in Missouri.
see also www.peoplematterministries.com

Dr. Chuck Stecker
Author of Men of Honor, Women of Virtue
see also www.achosengeneration.org

Michael Pouliot
Author of The Battlezone Training Book
see also www.battlezoneministries.org


********************************************************************************

5. New discounted prices for SF Giants tix for 2007.

I still have a pair of tix for almost all of the SF Giants home games from Mon 4/30 through the rest of the year. However, I recently learned my pair of tix (section #330) is in a lower price range since it is considered "View Reserved Outfield."

Therefore, in order to provide everyone with a more equitable discount, the following prices will apply -

for game on weekdays, Mon-Thurs, the price is just $15 for the pair of tix (face value is $20)
for game on Fri-Sun, the price is $25 for the pair of tix (face value is $40).

Please check their game schedule at http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=sf and contact me ASAP if you are interested in buying a pair of tix to a game. If you have never been to ATT Park in SF, allow me to share that I consider it the most beautiful ballpark of the 16 major league parks I have visited in my life. Also, Barry Bonds hit career home run #735 earlier this evening and is now just 20 home runs from tying Hank Aaron's career record of 755 home runs!

ISAAC at AAR/SBL 2006 meeting

ISAAC Board lunch with DJ Chuang 2
Originally uploaded by tsengsrus.

Four members of the ISAAC Board attended the American Academy of Religion- Society of Biblical Literature meeting in Washington DC on Nov 18-21, 2006. At this meeting, ISAAC

1. Co-hosted the Korean North American Theology group extra-session.

2. Hosted a breakfast with evangelical Asian American scholars (seminary and religious studies faculty).

3. Co-hosted with PANA and the Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia a dinner with Asian and Asian North American scholars.

4. Identified potential research grants opportunities.

It was an exciting experience - ISAAC was affirmed warmly by the community of religion and theology scholars. We hope that we will be able to strengthen greater efforts to study Asian American Christianity (and other religions) in the future.

The next AAR/SBL meeting will be held in San Diego, California on the weekend before Thanksgiving, 2007. See you there!

- Tim Tseng