Nebraska Synod ELCA
Event
A Nebraska Synod Assembly- Pre-Assembly Workshop Opportunity
Friday May 31, 2024, at South Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska
10:00am-4:00pm CT, Lunch Included
Registration Cost: $25 per person
This workshop will allow you to explore ways your congregation is already accessible and provide tools on how to become more accessible for members, visitors, guests and the community. Together we will explore physical attributes of the places we worship and gather, how food becomes a barrier to accessibility and the barriers associated with written and spoken language. Figure out functional and practical ways to roll out the red carpet in your community.
10:00 AM: gathering and welcome, introductions to A-HA thinking, scripture and prayer
10:30 AM: The physical spaces where we worship: exploring everyday barriers, how to do an accessibility audit (we will practice on the space where we are gathered), how to celebrate current accessibility and plan for future accessibility, identifying and overcoming the roadblocks to becoming more accessible.
12:00 PM: lunch and table conversation on A-HA moments, beginning to build your red carpet
1:00 PM: Food – As Lutherans we joke a lot about food. It’s not a gathering without a potluck or coffee. But how does food become an accessibility barrier and how can we overcome it? From community hunger and scarcity concerns to dietary concerns and allergies how do ensure that all are welcome at our gathering and fellowship events? Together, we’ll look at events we might offered at church and what “food barriers” might be present at those events to open our eyes to barriers. We’ll create ways to overcome those barriers and look at resources provided by the Nebraska Synod including to improve food related accessibility.
2:30 PM: Language – Verbal and written language can be a barrier or a part of the red carpet. Together we will explore everything from what our bulletins say to how the greeter welcomes us at the door. Who can see, hear and understand the language we use?
3:15 PM: Putting it all together – Priorities and plans to take back home for your church’s red carpet.
3:30 PM: Closing devotion
Presenter: Gretchen Ahrens, Director for Youth and Justice Ministries
Gretchen is passionate about building community and helping everyone find their place in community as children of God.