Call to Action-Minnesota Spring Conference
Saturday, April 17, 2010

Roll & Coffee at 8:30 a.m. — Conference begins at 9 a.m.
For more information, contact Art Stoeberl

Keynote Speakers: Roger Haight SJ, Jerome Baggett, & Christopher Brooks

Dr. Roger Haight, scholar in residence at Union Theological Seminary in Upper Manhattan, will open the CTA-MN spring conference with the question: "If God is Found in Everyday Life, Why Do We Need the Church?" Dr. Haight will begin our discussion about “the emerging Catholic” by describing how we find God in our life in the world today and why we continue to need the church.

Dr. Haight’s attention to fundamental issues in doctrinal theology is reflected in his books on: the nature of theology as a discipline, Christology, ecclesiology, grace, liberation theology. He recently published The Future of Christology (2005), which won an award for the best book in theology, 2005, and third place, from The Catholic Press Association in May, 2006. His three-volume work entitled Christian Community in History (2004-2008). Haight's work in Christology, Jesus Symbol of God, won first prize for an outstanding work in Christian theology in 2000 from the Catholic Press Association. He is currently working on a theological interpretation of the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. Read More...

Catholicism in the United States is undergoing dramatic cultural and demographic changes. We see decreasing attendance in our parishes; attendees are not getting any younger. We find ourselves at odds with messages from the hierarchy and worry about the closing of our “once welcoming” parishes. Those who follow religious press see that there are different ways of being Catholic and wonder what this means for the future of the Church.

Jerome Baggett will draw from his research for Sense of the Faithful to talk about the emergence of a new Catholic; one who struggles with the official teachings of the Church and yet tries to live faithfully amidst the challenges of contemporary life.

For Sense of the Faithful, Jerome Baggett conducted 300 intensive interviews with members of six parishes to explore all aspects of this question. The book is an act of listening that allows ordinary Catholics to speak for themselves about how they understand their faith and how they draw upon it to find purpose in their lives.

Thoughtful critics suggest that Sense of the Faithful “ultimately paints a more complex—and more accurate—portrait of what it is like to be Catholic today” in the U.S. Read More...

Chris Brooks has been ministering to youth and families for over 15 years, primarily in an inner-city context. He has worked in Churches, for the National Network of Youth Ministries, and for the Willow Creek Association. Currently, Christopher serves as the executive director of World Vision Twin Cities. Chris says, “Working together, we can tackle the causes of poverty that tether youth and families to lives of need and hopelessness. Our goal is to help children and youth who are the most impacted by poverty.”

During his session at CTA, Chris will speak about the young adult population; their needs and faith experiences. He will attempt to address questions about the lack of church participation by youth. He will speak about building meaningful relationships with young adults that will foster on going communications with them and within their families.

His passion is urban youth ministry and capacity building of the urban core. In addition to church ministry, Chris has worked in juvenile corrections, and the Minneapolis public schools. He lives in North Minneapolis with his wife, Bobbi, and their two children, Selah and Gabriel.