Are you interested in learning more about Spirituality, Community, and Social Justice and ways that faith calls us to be conspirators in imagination that expands love? The Westside Imagination Conference is a wonderful way to explore these ideas and meet creative practitioners already working in these spaces. The Westside Churches United are inviting you to gather in the Westwood neighborhood of Cincinnati to learn, connect, be inspired, and grow in your faith.
The Westside Imagination Conference will be held July 19-21 at Westwood United Methodist Church. Our keynotes speakers are Dr. Adam Clark, Jody Michele and Andrea Mae, and Rebecca Bossarge who will lead us in spiritual formation and reflection. The conference will have workshops, a prayer room, go and sees, worship, mini spiritual direction sessions, a Saturday evening concert at Town Hall, and will end with a Hymn Sing at Westside Brewing.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Adam Clark
Adam Clark is a leading voice in reimagining all the issues facing urban America. Associate Professor of Theology at Xavier University, Cincinnati, he is committed to the idea that theological education in the twenty-first century must function as a counter-story, one that equips students to read against the grain of the dominant culture and inspires them to live into the Ignatian dictum of going forth “to set the world on fire.” To this end, Dr. Clark teaches in ways that raise critical consciousness by going beneath surface meanings, unmasking conventional wisdoms and reimagining the good. During his tenure at Xavier, he has received several distinctions in teaching and his courses on Black Theology, Jesus and Power, Faith and Justice and Religion and Hip Hop contribute to the Jesuit practice of educating students in the service of faith and the promotion of justice. He currently serves as co-chair of Black Theology Group at the American Academy of Religion, actively publishes in the area of black theology and black religion and participates in social justice groups at Xavier and in the Cincinnati area.
Andrea Mae and Jody Michele
Andrea Mae is a leader at Urban Light Community Church, where she serves on the church board and chairs the pastor/parish committee. She works in special education and advocacy for the disability community, presenting at multiple organizations and universities.
Jody Michele (BS in sociology, Ball State University) is a locally licensed minister at Urban Light Community Church and an independent consultant on issues related to disability. She has served on numerous boards, including the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities and the Muncie Human Rights Commission.
She leads a support group for people with disabilities as part of her ministry calling and believes her cerebral palsy gives her unique perspectives on God, the Bible, and humanity.
Andrea Mae and Jody Michele authored Disabling Leadership: A Practical Theology for the Broken Body of Christ with their Pastor Andrew T. Draper.
Rev. Rebecca Bosarge
Becky is a Teaching Elder in the PC(USA) and a pastor in the Presbytery of Cincinnati, with a Master of Arts in Spirituality from Bellarmine University. Her ministry focus is individual and congregational spiritual formation. Through adult education programs, preaching, retreats, she
hosts conversations and experiences that allow us to share our wisdom and learn from each other. She hopes to encourage exploration and curiosity about the spiritual life and to help churches arrange their communal lives for spiritual formation. She and her husband, John, live in White Oak and regularly visit their two sons, their sons’ partners, and very importantly – their two grandchildren in Chicago!
Conference Schedule
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Friday
Main Session
6:00-7:00 Registration
7:00 Welcome & Worship
7:30: Keynote Speaker: Dr. Adam Clark
8:15 Reflection with Rev. Rebecca Bosarge
8:30-9:00 Close
Saturday
Main Session
9:00 Doors Open
9:30 Welcome and Devotions
10:00 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Adam Clark
10:45 Reflection with Rev. Rebecca Bosarge
11:00 Break
11:15 Keynote Speakers: Andrea Mae and Jody Michele
12:00 Reflection with Rev. Rebecca Bosarge
12:15 Lunch
Afternoon Workshops
1:30 Workshop #1
- Visit: Cincinnati Urban Promise
- Inclusion Discussion with Andrea Mae and Jody Michele
- Love Boldly
- 1-on-1 Spiritual Direction mini sessions with Karen Pitz
3:00 Workshop #2
- Visit: My Neighbor’s Place
- Centering Prayer with Rev. Rebecca Bosarge
- Sign up for 1 on Spiritual Direction minis with Karen Pitz
5:00 Break for Dinner
Sunday
Worship in a Westwood Congregation
8:30 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
9:30 Westwood United Methodist service (traditional worship)
10:00 St James Episcopal Church
10:30 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
10:30 Westwood First Presbyterian
10:30 Pilgrim United Church of Christ
11:00 Westwood United Methodist Church (modern worship)
Afternoon Prayer in Nature
2:00-4:00 at Mt Airy Forest-McFarland Woods
Westside Pub Theology
6:30 Hymns, Hops, and Reflection at West Side Brewing
Sign up for the Conference
Sign up for the Westwood Imagination Conference using the button to get our registration page. Suggested donation is $20 but please feel free to give whatever you choose or come for free.
Westside Churches United
The Westside Imagination Conference is being organized by Westside Churches United which is a partnership with Gloria Dei Lutheran, Pilgrim UCC, St. James Episcopal, Westwood First Presbyterian, Westwood United Methodist, and Cincinnati Urban Promise to share in ministry, mission, and life together.
Special thanks to the Great Miami River District Foundation of the United Methodist Church for providing grant funding for this conference.
FAQs
Where is the Conference Located?
The Westside Imagination Conference will be held at Westwood United Methodist Church located at 3460 Epworth Ave. There will be additional events at Westwood Town Hall Park, Cincinnati Urban Promise, My Neighbor’s Place, Mt Airy Forest McFarland Park, and Westside Brewing
Will there be childcare?
Yes, we will have our nursery open on Friday evening and for the the Saturday main sessions and workshops. Please indicate you need childcare when you register.
Can I pick and choose which events I do?
Absolutely! Feel free to join in any and all sessions.
What restaurants are nearby
Westwood has a number of walkable restaurants: Nations, W’s Bistro and Bar, Catch a Fire Pizza, Emmas, Muse Cafe, Fable Cafe, or feel free to pack a picnic.
Tell me about the Go and Sees?
On Saturday Afternoon you will have the chance to go visit two local community development organizations in Westwood. Cincinnati Urban Promise and My Neighbor’s Place .
I’m interested in coming from out of town, where should I stay
There are AirBNBs in the Westwood neighborhood and the closet hotel is the Hampton Inn West, which is a 10 min drive.
Where can I park?
Westwood United Methodist Church Parking Lot is behind the church building with entrances at Montclair Ave and Urwiler. There is additional street parking and Town Hall District paid parking at Harrison and Epworth by the W’s Bistro and Bar building.
What if I have more questions?
Feel free to shoot us an email at westsidechurches@gmail.com
Let’s Imagine Together
Hope you can make it to the Westside Imagination Conference July 19-21!
Connect
Westside Imagination Conference 