Short impression of the European Forum 2012 - program
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From May 16 till May 20 in Amsterdam: European Forum 2012. Theme of the conference is: 'Lead us beyond acceptance'. Here you'll find a short impression of the European Forum 2012-programme.
Preconference Men, Women and Transgender
We are working on this programme (so it's "under construction", so to speak). During the preconferences there will be plenty of time to get to know each other very well. Also this part of the conference will be used to get sight on the matters that need to be discussed and what needs to be done / focussed on by the Forum in next year(s).
IDAHOT
17 May is IDAHOT, International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. On this day we will invite leaders of the Dutch churches. We will talk with them about the Declaration against Homophobia they have signed on IDAHO 2011. We will exchange 'good practices', but also talk about what is still difficult in churches and societies. IDAHOT is not an official part of the conference, but because we are in the Netherlands with EF, we will use this opportunity to meet the Church leaders. Be there and show the leaders who they are doing their work for in international contexts.
At the end of the afternoon there is time to meet! With a nice and remarkable presentation on the theme at the end of this afternoon.
Formal start of European Forum 2012 is at Thursday 17th of May, 18.00 hours!
Rights of Christian LGBT's in East, Central and South Europe
On Friday we'll gather round the subtheme 'You don't need to choose between faith and love'. We will discuss the rights and positions of Christian LGBT's in East, Central and South Europe. We are very glad to have found af few excellent key note speakers: Manoj Kurian (staff member of the World Council of Churches), Cees Waaldijk (professor comparative sexual orientation law Leiden University) and Emily Eastwood (Lutherans Concerned North America). Hopefully we will also be able to greet and listen to Boris Dittrich (Human Rights Watch). We will discuss in workshops as well and be informed about the situations of our own organisations.
Furthermore there will be some special workshops during these days, to be specific on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, like:
- Queer reading (WHT, Jochem Stuiver)
- Jewish workshop (E. Liebermann)
- Getting older (J. Schuldink and L. Halvemaan)
- Meditating through your live (L. Halvemaan)
- Transgender and religion (C. van de Lagemaat)
- Queer Theology (H. Raasstad)
- Deaf and beying gay
- Roman catholic (A. Krüger, M. Brinkschröder)
- Singing with Queerubim
- Orthodox working group (Maxim)
And don't forget the AGM (Annual General Meeting) on Saturdaymorning!
Several services
We will organise morningprayers, a moment of service at the gaymonument in Amsterdam, a Saturday service for everyone and a goodbye-service on Sundaymorning.
Saturday and party
We will discover Amsterdam by boat, and will visit the gaymonument together. After dinner we will have a party in the centre of Amsterdam.