June 22 – 25, 2020 Washington Island Forum with Kaitlin Curtice
cosponsored by the WI Council of Churches and The Christian Century
“Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God“
The Wisconsin Council of Churches is excited to welcome Native American Christian author and speaker, Kaitlin B. Curtice as the speaker for the 2020 Washington Island Forum. As an enrolled member of the Potawatomi Nation and someone who has grown up in the Christian faith, Kaitlin writes on the intersection of Indigenous spirituality, faith in everyday life, and the church.
Kaitlin is a prolific writer and has been featured in publications like OnBeing, Religion News Service, USA Today and Sojourners. She has also spoken at places like Why Christian, Evolving Faith, Wild Goose Festival, and The Festival of Faith and Writing.
IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S FORUM!
We have made the decision to take the 2020 Washington Island Forum fully online. It is growing increasingly likely that it will be unwise to gather in person well into the spring and early summer. In consultation with our main venue, the Trueblood Performing Arts Center, and our longtime partner, The Christian Century, we made the difficult decision to stay off the Island this summer.
While a number of events this spring have been cancelled or rescheduled in the interest of public health, these cancellations have a secondary cost. Many Christian speakers and writers are struggling with greatly reduced income and financial uncertainty. Organizations which depend on revenue from these events are also experiencing many challenges. We wanted to find a way to honor our commitment to Kaitlin Curtice, a talented writer and speaker, without compromising the health of participants or Island residents.
We invite you to support the work of Christian writers and the ministry of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, by joining us online June 22-25. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What will this look like?
We’re working out the details as we speak, but you can expect Kaitlin’s lectures to be streamed in the morning, with an opportunity for a live discussion thread as you watch. Kaitlin has also told us that her talks will include a pause in which she’ll offer some reflection questions and invite you to journal in response. We’ll collect questions each morning and Kaitlin will answer them in a live Q&A in the afternoons. We’ll also be offering at least one worship opportunity, and informal gathering time daily.
Where will I be able to get the speaker’s books?
We’ve made arrangements with the Island bookstore, Fair Isle Books, to offer a list of Washington Island Forum recommended reading. That includes Native (available now for pre-order, releases May 5), Glory Happening, and other books which our speaker suggests as good reads. Click here to view Kaitlin’s recommended books and help us support the Island economy by buying from a local independent bookseller!
About this year’s speaker
Kaitlin Curtice is a Native American Christian author and speaker. As an enrolled member of the Potawatomi Nation and someone who has grown up in the Christian faith, Kaitlin writes on the intersection of Indigenous spirituality, faith in everyday life, and the church.
Kaitlin has contributed to OnBeing, Religion News Service, USA Today and Sojourners, among others, and she was interviewed for the New Yorker on colonization within Christian missions. In 2018 she was featured in a documentary with CBS called “Race, Religion and Resistance,” speaking on the dangers of colonized Christianity.
Kaitlin travels around the country speaking on faith and justice within the church as it relates to Indigenous peoples. She has been a featured speaker at Why Christian, Evolving Faith, Wild Goose Festival, The Festival of Faith and Writing, and more.
How to Register:
The $299 fee for the full Forum is due at time of registration. Your fee includes all organized Forum activities.
Not able to attend the full Forum? Daily registrations are also available.
Register online using EventBrite
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON ISLAND FORUM (in an ordinary year)
Are you a lay leader or pastor who seeks to ground your commitment to justice in a deeper spirituality, and connect with the message of the scriptures in a more profound way? Are you looking for an educational opportunity that allows plenty of room to breathe, reflect, and integrate what you’ve learned? The Washington Island Forum experience is what you’re looking for.
The Forum is cosponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Churches and The Christian Century magazine. In an ordinary year, we enjoy worship, discussion, and time for contemplation in an ecumenical retreat setting on Washington Island, just six miles off the tip of Door County Wisconsin. Here’s what you might expect if you join us in 2021.
Schedule
The week begins on Monday afternoon with check-in, welcome and opening picnic at Trinity Lutheran Church. Tuesday and Wednesday, ground yourself in morning prayer, then attend presentations by our speaker at the Trueblood Performing Arts Center. In the afternoon, choose to take part in discussions with the speaker or explore the Island. Group dinners, vespers and performing arts provide flexible evening options. Thursday begins with a Eucharist, features a final presentation, and concludes by noon. No sessions are scheduled on Friday, but we encourage you to extend your stay on the Island for sabbath and recreation if your schedule allows. We hope to be back on the Island for the 2021 Forum. Please register and participate in 2020 so we can keep you up to date on our plans for 2021!
Transportation/Parking
For those traveling by air, the closest larger commercial airport is Austin Straubel Airport in Green Bay. If flying, we recommend that the flight arrive in Green Bay no later than 1:00pm on Monday or leave before 5:00 on Thursday. It is approximately a two and a half hour drive (including the ferry ride) from Green Bay to Washington Island. If you prefer the General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, the travel time to the Island ferry is about three and a half hours. Be sure to check the ferry schedule and plan accordingly.
Lodging, Dining, Recreation
Lodging, meals and recreational opportunities are offered by numerous Island establishments. More information can be found at the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce website. Homes and cabins are available for rent through Door Passage Vacation Rental and sites like VRBO, Flipkey and HomeAway.
Comments from previous participants:
I love the Forum and how the depth of the presentations
are matched by the space given for a real retreat experience.
The worship sessions were very, very meaningful.
Thank you! It was really a wonderful week.
So glad I finally made it to a Forum! Thank you!
Very good presentations… useful / applicable to my role as teacher and preacher.
