Homecoming: An Evening with Diana Butler Bass

Submitted by Stephanie Wert ... on September 6, 2008 - 4:00am.

When: Saturday, September 6, 2008 5:30pm
Where: Trinity Episcopal Church, Santa Barbara, CA [map]
Who: The Beatitudes Society

A benefit church supper for The Beatitudes Society

Best-selling author, religion scholar, and former Santa Barbaran, Diana Butler Bass returns to Trinity September 6th for a wonderful evening in support of The Beatitudes Society. Diana will speak on "Faith in the Public Square: Finding the Radical Center". She is the author of six books including the highly acclaimed Christianity for the Rest of Us.

The evening begins at 5:30pm with a silent auction featuring local artists, followed by a New Orleans-style home-cooked meal. The Reverend Anne Howard, former Trinity Associate Rector, will offer an introduction to the work of The Beatitudes Society and will welcome home our guest speakers -- Diana, as well as Richard Burden. Richard is a Trinity parishioner and third year student at Church Divinity School of the Pacific at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. As one of 20 Beatitudes Society Summer Fellows, Richard spent the summer working at the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland. He will share his summer experience working for an organization with the bold vision of building green and sustainable pathways out of poverty.

Another highlight of the evening is the debut of Juli Hayes-Nadler’s slide show "Homecoming" on the Gulf. Juli accompanied Anne and The Beatitudes Society students on an annual service trip to the Gulf Coast for a week of post-Katrina clean up and re-building. Trinity’s own Kelly McLaughlin and Randy Howard also joined the group at Camp Coast Care in Mississippi.

This fundraiser will help support The Beatitudes Society’s programs for seminary and divinity school students who are committed to justice, compassion and peace. By establishing School Chapters on campuses around the country, sponsoring Summer Fellowships at progressive organizations where faith and public life intersect, offering annual service trips, and providing mentoring relationships, The Beatitudes Society is creating a nationwide network of emerging Christian leaders who will advocate for social change, counter the Christian Right and articulate a Christianity that dares to speak and act for our fragile planet and our most vulnerable citizens. The Beatitudes Society is a three-year-old, non-profit organization. Anne Howard has served as Executive Director since September 2006. If you’d like to learn more about The Beatitudes Society, please go to www.BeatitudesSociety.org.

We hope you will join us for this special Homecoming evening; it’s sure to be packed full of inspiring stories and delicious food!

Please RSVP at www.BeatitudesSociety.org/rsvp. Tickets are $40. Buy your ticket early, seating is limited. Hope to see you there!

Strengthening the progressive Christian network for justice, compassion, & peace