- 'Solo Flight' strengthens ministry to single adults; Kanuga to host 14th annual conference over Labor Day weekend
- To read: SINGLE IN THE CHURCH: New Ways to Minister With 52% of God's People, by Dr. Kay Collier-Slone
- To read: THE UNWILLING CELIBATES: A Spirituality for Single Adults, by Jean Sheridan
'Solo Flight' strengthens ministry to single adults
[ENS, New York, August 3, 2004] - Single adults and those interested in learning more about ministry to singles will meet at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina, over Labor Day weekend for the 14th annual Solo Flight conference, which is said to be the only national gathering for singles in the Episcopal Church.
Meeting September 3-6 under the theme "Walking on the edge: the adventure of the solo flight," the conference will hold a variety of workshops, lectures and daily Episcopal worship, which will include the annual Liturgy of Healing and Wholeness and Blessing of Singularity, planned to assist in the healing of all broken relationships and the blessing of all single lives.
This year's keynote speaker, Joan Medlicott [www.joanmedlicott.com/bio.html], is author of the Covington novels, a series of books based on the adventures of three single women and several single men. Medlicott will be joined by two other plenary speakers: the Rev. Dr. David Perkins from the diocese of Virginia who will speak about the "Spirituality of Singularity," and Dr. Doug Pratt from Atlanta who will assess "Risk and adventure on the solo flight."
Jan Dunnavant, rector at Church of the Resurrection in Lexington, Kentucky, and Andrew Frearson, associate rector at Christ Church, Norcross, Georgia, will serve as co chaplains. The Rev. Bruce Stewart will provide musical entertainment throughout the weekend.
Workshops will focus on areas such as internet dating, relationships in the older years, recovering from divorce, spirituality, healthy adult relationships and singles sexuality, and ministry with single adults.
Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, Founder and national coordinator of Solo Flight, is author of the Alban Institute book 'Single in the Church: new ways to minister with 52% of God's people.'
McLaughlin, who is also Director of Communications for the Episcopal diocese of Lexington, said, "Solo Flight recognizes that nearly one half of the adult population of the United States over the age of 25 is single, in a church and culture that see the norm as coupled and married. Within the strong framework of Anglican spirituality, we offer personal skill development for single living, an Episcopal network, a national support system, and a great deal of fun, as well. It is our desire to reach single adults in every diocese to let them know that the Episcopal Church, does, indeed, welcome them and have ministry to offer them which is specific to their lives."
Kanuga's purpose is "to provide for God's people in this broken world a glimpse of the Kingdom through hearing the Gospel, experiencing Christian community, and being empowered for strength, growth, and service in both our individual communities and in the rest of God's creation." [www.kanuga.org/default.asp]
A typical day at Solo Flight looks like this:
| 8 a.m. |
Breakfast |
| 9 a.m. |
Keynote speaker |
| 10.15-11.15 a.m. |
Common Ground Groups |
| 11.30 a.m. |
Eucharist |
| 12.30 p.m. |
Lunch |
| 1.30-3 p.m. |
Workshops |
| 3-5 p.m. |
Free Time |
| 5 p.m. |
Singles' Ministry Nuts-n-Bolts |
| 6 p.m. |
Dinner |
| 7 p.m. |
Plenary |
| 8.30-9.30 p.m. |
Common Ground Groups |
| 9.30 p.m. |
Compline |
| 10 p.m. |
Cabaret |
The inclusive fee for program, room and board is $375. For more information, please contact Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin at kcollierm@diolex.org or David Perk at DavidWPerk@aol.com.
A solo flight yahoo group, a forum which enables people to communicate on the Internet, can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soloflightepis
Note: The following titles are available from the Episcopal Book/Resource Center, 815 Second Ave., New York, NY 10017; 800.334.7626; http://www.episcopalbookstore.org/
- To read: SINGLE IN THE CHURCH: New Ways to Minister With 52% of God's People, by Dr. Kay Collier-Slone (Alban institute, Virginia, 1992, 164 pages, $17.00)
From the publisher: "Explore the concerns, needs, and fears of this segment of our society and how your church may be ignoring it. Discover practical ways churches have opened their ministries, worship, and congregational life to include singles. An eye-opening discovery that a church growth model need not rely on family-oriented programs and structures."
From the publisher: "The key to developing a personal focus for life, the author suggests, is a genuine spirituality, grounded in community, prayer, and conscious reflective living. Here is an accessible step-by-step approach which re-visions traditional spiritual practices for a modern audience. A welcome guide for anyone who takes seriously their spiritual journey."
