Coalition leaders Rebecca Voelkel and Phil Porter are offering a long-weekend retreat exploring the relationship between sexuality and spirituality called “Sacred Intersextions” March 31 to April 3 at the Oak Ridge Conference Center, a beautiful setting near Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Rebecca and Phil have both spent many years looking at, playing with, and writing and talking about sexuality and spirituality. Through experiential exercises, writing, movement and conversation, we will reflect upon, grapple and play with the extraordinary, complex gift of our bodies.
We will have opportunities to explore our own history and experience, share conversations with others both formally and informally, and engage our own physicality through simple and accessible activity. Rebecca and Phil will also share some of the ideas and constructs that they have developed in their own exploration.
People of all sexual orientations, gender expressions, gender identities and cultural and life experience are welcome. Each individual story is part of the whole story. Rebecca and Phil are both committed to including, supporting and honoring the diversity of our experience.
Oak Ridge will be a beautiful setting for this week, with well-appointed rooms and excellent food. The facilities and surrounding area provide a number of opportunities for walking, biking and other exercise and we will be inviting participants to find ways to use these resources as part of the intention of the weekend.
This will be an opportunity for conversation, exploration, embodiment and celebration in a gathering of spiritually-rooted people. We will share stories and experience and look at the way that culture shapes our understanding of ourselves and our sexuality.
The cost of $675 includes tuition, meals and double-occupancy room. (Add $175 for single room.)
This retreat is co-sponsored by the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ, The Center for Sustainable Justice, and InterPlay.
Rebecca Voelkel, a pastor in the United Church of Christ, is director of the Center for Sustainable Justice. She is an activist, movement-builder and theologian whose forthcoming book is entitled “Called to be Lovers in the Name of God: (In)queering the Body of Christ.” She has been working on questions of bodies, sexuality and justice-making for most of her 25 years in ministry.
Phil Porter is the co-founder and co-director of InterPlay and minister of art and communication at First Church Berkeley, United Church of Christ, in Berkeley, CA. He is a teacher, performer, theologian, visual artist, writer and composer. His books include “Having It All: Body, Mind, Heart & Spirit Together Again at Last,” “The Wisdom of the Body” and “The Slight Mad Rantings of a Body Intellectual—Part One.” He has been exploring issues of sexuality and spirituality in his teaching and writing (and experientially!) for over 30 years.
The Open and Affirming Coalition advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the United Church of Christ and beyond, and equips UCC congregations to become effective witnesses to Christ’s extravagant welcome.