CBE HOSTS A GENDER REVOLUTION
AT CORNERSTONE
Event will take place July 1-4 in rural Illinois
By Julia Bloom
Once again CBE is gearing up to hit the dusty Cornerstone trail. Now
in its 21st year, Cornerstone Festival is a multi-day gathering of over
25,000 people - and a lot fewer shower stalls - in the sweltering
flatlands of rural Illinois. Held July 1-4, its gracious hosts are the
hippie-esque folks of Jesus People USA (JPUSA), an intentional Christian
community in inner-city Chicago.
While the largest aspect of Cornerstone is the music (over 100 bands are
scheduled and many unofficial campsite stages are expected), it would be
possible for a festival-goer to never attend a concert and still come
home tired from all the activities. Rounding out the already-bursting
music program are other tracks, including a Flickerings film festival, a
Creation Station for children, sports contests (including a skate park
and a climbing wall), a visual arts program and gallery, the Prairie
School of Writing, the Imaginarium, and Cornerstone University, which
gathers thoughtful and progressive thinkers from the Christian community
to lecture and facilitate discussions with festival attendees.
For the past two years, CBE has had an exhibition booth in one of the
three vendor tents at Cornerstone where staff members and volunteers
distributed information, sold books and engaged in many conversations
with interested attendees. CBE president Mimi Haddad also taught a
seminar series about women in church history in one of the six seminar
tents of Cornerstone University.
This year, Haddad, CBE staff members and volunteers will return to
co-sponsor (with Cornerstone) an entire tent at Cornerstone University.
Dubbed the Gender Revolution, the tent will house programs from 10 a.m.
until 6 p.m. each day. The programs include a variety of lectures and
discussions related to the topic of gender equality and the Bible.
Haddad will present a series entitled "Biblical Feminism: A
Reformist Movement?" Other lecturers include New Testament
professor Linda Belleville (North Park Theological Seminary), and JPUSA
member and Cornerstone Magazine editor Jon Trott.
In addition to these multi-day lectures, the Gender Revolution tent will
feature three other seminar tracks. "Gender and World Issues"
will feature topics ranging from women in missions to the church's role
in the African AIDS pandemic. Speakers include Jo Anne Lyon, executive
director of World Hope International, and Global Women coordinator
Suzanah Raffield.
The "Monday Morning USA: Gender in Everyday American Life"
track will include sessions discussing archetypal gender roles in
popular art and literature, gender portrayals in the media and
technology's impact on gender stereotypes (as well as gender
stereotypes' impact on technology). Music and culture critic Dwight
Ozard will emcee a third track, "Artists Speak Out," featuring
discussions with various musicians appearing at the festival.
CBE has found that one of the best opportunities for impact at events
such as Cornerstone is to gather for a meal. This year, a dinner and
discussion time is planned for each evening of the festival. Here
attendees can talk about ideas they've encountered throughout the day or
start new conversations, make new friends and share stories of their own
experiences related to biblical equality.
In addition, CBE will co-sponsor a showing of the Oscar-nominated movie
"Whale Rider" in the Flickerings film festival. The film,
released in 2002, tells the story of a young Maori girl struggling
against limitations placed upon her because of her gender. A CBE
representative will introduce the film and facilitate a discussion time
afterwards.
"Patriarchy stinks, and so does gender-biased theology and
practice. But there's far more to mutuality in Christ's body than
agitating for individual 'rights,'" says Trott. "That is why I
have a very special place in my heart for CBE. Christians for Biblical
Equality has wonderfully represented Jesus in championing women and men
working side by side to advance the kingdom of God. Submitting mutually
to one another out of reverence for Christ is CBE's message, and it
thrills me to have that message represented so vividly at our
Cornerstone Festival 2004."
CBE is raising funds to help support its presence at Cornerstone. To
make a contribution, click
here or call 612-872-6989.
©2004, Christians for Biblical Equality, 122 W. Franklin Ave., Suite
218, Minneapolis, MN 55404
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