2023 Rodney Sisco Symposium
March 13-15, 2023
A free event hosted by George Fox University
414 N. Meridian St. Newberg, OR 97132
Rise of the
Reconcilers
In an ever-increasing diverse yet deeply divided mission field, there is a great need for the equipping and releasing of reconciling, justice-oriented and culturally intelligent disciple-makers. We will explore biblical theology, ministry praxis, and spiritual rhythms for engaging our world as influencers for God's kingdom.
With its triune social storms of political polarization, racial unrest, and the pandemic, the year 2020 created a new opportunity for Christian leaders to rise for such a time as this.
Keynote Speakers
Rev. Efrem Smith
Rev. Efrem Smith is a pastor, consultant, motivational speaker and author. He is passionate about life transformation, racial righteousness, thriving churches and community development.
Smith was the founding pastor of the Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, and cofounded and was president of the Sanctuary Community Development Corporation. He formerly served as the superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, providing leadership to 160 churches within California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Utah.
In addition, he served as the president and CEO of World Impact, an urban missions organization committed to empowering urban leaders and planting churches in under-resourced communities. Currently, Smith is the co-lead pastor of Midtown Church, a thriving and multi-ethnic community in Sacramento.
Susie Gamez
Susie Gamez is Canadian by birth, Korean by heritage, Mexican by marriage and American by immigration. She is passionate about matters surrounding reconciliation, racial justice and the gospel.
Gamez and her husband Marcos met at Fuller Theological Seminary while getting their master’s degrees in intercultural studies. They now have four beautiful LatAsian kids. After serving as a youth pastor and church planter in South Central Los Angeles for 14 years, Susie now lives in Long Beach, California.
Workshop Presenters
Joel Perez
Dr. Joel Pérez is owner of Apoyo Coaching and Consulting, LLC, and a professional certified coach. He previously served as the chief diversity officer at George Fox University. He writes and presents about how cultural humility can be used for leadership and organizational transformation.
Donecia Smith
Donecia Smith is a wife, mom of two adult daughters, a business owner, and a lover of Jesus. As co-owner and leadership coach of Influential LLC, a speaking, coaching and consulting company, she is called to assist individuals, groups and corporations in cultivating their ideas and making them a reality.
Smith brings a wealth of expertise as both an inspirational coach and professional consultant. She has more than 25 years of experience working in both secondary and higher education as an advisor and college and career coordinator. Her desire is to see people be their authentic selves, live life purposefully, and to thrive in mind, body and spirit.
Sebastian Rogers
Sebastian Rogers was born in Norfolk, England, to an immigrant mother from India and an English father. A spiritual transformation ultimately led him into full-time Christian ministry, where his experience with media proved invaluable. Rogers developed his filmmaking skills while director of communications at Imago Dei Community Church, before shifting his focus entirely to running the nonprofit media company Peripheral Vision PDX, which he founded to provide films and media training to underserved communities, organizations and ministries.
Schedule
Monday, March 13
| 7-8:30 p.m. | Plenary Keynote Speaker: Efrem Smith Bauman Auditorium |
Tuesday, March 14
| 10:50-11:40 a.m. | Chapel Keynote Speaker: Efrem Smith Bauman Auditorium |
| Noon – 1:15 p.m. | Lunch Break |
| 1:30-2:30 p.m. | Breakout Session 1 Canyon Commons 101-103
|
| 3-4 p.m. | Breakout Session 2 Canyon Commons 101-103
|
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Afternoon Plenary Panel Discussion Hoover 105 |
| 6:30 p.m. | Preview Screening of the Documentary High Eagle Post Film Q&A with Filmmaker Sebastian Rogers Bauman Auditorium |
Wednesday, March 15
| 9-9:50 a.m. | Morning Worship and Devotion Canyon Commons 101-103 |
| 11 a.m. – Noon | Closing Plenary: Susie Gamez Canyon Commons 101-103 |
To learn more about the Sisco Symposium, please visit rodneysiscosymposium.org
