Loading...The Rt. Rev. Brian Cole is a featured presenter at the Tennessee Faith and Justice Summit April 17 at The University of the South. This event focuses on Connecting Faith Communities with Legal Resources.
Have you ever had someone in your community come to you unsure where to turn for help, who was worried they were going to lose their home due to seemingly insurmountable debt, or who sought refuge from an abusive partner, or who was unsure how to care for an elderly family member? Were you confident that you knew all the resources to help them find affordable legal help?
Legal issues can be frightening and difficult to address, and many people turn to their faith leaders for answers and guidance, often because the faith leader is trusted in a way that the legal community is not. This can be particularly true for disadvantaged and low-income individuals who may feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the legal system. They do not turn to the legal system for solutions because they feel help is not to be found, or because they may not even understand that there are legal solutions to the problems they face.
The Tennessee Faith & Justice Summit is an opportunity specifically designed for faith leaders and clergy to come together to help the members of their communities by building inroads to justice within faith communities. The summit will include plenary speakers, legal resource training sessions, a panel of faith leaders from across the state who have implemented faith and justice programs at their houses of worship, and breakout discussion groups, all with the goal of helping participants consider how they may implement programming in their congregations.
Who Should Attend?
Clergy and lay leaders from congregations of any denomination or faith.
Presenters
The Rt. Rev. Brian Cole, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee;
Hon. Cornelia A. Clark, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice and Access to Justice liason;
The Rev. Dr. Judy Cummings, Senior Pastor, New Convenant Christian Church, Nashville, Tennessee;
Andrae Crismon, Managing Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands;
Kirsten Jacobson, Equal Justice Works Fellow, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services.
There is no charge to attend.
