Conference Examines Spirituality & Volunteerism

Organized by Wake Forest students, faculty and campus ministers, the “Spirituality and Volunteerism” conference will feature guest speakers, panel discussions, breakout groups and exhibits by area service organizations. The event is open to the public.

Taylor Field, the founder of East 7th Baptist Ministry in New York City, will be the keynote speaker. Marie-Louise Ramsdale, founding executive director of City Year Columbia (a service and leadership organization for young adults in South Carolina), will speak on Saturday.

The conference will begin with registration and exhibits by service organizations at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 11. Field will give the keynote address at 7:45 p.m. Field’s talk will be followed by a panel discussion involving representatives from Crisis Control Ministry and Habitat for Humanity and other campus and community leaders. Saturday’s events will begin with an address by Ramsdale at 10 a.m. with another panel discussion following. The conference will conclude at 12:30 p.m.

“The vision of the conference is to encourage reflection on the meaning and value and significance of volunteerism and its link to the most inclusive forms of spirituality,” said Paige Wilbanks, coordinator of volunteer services at Wake Forest.

“When volunteerism and spirituality come together, the result is often life-transforming,” said John Earle, the Wake Forest sociology professor who came up with the idea for the conference. “We welcome anyone who is supportive of the spirit of volunteerism, regardless of their particular faith, denomination or secular ideology.”

Registration is $5. For information or to register, call Wake Forest’s Office of Volunteer Services at 910-759-4549.