• Varese/Milano 2024 Registration Form

    European Forum Annual Conference

  • MEMORY & PROPHECY

    "ENLARGE THE PLACE OF YOUR TENT" Isaiah 54,2

    Pre-conferences: 8 May 2024

    Main Conference: 9-12 May 2024

    Annual General Meeting: Friday 10 May 2024 (afternoon) 

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    Please fill in the following registration form. Depending on your answers, additional questions may appear. Fields marked with * are required. After finishing the registration, you will receive a confirmation email. 

    The registration fee that corresponds to your chosen duration of stay and accommodation type can be sent via bank transfer to the account of the Organising Committee or can be paid using PayPal account or bank card. 

    Here are the bank account details (they will also be sent to you in the confirmation email): 

    Cammini di Speranza ETS ODV
    IBAN: IT68N 03069 09606 100000 177854
    BIC: BCITITMM

    NB: all bank transfer costs/charges must be fully paid by the participant!

    Those participants who want to pay via PayPal, please note that there will be extra costs (5% will be added to your fee) to cover the PayPal transfer fees.

    Please, use contact us at euroforum2024@gmail.com with all questions related to the conference or if you haven't received a confirmation email.

    Registration deadline: Sunday, 31 March 2024 23:59 CET.

    [UPD: The capacity of the venue is exhausted. From 13 March 2024, you can only be added to the waiting list. We will inform you if additional places become available and your registration is accepted.]

    Thank you!

    The Organising Committee

    • More on the Motto of the Conference... 

    • #1 Memory

      What has been already done for “enlarging the place of the tent”?

      Focus on how the inclusion of LGBTI+ people has changed over time and how the  struggles for the recognition of dignity and rights in society and in the churches is a precious asset to be preserved for the benefit of the new generations.

      Keeping alive the historical memory is useful to remind the youth that they cannot take the milestones reached for granted and certain and to favor occasions in which to value the testimony of the past generations who have suffered the heaviest forms of discrimination and homobitransphobia, so that even the new generations do not let their guard down.

      In the same way it is useful to stimulate the curiosity of young people in the history of their community and encourage them to continue on the path of search and liberation, both in society and in the churches.

       

      #2 Prophecy

      What has still to be done for “enlarging the place of the tent”?

      The prophetic charisma of LGBTI+ Christian groups includes the challenge of visibility and the challenge of inclusion, justice and equality.

      The first prophetic theme (“visibility”) is related to overcoming the difficulties that sometimes still exist and obstacles that stand in the way of "getting out of the closet" to achieve complete self-awareness and how to be an active part in social life and in churches without hypocrisy and hiding.

      The second prophetic theme (“inclusion, justice, equality”) aims to promote the value of differences. Particular attention will be paid: 1) to the language used and how it can be transformed; 2) how to counter "alarming" situations in Christian churches and in society such as the revival of reparative ministries and therapies aimed at “changing” the sexual orientation; 3) how to confront the revival of the literalistic biblical interpretation which denies new awareness raised by the evolution of human development and scientific thought in regards of LGBTI+ issues.

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    • Basic Info

    • Is this your first EF conference?*
    • Select your participation type*
    • Are you applying for Agape Fund scholarship for member group representatives or individual participants from underprivileged countries/social groups/identities?*

    • Please find more details on Agape Fund here.

  • Attending the conference in Varese/Milano

    Please note that the main venue is Villa Cagnola in the village of Gazzada Schianno which is 5km from Varese. The nearest train station is Gazzada-Schianno-Morazzone (it takes maximum 10 minutes by walking to get to the Villa). The train from Milan is operated by Trenord. You can buy tickets online on www.trenitalia.com. Please change at Busto Arsizio if you arrive by train from Milan Malpensa Airport.
  • How do you plan to travel?
  • Your planned date and approximate time of arrival*
     . .
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • Do you intend to participate in the Pre-Conferences or in the Main Conference?*
  • Which day will you come for as a 'day visitor'?*

  • Read more about the programme of the five Pre-Conferences

    • Women's Pre-Conference 

    • Facilitators/contact persons: Beata, Ida, Elena, Priscilla, Sariah

      Women encouragement and cooperation through and with different generations.

      A preconference where we want to make sure we learn how to listen and be heard without judgement. Joint journey of growth in sisterhood of the European Forum.

    • Men's Pre-Conference 

    • Facilitators/contact persons: Paul Whiting and Aasmund Robert Vik

      When Revolution becomes Evolution

      The lead facilitators both attended their first Forum in 1984; Aasmund was 37, Paul was 28.

      1984 was a landmark year in the lgbt world in Europe. It was the height of a revolution. Large dance clubs were opening in many major cities, while support groups were being established in Christian churches. Celebrities were coming out as gay, lesbian or allies yet the impact of AIDS was beginning to tear our communities apart. How could forty Christians on a botel in Amsterdam harbour dream of impacting both church and international community?

      We will share stories of defining moments in our association with the Forum and how that related to what was happening in our personal and church life.

      We will explore the motivational charisma that has sustained the Forum when many of its original member groups no longer exist or have transitioned into other groups.
      We will identify and compare the challenges that existed in the 80s and 90s to those existing today.

    • Queer Pre-Conference (organized by people from the Youth Working Group) 

    • Facilitators/contact persons: Oliver Jahnke (provisional)

      You are welcome to the queer conference if you want a relaxed start of the conference. We will focus on getting to know each other, share our experiences as LGBTQIA+ people of faith and talk about our hopes for the conference and life beyond. We use queer as an umbrella term for anyone who in some way does not fit into the hetero, cis, mono and/or allo norm.

    • RCC Pre-Conference  

    • Facilitators/contact persons: Michael Brinkschröder, Uschi Pawlik, Miroslav Mat'avka

      Threading LGBTI+ Voices into the Synodal Process

      Threading LGBTI+ voices into the Synodal process requires a commitment to openness, dialogue, and a genuine effort to understand and address the concerns of this community within the context of the Catholic Church's teachings and traditions.

    • DV8 

    • Facilitators/contact persons: Shanon Ferguson, Henning Pink, Dennis Wiedemann, Roland Weber and Lyoshka Gerassimenko

      While fighting for equality, LGBTQI organisations have emphasised heteronormativity rather than diversity: The EF has become white, middle class, middle-aged, and—well—“normal”. Christ did not follow heteronormative rules but sat with the marginalised instead. Yet, many EF members do not support gender fluidity, polysexuality, polyamory, or—heaven forbid—kinks, fetishism, and BDSM. We need to talk about these matters not in an apologetic but in a (sex-)positive way. We need to show how they are compatible with the Way of Christ and support those rejecting ‘normality’. This pre-conference is for anyone who wants to talk about sexual/performative practices on the margins, bringing together our loves and lives with faith and pride.

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    • Which of the Pre-Conferences do you plan to take part in?*
    • Your accommodation type*

    • NB: Agape scholarship recipients are not accommodated in single rooms. 

    • Do you know who you would like to share the room with?*
    • Will you come with a child/children?*

    • I will come with  child(ren), their age(s):      .

    • Will you need childminding?*
    • Are you ready to offer childminding?*
    • Are you interested in offering a workshop?*

    • If you are interested in offering a workshop during the conference, you may submit a proposal using this form. The proposals will then be evaluated by the conference prep team. The team will inform you whether your proposal has been accepted no later than mid-April.
      A workshop is a timeslot of 90 minutes, conference participants can choose between several options running in parallel.

    • While we are looking forward to seeing each other in person again, we are aware that some people may not be able to attend due to circumstances beyond their control. We are therefore aiming at a somewhat hybrid format for the conference. This includes offering a selection of workshops entirely on Zoom (i.e. all participants in these workshops meet on Zoom, even if some of them sit in adjoining rooms at the conference venue).

  • Agape Application

  • Please find more details on Agape Fund here.

    Regults of applications selection will be sent out before 15 February 2024.

  • What kind of expenses are you asking the Agape Fund to cover?*
  • Gender in the travel ID*
  • Date of expiry (if any)
     . .
    2 digit day, 2 digit month, 4 digit year
  • Do you need to obtain a visa to come to Italy?*

  • Code of Conduct

  • The organisers of the Conference have developed a special Code of Conduct for its participants. Please read it carefully before submitting this form.

    • Code of Conduct 

    • Please read carefully.

      With your registration for the conference, you are required to agree to these terms.

      At their root, these rules aim to foster constructive dialogue as well as safety for all participants both during and after the conference.

      Especially important: While for many attending a conference aimed at LGBT+ Christians is unproblematic, some participants may face retribution by society, at their workplace, or within their family if their attendance becomes public. Do not put people at risk.

      Language

      The language of the conference is English. Please keep in mind that for most participants, this is not their first language. Patience and tolerance for linguistic limitations can help avoid miscommunication.

      Confidentiality

      If people tell you personal information, this stays between you/within the group.

      Should you wish to tell others about what you experienced during the conference, do not identify people, nor provide sufficient information for others to identify them, unless you have explicit permission.

      Names and Pronouns

      Please wear your nametag at all times. The nametags show the participants‘ names as they wish to be addressed, and the pronouns they want to be referred by. Mistakes may happen, just try again.

      Pictures

      Do not take pictures of people without explicit permission. And do not publish pictures without explicit consent of the people in the picture. This includes social media.

      At some parts of the conference, there will be designated seating areas for people who are willing to be seen. Please be aware that by choosing to sit in these areas, you consent to having your picture taken. There will always be seating provided as well for those who do not want their picture taken.

      Hugs

      Please always ask for consent of the person(s) you would like to embrace.

      Contact information

      For safety reasons, we can not provide lists of participants. If you wish to stay in touch with someone, exchange contact details with that person.

      If you are asked for your contact information either by an individual or in a subgroup, feel free to decline if you are not comfortable providing such details.

      Talking / writing about the conference

      Do not identify individuals when talking or writing about the conference, unless you have explicit permission. This is to preserve both the safety of the participants and the confidentiality of the conference. Of course this does not apply to information that is public anyway.

       

    •  
    • Do you agree to be photographed?*

    • Comments

    • Communication

    • Registration Fee and Donation

    • The organising team and the Board of the European Forum would like to ask you to support our Agape Fund which is used to provide scholarships allowing representatives of Forum member groups or individuals from underrepresented/underprivileged countries, social backgrounds, identities, to attend the conference. Even small donations are appreciated!

    • How to transfer your registration fee?

      You can make a bank transfer after submitting this form or pay via PayPal (using your PayPal account or your bank card) together with submitting this form.

      Bank transfers make most sense if you live in one of SEPA countries, which are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden, the 3 EEA countries of Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Switzerland, Monaco and the United Kingdom (despite Brexit).

      Bank transfer details will appear when you select 'bank transfer' option and will also be sent to you in your confirmation email.

      PayPal transfers are convenient and immediate but PayPal charges hefty fees, that's why we encourage participants from SEPA countries to use bank transfers.

      In any case, all transfer fees are to be covered by the participant.

      If you need a different way of payment than these two, choose the 'later' option and contact us using our email (euroforum2024@gmail.com).

    • How would you like to make this transfer?

    • Form Submission

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