The Lay Clergy Institute was begun in 1968 with the goal of bringing outstanding nationally recognized religious and secular speakers and programs to Longmont as a gift to the community. The Lay Clergy Institute has often chosen to explore issues currently being discussed in the public arena: the death penalty, homosexuality, death and dying, the Muslim Religion, and mental health concerns, to highlight a few. The goal is to educate, raise awareness, and provide a setting for honest dialogue about these issues.

Lay Clergy Institute 2009

Genocide: From Dachau to Darfur

Saturday, May 2 - Sunday, May 3
To coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Day
First Congregational United Church of Christ, Longmont, Colorado

Purpose:

• To give a historical perspective on genocide by remembering the Holocaust through personal testimonials of Holocaust survivors and having World War II veterans share their experiences related to the Holocaust.
• To raise awareness of the ongoing genocide in Sudan and other places through speakers who have first hand experience with the genocide in Darfur.
• To compare and contract the Holocaust and Darfur situations, the causes for each, and to raise awareness of patterns of human behavior that enable genocide.

The following organizations have been contacted to participate:

• Holocaust Awareness Institute at Denver
• University Congregation Har Hashem in Boulder
• The Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness in Action

In addition the American Legion, Longmont Post, will be contacted to assist in finding veterans who helped liberate German concentration camps. We are eager to hear these stories first hand while that is still possible.