Breakouts

(More breakout sessions will be announced in the coming weeks!)

  • Presbymergent Polity 101: Worship, Sacraments and (Dis)Order - Many view the Book of Order as a rigid, rule-focused guide for saying more about what one “can’t” do in PC(USA) worship, than what one might be able to do. However, in this workshop we’ll look at some key sections of the Book of Order that promise more freedom and openness than one might think, and we’ll talk about some issues relating to “emergent” expressions of worship in both traditional and non-traditional congregations. While this is not meant to be a “How to…”-workshop, we will spend some time looking at examples of how some PC(USA) congregations might use emerging worship/alternative worship in their worship services. (Adam Walker Cleaveland)
  • Presbymergent Leadership - What kind of leadership will take the church into a new generation where change is happening at the speed of light? Have all the things we learned in seminary really prepared us to deal with ministry in a post Christendom world? Both scripture and contemporary leadership theory have something to say about leading the church in the 21st century. The Presbyterian denomination is rich in tradition. One that will serve us well in this brave new world of emergent church is the tradition of pastors and elders working in partnership to resolve missional challenges. Let’s discuss how we can tap into our historic strengths to raise up the kind of clergy and lay leadership needed for a missional future. (Vera White)
  • The Emerging Mainline: Church from Scratch - Wicker Park Grace is an emergent style church started by “parachute drop” in an artsy, urban neighborhood by the Presbytery of Chicago. Hear the story of healing started in coffee shops, worship in an art gallery, and the organic evolution of a diverse new church community: the trials and the triumphs. Grace happens! (Nanette Sawyer)
  • Recovering the Two Essentials of the Christian Faith - Christianity (globally) is going through a great transformation at the present, but not all of these transformations are good (or more accurately), not all are built upon the essence of Christian faith. Everyone has a basic understanding of what makes for good theology or for a good church, but what are the essentials that make for more healthy forms of Christianity? Scott Sunquist will look at two essentials of the Christian faith that have come to light as a result of his work on History of the World Christian Movement. Don’t let go of these in your desire to be “contextual” and/or relevant. (Dr. Scott Sunquist)
  • Can Jesus Emerge?  The Importance of Christology for the Emerging Church.  Do we make Jesus relevant?  Or does Jesus make us relevant?  What can authors such as Athanasius, Karl Barth, William Milligan, George McLoed Campbell, and Tom Torrance offer to the emerging church?  This workshop will examine classic Christology and the nature of ministry in changing cultural contexts.  (Andrew Purves)
  • Relevance in the City: Thoughts on being urban, multicultural, postmodern, AND Presbyterian. As a denomination, the PC (USA) is (or at least should be) wrestling with the question of relevance. Does being Presbyterian mean anything anymore? Those questions only become amplified when you start addressing issues like race and poverty. At the same time, the emerging church movement claims to have a lot to say in terms of “relevance”, but is the same thing relevant to poor multiracial populations of our cities that are relevant to the white middle class males that have dominated the emergent conversation? Can one be Presbyterian, emergent, urban, and non-white without something giving way? As usual, more questions than answers will be provided. (Derek Weston)
  • Transmisship – The Missio Dei is to reconcile and bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Jesus Christ. This breakout will explore the symbiotic relationship between worship, mission, and transformation by raising the question, “What would it look like for local congregations to develop and embrace a missional approach to worship and continually offer their ordinary, everyday lives back to God for the sake of the world?” (Terry Timm)
  • Presbymergent Preaching - Is the preaching of the Word of God, as the Second Helvetic Confession states simply and by default the Word of God or is it more dynamic than that? Drawing upon the work of Reformed and emerging theologians and practioners we will engage in a conversation about how we can experience and practice the preaching of the Word that is an artistic, dynamic and Spirit guided contextual engagement of gospel and culture; rooted in the story of scripture with varying forms seeking to prophetically imagine an alternative story that will transform local communities of faith. (BJ Woodworth)
  • Emerging Traditional Congregations: Learning to Speak a New Language in an Existing Church - Much of the Emerging Church conversation centers around newer faith communities. However, existing congregations provide many unique opportunities as well as challenges when it comes to articulating the message of Jesus Christ to a dynamic and changing world. This workshop will examine of the opportunities and challenges that existing faith communities provide as well as look at a few examples of how existing PC(USA) congregations have adapted their ministries to accomplish this goal. (Brian Wallace)

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