Category Archives: Conferences

Workshops at Big Tent

Rev. Charles Pye, pastor of Grace Presbyterian in Clarksville, will be co-leading two workshops as part of the Healthy Ministry Conference at the Big Tent.

Financial Issues for Candidates and Ministers  – Friday, July 1 at 2:00 pm
Led by Charles Pye, minister and CPA, and Laura Bryan, associate for Financial Aid for Studies, OGA/GAMC.

Candidates are digging deep holes of debts.  Ministers struggle under debt and foreclosures.  What questions should CPMs, COMs, and seminaries ask?  How can they help?

Bi-Vocational or “Tentmaking” Ministry – Friday, July 1 at 4:00 pm
Led by Charles Pye and Ed Hilton, tentmakers

The first-century church grew through the leadership of “tentmaker” Paul.  Many believe that new church growth in the 21st century will come through the leadership of tentmakers who serve as part-time pastors and have some other employment.  We will discuss the mission potential and how-tos for congregations and individuals exploring this model of ministry.

More information about the Big Tent is available at: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/big-tent/

CTS Lifelong Learning 2011

Columbia Theological Seminary
Center for Lifelong Learning
May 10, 2011

Looking for learning events for the summer, the fall of 2011 or beyond?  Click on one of these courses, or check out the full list of Lifelong Learning events for 2011-12. We hope you’ll find something that will feed your soul, stimulate your thinking, and encourage you in your life and ministry.


Summer Events of Note

June 27-30 Creative Dissonance: Korean Worship & Music Conference “Creative Dissonance” – for additional information, visit www.worshipnmusic.org. Conference activities offered in Korean and English.

July 18-21 Columbia Theological Seminary at the Montreat Conference Center Presents A Presbyterian History and Reformed Theology Summer Series: “Ties that Bind—The Presbyterian Church and Race.”

July 18-21 Knowing Our Neighbors: A Purposeful Interfaith Encounter (Summer Scholars 2011) –featuring Ben Campbell Johnson, David Fraccarro, field trips to a mosque and synagogue, and conversation partners from the Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist traditions.

August 1-3 (weekday) AND August 12-13 (weekend) Confessing the Beatitudes (Presbyterian Women Bible Study Training) – co-instructors Margaret Aymer and Rita Boyer  lead the weekday course, and Sharol Hayner leads the weekend course


Fall/Winter Events of Note!!!!

Oct. 31-Nov. 4 Living Into Sabbath– featuring the leadership of Wayne Muller, author of Sabbath and A Life of Being, Having and Doing Enough, this event features three tracks – creative sabbatical planning, a certificate in spiritual formation course, and this year’s Guthrie Scholars.

Jan. 24-26 (January seminars) –CHRISTIANITY AFTER RELIGION: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening Diana Butler Bass and other conversation partners explore how the Spirit might be leading God’s people to live into the future.  The event includes discussions organized around existing denominations/faith traditions, allowing time for participants to explore what a vision for their future might entail.


CERTIFICATE COURSES
These courses are open to all interested participants, not only those seeking Youth Ministry or Spiritual Formation certification.

YOUTH MINISTRY

August 26-27 YMLI Soul Tending:  Finding Spirituality in Your Ministry

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

July 24-29 Growing in Discernment – Marjorie Thompson, leader.

August 7-12 Teaching Spiritual Formation in the Congregation – Jane Vennard, leader.


For additional information about these or other courses, please contact the Lifelong Learning Registrar at 404.687.4587 or lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu.  Visit us on the web at for the full course listing at http://www.ctsnet.edu/LifelongLearning.aspx.

The Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary

P.O. Box 520/701 S. Columbia Drive,  Decatur, GA  30031

 

Presbyterian Women Synod Gathering in June

Presbyterian WomenPresbyterian Women Holds Synod-Wide Gathering

June 10-12, Rochester, Ind.

Presbyterian Women from the Synod of Lincoln Trails will gather at Geneva Conference Center in Rochester for three days of workshops, worship and friendship. Marta Rodriquez, national Presbyterian Women moderator, and Robin Chaddock, author and seminar leader, are among the speakers. Registration deadline is May 15.

Download a brochure and registration form

 

Synod Scholarships to Big Tent

Synod Offers Scholarships to PC(USA) Event

Thousands Expected June 30 – July 2 in Indianapolis

Lincoln Trails will award a number of $100 scholarships to help defray the cost of attending PC(USA)’s Big Tent event. There are nine different partner conferences involved in the Big Tent. Choose just one or design your own Big Tent experience by registering for workshops that interest you.

Event leaders recently confirmed that the event will be held in Indianapolis, after Indiana legislators passed an immigration law that did not contain elements that would have necessitated a change of venue. More about this decision

To apply for a scholarship, contact the synod office, 800-566-5996 or 317-923-3681.

More about Big Tent

 

The Big Tent Stays In Indy!

From the PC(USA) website:

Big Tent to stay in Indianapolis

LOCATION FINALIZED AFTER EXAMINATION OF NEW INDIANA IMMIGRATION BILL

The Big Tent – the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s biennial celebration of ministry and mission – will be pitched in Indianapolis June 30-July 2. The decision to keep the Big Tent event in Indianapolis this summer was made after church leaders examined the final text of the newly passed Indiana immigration bill (Senate Bill 590) and confirmed that it does not contain elements that would have necessitated a change of venue.

To read the entire article (and Register!) click here to be redirected to the PC(USA)’s Big Tent page.

Interested in Attending Big Tent 2011?

The Presbytery of Ohio Valley will reimburse the cost of Big Tent registration ($285) for members of the presbytery.

  1. Go to the the PC(USA) Big Tent website to register for the event. Or contact: Kerry Rice at G.A. Meeting Services – (800) 728-7228, x5412
  2. Send your registration/payment confirmation to the POV office.
  3. We’ll send you the reimbursement!

If you would like to see a listing of this year’s events, click here to see a downloadable PDF.

Please note: As reported in the previous Big Tent article, the location of the Big Tent event will not be confirmed until May 2, 2011.

The Big Tent conference is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is our hope that these plans can be maintained, due to the excellent accommodations and arrangements provided by the Convention & Visitors Association, the hospitality community, and local Presbyterians. However, immigration legislation under consideration in Indiana’s state government, may cause the event to be moved. In 2010, the General Assembly instructed its agencies to “refrain from holding national meetings at hotels in those states where travel by immigrant Presbyterians or Presbyterians of color or Hispanic ancestry might subject them to harassment due to legislation similar to Arizona Law SB 1070/HB2162.” We are hopeful that Indiana legislators will reject this legislation quickly, so that our plans can continue, but this is uncertain. Big Tent meeting planners will make a final decision regarding location by May 2, 2011. Until this time, participants are encouraged to register for the conference, but to delay making travel arrangements until the meeting location has been finally determined. “

Register now for the Big Tent,  June 30 through July 2, 2011 where nine partner conferences will be meeting under one roof, all at one time and we will all worship together.

Choose from:

Clergywomen’s Leadership Institute/Young Women’s Leadership Development
Evangelism and Church Growth Conference
Healthy Ministry ConferenceNational Elders Conference
National Multicultural Church Conference
Peacemaking Conference
Presbyterian Communicators Network National Conference
Racial Ethnic and Immigrants Convocation
World Mission Matters
… or don’t choose any one conference and design your own schedule!

 

Big Tent Registration Now Open!

Register for The Big Tent through the PC(USA) website.

This summer, thousands of Presbyterians will gather from across the country to celebrate the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).  Registration for the Big Tent Conference opened February 28 and already dozens have begun to respond.

The Big Tent (June 30-July 2) combines nine national church conferences under one roof, bringing together events such as:

  • Clergywomen’s Leadership Institute/Young Women’s Leadership Development
  • Evangelism and Church Growth Conference
  • Healthy Ministry Conference
  • National Elders Conference
  • National Multicultural Church Conference
  • Peacemaking Conference
  • Presbyterian Communicators Network National Conference
  • Racial Ethnic and Immigrants Convocation, and
  • World Mission Matters

Children and youth are vital participants of Big Tent too! There will be children and youth programs, and older youth will have the option to participate in a Pathways event that will run in tandem with the Big Tent.

The Big Tent conference is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is our hope that these plans can be maintained, due to the excellent accommodations and arrangements provided by the Convention & Visitors Association, the hospitality community, and local Presbyterians. However, immigration legislation under consideration in Indiana’s state government, may cause the event to be moved. In 2010, the General Assembly instructed its agencies to “refrain from holding national meetings at hotels in those states where travel by immigrant Presbyterians or Presbyterians of color or Hispanic ancestry might subject them to harassment due to legislation similar to Arizona Law SB 1070/HB2162.” We are hopeful that Indiana legislators will reject this legislation quickly, so that our plans can continue, but this is uncertain. Big Tent meeting planners will make a final decision regarding location by May 2, 2011. Until this time, participants are encouraged to register for the conference, but to delay making travel arrangements until the meeting location has been finally determined.

Three spirit-filled days of Presbyterian celebration are planned for the Big Tent, including:

  • Worship, led by Mark Labberton and J. Herbert Nelson
  • Keynote speaker: Serene Jones
  • Your choice of nine partner conferences
  • An exhibit hall showcasing the newest ministry resources from the PC(USA)
  • Time to reconnect with Presbyterians from across the country

We look forward to seeing YOU at the Big Tent!

Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

Linda Valentine
Executive Director, General Assembly Mission Council