2013 Conference
Pacific Northwest
Wee Kirk (Small Church) Conference
Thriving in the Wilderness
1 Peter 2:12
"Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles..."
Cost:
Congregations under 200 members
Register by March 15:
Individual - $129
Couple - $199
After March 15:
Individual - $175
Couple - $275
Commuter rates:
Wednesday or Friday only day rate - $40
Thursday only Day & Evening rate - $60
Honorably Retired Ministers - $275
All other persons - $300
May 1-3, 2013
Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center
4700 Southwest Dash Point Road
Federal Way, Washington
Plenary Speaker - Rev. Dave Rohrer
Author of "The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry: Preparing a People for the Presence of the Lord." Rev. Rohrer is pastor at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Bothell, Washington. He served as an Associate Pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle for the past 17.5 years in the areas of adult ministries, discipleship, worship, and as teaching pastor.
Thursday night concert with David Harsh, a Christian singer/songwriter and worship leader from the Pacific Northwest. David desires to share God's truth and love through original, innovative Christian music in full-time ministry, and to serve and encourage the body of Christ through a relevant message. More info is available at www.davidharsh.com.
Serving on the staff of this 4,000 member church gave David a breadth of experience in pastoral care, teaching, staff management, and leadership development. David ministered across a broad spectrum of the staff and members of the congregation. In addition to specific department duties he taught and preached regularly, did leadership development among staff, and spent a significant time in pastoral care and counseling. Prior to David’s service at University Presbyterian Church, he accepted a call as Pastor of Michillinda Presbyterian Church in Pasadena, CA from 1987 to 1994. David’s first church posting was as Associate Pastor at Community Presbyterian Church in Ventura, CA from 1982 to 1987
"Living Honorably Among the Gentiles: A Ministry-Faithful Presence in a Post-Christian Culture" - St. Peter addresses his first epistle to the Chosen Exiles of the Dispersion and invites them to consider what it looks like to follow Jesus in a Roman world that was in service of a different lord. Peter's words of admonition and encouragement to that fledgling first century have an uncanny resonance for the church of the 21st century. As we increasingly find ourselves in a place of post-christendom marginalization in our culture, we need to listen to Peter's advice about how to remain both faithful to Jesus and engaged with our world. In our plenary sessions and worship we will explore four marks of what faithful presence in a foreign culture looks like. For Peter, living honorably among the Gentiles is expressed through Hope, Holiness, Humility and Hospitality. These four will be the empahsis of our four worship/plenary sessions.
Rev. Jim Deal
Even in the smallest of towns, many people live in a connected, media-saturated world where technology is simply taken for granted. To effectively reach these people with God’s word, we know we need to incorporate more technology into our worship services, from decent sound systems, to PowerPoint slides of lyrics and sermon points. Yet small churches face significant challenges in tackling these challenges: limited budgets, expertise, and personnel. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is simply what newer technology represents: change, which is often scarier and more challenging for smaller churches.
Rev. Jim Deal has served three Presbyterian churches in the Pacific Northwest over the last two decades. Each church has struggled to, and often eventually succeeded, in incorporating newer technology to ehance the experience of worshippers. Besides giving an overview of the technical possibilities, and hints for budget-conscious congregations, Jim will also talk about how to win over those reluctant to embrace technological change.
If you’ve ever had debates in your church about the music being too loud, whether or not we could ever put a screen up in God’s house, or what God would say about a drum set in your sanctuary, then this workshop is for you!
We plan to allow plenty of time for questions and comments from workshop participants…
Workshops:
1. Proclaiming Jesus in a "Modern Family" Church (Paul Detterman)
2. Beyond Conflict Management: Turning Disagreement into Deep Love (Richard Zimmerman)
3. Technology in Worship: Overcoming the Technical and Emotional Challenges of incorporating technology into your worship service (Rev. Jim Deal)
4. Beside Still Waters: A Place for God to Restore Your Soul (Brenda Norton)
5. Navigating the Stormy Waters: Dealing with Social and Theological Conflict in the Church (Dave Rohrer)
Rev. Dave Rohrer
Conflict is inevitable, yet preventable. Conflict is manageable, and yet some solutions to conflict preempt the deeper intimacy that can come when the love of Jesus Christ creates reconciliation beyond the human capacity.
This seminar will review some of the current thinking about the nature of conflict. Church leaders can benefit from a systems approach to congregational life. Reflection on contributing factors to conflict such as emotional need, unconscious reactions, overlapping sense of ownership, panic caused by parallel events, and memories of past abandonment or violence, will set the context for discussion about how leaders can bring reconciliation.
With those factors in mind we will discuss
•how to prepare to meet conflict
•practical tools for addressing conflict
•the aggressive or passive elements in communication
•how your conflict style and the styles of others interact
But how do we move beyond conflict management to that deeper love envisioned in the biblical mandate of reconciliation? Come and join us as we use our various understandings about conflict and grapple together with the higher calling to be people of deep reconciliation.
Rev. Rich Zimmerman
6. Thriving in the REAL Wilderness: How Christian Camps Can Enrich Small Church Ministry (David Edscorn)
David Edscorn has a degree in Outdoor Experiential Education, is the Assistant Director at Sound View a Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center, and has worked at camps and churches across the country. His own spiritual journey was started at a camp in North Carolina, and has grown through his interaction with churches and other camps. Join him as he discusses the relationship between camps and churches, and gives insight into how such a partnership enriches and furthers ministry.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. . .
God invites us into places of rest and promises to restore our souls there. So, whether you are journeying through a lonely desert, through a busy marketplace, or in the valley between the mountains you are invited into some time of stillness; to let God give you what is needed to restore you soul.
During workshop times we’ll provide space and guidance for personal prayer followed by a time of sharing the gifts of prayer in community. Resources and space will also be available throughout the conference to help you be still and be led by The Shepherd.
Brenda is currently serving as the Director of Community Life at First Presbyterian Church, Spokane which includes facilitating groups, teaching, writing curriculum, and guiding people into awareness of God’s presence in their life. She is married, has two daughters in their 20s and has enjoyed being a part of the PNW Wee Kirk for the past three years.
Brenda Norton
David Edscorn
More and more people know less and less about Jesus the Christ--both inside and outside the church. When we gather for worship, are we paying our respects to a Survivor from another era, or are we deepening our relationship with the living, life-transforming Savior? An increasingly diverse and frenetic world needs to know.
Paul Detterman is a pastor/theologian/musician ordained in the PC(USA). He has served congregations in Ohio, Kansas, and Kentucky, served as Associate for Worship, and since 2007 has served as Executive Director of PFR/Wee Kirk. He has also been instrumental in the formation of The Fellowship of Presbyterians, and is a co-mentor in the Transformational Ministry D.Min. track at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Rev. Paul Detterman
Music and Worship led by Ron and Jeanne Lodge
Ron Lodge, born and raised in Wenatchee, has spent most of his life accompanying school and church choirs, soloists and ensembles. He accompanied the Whitman School boys choir under Dan Morgan, the Orchard Junior High choir under Earnest Featherkile, and participated in the outstanding choral programs at Wenatchee High School and Wenatchee Valley College. Ron studied piano with Pauline Lieb and Joy Henderson in Wenatchee, and with Gwendolyn Harper at Eastern Washington University. He is currently staff Organist & Accompanist at Eastmont Presbyterian Church, accompanist for Wenatchee Columbia Chorale,and also accompanies students and choirs at Wenatchee High School. Ron and his wife Jeanne have three children and also own a security business in Wenatchee.
