Current Conferences
“Living Out Hope: Spiritual Practices in a Wounded World”
For Christian educators, pastors, and lay leaders involved in the ministry of Christian education.
In the midst of a wounded world, how do we teach, impress, recite, the Story? Explore spiritual practices that sustain our hope in daily living.
“You shall get them inside you and get them inside your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away.” Deut. 6:4-9
Key Leaders
- Susan Hylen, Nashville, TN; Keynote; Mellon Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Graduate Department of Religion, Vanderbilt University.
- Maren Tirabassi, Portsmouth, NH; Worship; Pilgrim Press author of fifteen books, including God in My Life – Faith Stories and How and Why We Tell Them, and Before the Amen – Resources for Worship. Frequent facilitator of workshops on creative worship, youth ministry, elder care, and liturgical writing. Maren also serves as Pastor of Union Congregational UCC in Madbury, NH.
- Victor Floyd, San Francisco, CA; Music; master of divinity candidate, Pacific School of Religion; pastoral intern, Peninsula Metropolitan Community Church of San Mateo, CA; former Emory University Music Faculty.
- Lolimarta (Loli) Ros Reiter, Brandon, FL; Community Building; pastor, frequent retreat and conference leader, mother, and the wife of Cedarkirk Camp and Conference Center’s director.
Workshop Descriptions
Morning Workshops (10-11:45 am) Repeated Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Select three.
- Taking God on Vacation: Spiritual Practices While You Are Away Spiritual practices for individuals and families while traveling in for vacation or work. Martha Miller, Louisville, KY; Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) associate for Certification and Christian Vocation.
- Sabbath Time in the Home How do you share and nurture faith in your family? How do you match what you would like to do with the reality of your lives? Come explore a multitude of meaningful, simple, low cost possibilities. Discover what might work for you and your family at this point in time. Barbara Palmer, Atlanta, GA; certified Presbyterian Christian educator, consultant and interim educator, workshop and retreat leader, whose major focus is in children’s and family ministries.
- Stewardship of Self Stewardship of Self is a shared responsibility to improve plan member’s lives through the effective use of the Board of Pensions plans and programs, and a personal commitment to self care. The four parts of Stewardship of Self include spiritual, vocational, financial, and health. We will explore each of these and discover what aspects will help improve our lives. Clark Simmons, Atlanta, GA; regional representative for the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (USA) serving the Synod of South Atlantic and part of the Synod of Living Waters.
- Developing Spirituality Through Right Prayer A basic concern for spiritual formation and growth is wholeness. We cannot be all that God wants us to be when our souls are troubled, fractured, scattered, and incomplete. This workshop will focus on some guidelines for right prayer that will help us to develop spiritually by filling up those deep wells of emptiness that can develop in our hearts and souls. David Wallace, Atlanta, GA; minister member of Greater Atlanta Presbytery; previously served as the dean of Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.
- Discernment: How do you decide what to do? How do we discern God’s will for our lives? What does the Doctrine of Christian Vocation have to say to us? How can we make these big decisions in our lives? Come wrestle with us for the journey! Forrest Palmer, Atlanta, GA; executive associate presbyter for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. He is on the APCE Cabinet, representing the South Atlantic-Puerto Rico Region, and is the co-author of the book, Career and Calling (Geneva Press, 2001).
- Saying Yes and Saying No Participants will explore concepts in David F. White’s book Practicing Discernment with Youth. White calls for congregations and their leaders to engage young people in practices of discernment that involve the gifts and problems of their unique ministry context, bringing their lives more fully into partnership with God’s work in their given place. Participants will also be challenged to practice discernment in their own lives as a way of responding to the particular trials, challenges, blessings, and gifts of their ministry to/ with youth and their respective ministry context. Neema Cyrus-Franklin, Atlanta, GA; director of youth ministries for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.
- Reading Scripture Sam Adams, Richmond, VA; professor of Old Testament, Union Theological Seminary-Presbyterian School of Christian Education.
- What Good Are Mission Trips? (offered Wednesday only) Congregations invest significant time and treasure in sending members on mission trips. Why do we go on such trips? What convictions undergird church-sponsored outreach ventures that involve travel? And how might focusing on faith practices shift mission trips from being episodic and event-focused to being woven into the larger fabric of a way of life, weaving human activities into God’s gracious activity for the sake of the world? Don Richter, Decatur, GA; associate director of Valparaiso University’s Project on the Education and Formation of People in Faith. Don manages practicingourfaith.org, administers the Project’s grant program, and coordinates resources for youth and youth leader.
Afternoon Workshops (2-4 pm) Offered in two parts on Tuesday and Thursday. Select two.
- Telling Our Stories: An Act of Spiritual Discovery Learn ways to recover and shape personal memories into stories others will want to hear and that uncover the surprising presence of God with us. Bill Jones, Ocracoke, NC, and Memphis, TN; retired Presbyterian minister and professional storyteller.
- Living Well, Dying Well Christians proclaim the duel promises of the Kingdom of God here and now and Resurrection in the life to come. So why are we so often bad at living and dying well, and facing the challenges of the “last third” of life? Come and explore the many barriers to abundant life and meaningful death, and how to apply faith in ways that make life more joyful. Catherine Taylor, Ithaca, NY; interim senior pastor at the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ Catherine has been a frequent preacher and speaker at national and regional conferences and has been a featured speaker on Day 1, formerly known as the Protestant Hour.
- What Every Body Knows Incarnation reminds Christians that spiritual practices are embodied wisdom. Through our daily bodily acts—bathing, clothing, eating, exerting and resting, touching, suffering—we live more fully into the sacred vulnerability of our own bodies and the bodies of others. More than a self-improvement strategy, honoring the body is a challenging practice for the restoring of community, the healing of nations, and the blessing of each other at life’s beginning and life’s end. Don Richter, Decatur, GA; see bio under morning workshops.
- Opening the Door to Forgiveness Explore the faith practices of confession and forgiveness. Philip Yancey speaks of forgiveness as an “unnatural act.” How then are we to follow Christ’s directive to turn from our sin and accept forgiveness, even as we forgive one another? How do we learn to practice something that does not come naturally to us? Discussion will revolve around scripture texts as well as pertinent literary and theological resources. Nancy Blakely, Anderson, SC; ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is chaplain at the Rainey House, Hospice of the Upstate, and is project director for a Valparaiso grant course on faith practices from an end-of-life perspective.
Extended Course for Certification
30 on-site contact hours; additional $75 conference fee applies; advance required reading; required paper following course.
- Worship, Sacraments and Education This course will explore the history and theology of worship and sacraments, especially from a Reformed perspective, and will consider the relationships between worship, sacraments, and education in the congregation. Topics include participation in worship for all the baptized, the unity of Word and Table, children and worship, preparation for baptism, and preparation for ordination as deacons and elders. Various styles of worship will be examined in the context of the development of that style. Each student will design an educational event which is related to and includes worship. Jane Rogers Vann, Richmond, VA; professor of Christian Education, Union Theological Seminary-The Presbyterian School of Christian Education and author of Gathered Before God: Worship Centered Church Renewal published by Westminster John Knox Press in 2004.
Program Fee
- on or before April 13: $195
- after April 13: $220
- additional Fee for Extended Course for Educator Certification: $75
Scholarships are available for this conference.
Cost for Housing & Meals
Rates for Assembly Inn & Winsborough are per person and include all room and meal charges for the entire conference (Monday supper-Friday breakfast). No adjustments to package will be made except for extended stay. Meals for children ages 5-11: $53.25; under 5: no charge. No room charge for children under 12 years of age in the same room with parent(s).
Assembly Inn
- Single, Private Bath: $461
- Single, Connecting Bath: $385
- Double, Private Bath: $305 per person
- Double, Connecting Bath: $285 per person
Winsborough
- Single, Connecting Bath: $305
- Double, Connecting Bath: $205 per person
Registration/Child Care Information
Conference begins Monday, June 1, with registration 3:30-5:00 PM, Anderson Auditorium Lobby. Conference ends Friday, June 5, with worship.
- Register online now!
- Download registration information (available at a later date)
If you would like conference information mailed to you via U.S. mail, please email carolo[at]montreat.org. Questions about registration? Email the registrar at susana[at]montreat.org.
Child care is available. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED; LIMITED ENROLLMENT.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be received by April 13 in order to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after April 13, but on or before May 25 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable), less $40. No refunds will be issued after May 25. All requests must be made in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.
Planning Team
Lauren Mathews, Montreat, NC
Sarah Grace Montgomery, Charlotte, NC
Forrest Palmer, Atlanta, GA
Mardee Rightmyer, Atlanta, GA
Tammy Winchip, Rock Hill, SC
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