Current Conferences
“God’s Word for a Wounded World”
For pastors, lay leaders, seminary students, and all who wish to expand their knowledge of the lectionary.
The church of Jesus Christ is commissioned to the task of proclaiming the faith – God’s Good News – in a global context. This conference will offer all participants relevant scholarship, powerful insights, personal inspiration and helpful tools for this demanding and challenging task. Come and be part of a learning, worshipping and encouraging community…all amidst the beauty of Montreat.
“Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength; I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” Isaiah 41:10 (The Message)
Key Leaders
- Charles Campbell, Decatur, GA; Keynote; Peter Marshall Professor of Homiletics, Columbia Theological Seminary; The Word Before the Powers: An Ethic of Preaching and Preaching Jesus: New Directions for Homiletics in Hans Frei’s Postliberal Theology.
- 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.
- Otis Moss, III, Chicago, IL; Keynote & Worship; pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL, and author of Redemption in a Red Light District (1999). His essays, articles and poetry have appeared in The African American Pulpit Journal, Sojourners Magazine, and the Urban Spectrum. Belief.Net named Rev. Moss as one of the future religious leaders who will impact the African-American Church.
- Debra Mumford, Louisville, KY; Keynote; Frank H. Caldwell Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
- 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.
Workshop Descriptions
Offered Tuesday and Thursday, 2-4 pm. Select one for Tuesday and one for Thursday.
- Authentic and Vibrant Worship Worship in the context of a global church offers myriad opportunities and challenges. We’ll explore emerging worship forms and patterns and consider how to evaluate them for use within the context of the Reformed tradition and that of congregations hungry for new expressions of worship. Michael Barker, Black Mountain, NC; director of music, Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, As organist and choir director he oversees a comprehensive music and arts ministry. He is active in the following professional organizations, having served on local and/or regional governing bodies for each: American Guild of Organists, Organ Historical Society, Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, and American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.
- Preaching in Context How does the congregation form your preaching? How does the life of the community shape your preaching? In this workshop, we will discuss the needs of congregations to be fully engaged in preaching. They must see themselves and their life in the sermon, yet the sermon (the Good News as it is presented) must also shape and form them. Mark Ramsey and Aimee Wallis Buchanan, Asheville, NC; Mark and Aimee work together at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, NC where Mark is the senior pastor and Aimee is an associate pastor.
- Vision and Practice in Preaching Drawing on diverse biblical texts, from Deuteronomy and the Sermon on the Mount to the letters of Paul and the letter to the Hebrews, this workshop will examine the dynamic relationship between theological vision and ethical practice in preaching. Participants will explore the important role vision and practice play in interpreting texts, forming the sermon, and building up the church. Charles Campbell, Decatur, GA; see bio under key leaders.
- Anatomy of the Soul: Preaching Resources from the Psalms John Calvin wrote: “The Book of Psalms is virtually an anatomy of all parts of the soul, for we will not discover within ourselves a single feeling which is not reflected in this mirror.” This workshop will consider preaching styles derived from the psalter, with special emphasis on the lament psalms. George Ramsey, Montreat, NC; Herrington Professor Emeritus of Bible at Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC; author of the Kerygma study, Amos & Hosea: Boundaries, Tough Love, Amazing Grace.
- Preaching in the Post-Modern World How are we to speak to the members of a generation of great potential who are exiled from the church? They live in an environment of tragic contradictions. Destiny and despair, fused together, change the concept of preaching. This generation no longer knows the stories that traditional preachers love to tell. Participants will explore what it means to preach in a post-modern world. Otis Moss, III, Chicago, IL; see bio under key leaders.
- Countercultural Preaching Countercultural preaching is a form of prophetic preaching that critiques unique aspects of American capitalism such as consumerism and materialism, and irresponsible environmental practices. The goal of countercultural preaching, like all prophetic preaching, is to highlight practices in our culture that violate Godly mandates of justice and concern for all poor, oppressed and marginalized people, and responsible stewardship of the environment while allowing the hearers to see their own roles in the perpetuation of some of these behaviors. Debra J. Mumford, Louisville, KY; see bio under key leaders.
Program Fee
- On or before April 13: $195 (full), $125 (spouse fee), $90 (college/seminary student)
- After April 13: $220 (full), $150 (spouse fee), $115 (college/seminary student)
Scholarships are available for this conference.
Cost for Housing & Meals
Rates for the Assembly Inn, Winsborough, and Glen Rock Inn 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 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 and Glen Rock
- Single, Connecting Bath: $305
- Double, Connecting Bath: $205 per person
Registration/Child Care Information
Conference begins: Monday, June 1, with registration, 3:00-5:30 pm, Anderson Auditorium. Conference ends Friday, June 5, with morning 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
Donna Cook, Louisville, KY
Sandy Jividen, Black Mountain, NC
Anna McArthur, Athens, GA
Lauren Mathews, Montreat, NC
Jim Simpson, Clinton, SC
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