Montreat Conference Center

Current Conferences

“Words to Build a Life On”

For Christian educators, pastors, and lay leaders involved in the ministry of Christian education.

Jesus the carpenter knew a lot about building. One day as he spoke to the people, he put two houses in a parable, to speak to our human tendency to hear things, listen to them, agree with them but then go out and do not one thing about them. As Christian Educators our call is to help our congregations hear and do. Join us as we look at old and new models of transformational architecture, i.e. Christian Education, built on the solid foundation of God’s word.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise person who built their house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house but, it did not fall because it had been founded on rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 NRSV

Key Leaders

• Dee Koza Keynote Speaker; certified Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Educator with experience in local, presbytery, and national level educational positions; a national keynote/consultant focusing on faith development, vision/mission planning, narrative in worship, and youth ministry.

• Nathan Proctor Music Leader; Associate Director of Music at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC; holds a degree in church music from St Olaf College, Northfield, MN, and a Master’s degree in organ performance, Indiana University; has served churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and North Carolina.

• Dianna Wright Coach; Education Consultant and Founder of Kuumba Center for Christian Education and Spiritual Growth; currently the African American Ministry Advocate for Salem Presbytery, Clemmons, NC; past president of APCE; graduate of Union-PSCE, Richmond, VA, and Columba Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA.

• Jana Childers Preacher; Professor of Homiletics and Speech-Communication, San Francisco Theological Seminary; a Presbyterian minister; holds a B.A. from Wheaton College, an M.Div degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA.

• Joanna Adams Preacher; pastor, Morningside Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA; a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary; holds an honorary doctorate of divinity from Davidson College and was awarded an Alumni Association Medal of Honor from Emory University.

• Luke Powery Preacher; the Perry and Georgia Engle Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Princeton Theological Seminary; holds a B.A. in music from Stanford University, his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and his Th.D. from Emmanuel College, University of Toronto.

Workshop Descriptions

Morning Workshops (10-11:45 am) Repeated Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday. Select three.

• Building Blocks A workshop designed for church volunteers, lay leaders or those new to serving as a Christian Educator. Many times we are asked to volunteer or take on something that we don’t feel 100% equipped to do. Christian Education is more than finding the right curriculum, finding someone to cook the Wednesday night meal or planning a scavenger hunt for youth. Spend some time learning and discussing the Building Blocks of Christian Education. Susan Penrod is the former Associate Presbyter for Christian Education for Mission Presbytery.

• CE on a Shoestring Are you finding that your CE budget has shrunk? Let’s explore ways to pass on the old, old story to our children, youth, and adults, in new, new ways AND on resources that are limited! Get creative about ways to use the resources you already own, or that can be shared. Find ways for CE committees to get the most out of the resources they are blessed to have. Bring your own best ideas and collect some new ones! Edye Bender is a certified Christian educator. She has served in 4 churches over the last 17 years, and is currently the part time program director of Faith Presbyterian Church, the new church development of Providence Presbytery.

• Planning out the Budget Year Creating a budget is a daunting task and as budgets shrink across the board it doesn’t make planning any easier. Come learn tips and tools on how to map out the calendar and stay within (maybe even under) budget! Sarah Reyes is pastor of Bethel Community Presbyterian Church in San Leandro, CA.

• Is There Church Today? One of the churches that I worked at had an afterschool program and the kids used to come to the door and ask “Is there church today?” I used to correct them, “No, there’s not church today but there is afterschool today.” Then, I realized that for them, church was not about worshipping in the sanctuary, but about the relationship between the adults in the church and them. Any time the church was open was church to them. So much of church for children is about that relationship. And oftentimes the best way to foster that relationship is outside the Sunday School Hour. Let’s examine where relationships are being build between children and adults in your congregation and let’s focus on growing those relationships. We will talk about special programs like Church at the Zoo and Easter in the Park, about Extended Church which happens while the adults are worshipping in the sanctuary, about weekday programs, afterschool programs, parent’s night out, and about my favorite of all Vacation Bible School! Please come to share ideas and think outside the Sunday School box. Linda Charlton is an active member and volunteer at Madison Square Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX.

• Outside the Sunday School Hour – Youth We all know that Christian Education extends beyond the Sunday School hour. Come learn about program ideas for youth that can be done outside of Sunday morning. Neeley Rentz Lane

• Outside the Sunday School Hour – Adults We all know that Christian Education extends beyond the Sunday School hour. Come learn about program ideas for adults that can be done outside of Sunday morning. James Lee is pastor and leader of New Covenant Fellowship in Austin, TX.

Afternoon Workshops (2-4:00 pm) Repeated Tuesday & Thursday. Select two.

• Mediation 101 If you have no conflict in your church or organization it probably means that nothing is happening. If you have too much conflict, nothing is getting done. Traditional mediation skills offer a way to channel the energy arising from conflict into a positive process for growth and reconciliation. This course offers preliminary fundamentals for the incorporation of mediation skills into conflicted situations. Proctor Chambless is pastor of Henry Memorial Presbyterian Church Dublin, GA.

• Can You Hear Me Now? Tools for Managing Church Conflict How can we equip congregations to deal effectively with conflict in healthy ways? In this workshop, you will experience a design that can be utilized with Sessions or congregations to equip them with healthy tools/skills for managing conflict. Anna Brown is the Director of Christian Education at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth, GA. She is a certified educator and an elder in the PC(USA) . She anticipates graduating in May from Columbia Theological Seminary with the Doctorate of Educational Ministry degree. She also serves on her presbytery’s conflict management team.

• Journaling Your Journey Surprise! You are an artist! Anyone can create these unique no sew fabric journals which lend themselves for use with groups ages 5 to 105 in a multitude of settings; retreats, mission trips, small groups or adult Bible studies and much more. We will include fun and unique visual journaling for the new and experienced artist. Come create with us! Leslie McCarthy owner of Making Ends Meet in Shelbyville, KY is a natural born artist and a regular workshop leader at the Annual Recreation Workshop (ARW) in Montreat each spring.

• Care of Self for God’s Sake Any church professional is surely aware these days of the high risk for burnout, loss of sense of call, loneliness, depression, and physical illnesses. Some studies indicate that church professionals have as much as 40% greater risk than the average American for all these physical, spiritual and emotional problems. We all know some of what’s wrong. The question becomes what to do to avoid such difficulties, and what keep us from doing what we already may know are healthy practices. In this brief two-hour session, we will address those two concerns: 1/ what really does nurture our body / soul lives, and 2/ what keeps us locked into the very causes of our distress? This will be an interactive workshop, using the group’s wisdom and the leaders experience to share what helps or hurts, and how we can keep the Well filled with life-giving water. Holistic care of self –body /mind /spirit – is not a selfish endeavor. It is essential if we are to become what we attempt to teach – “a human being, fully alive, God’s greatest glory.” Co-taught by Sarah Arnett and Anne Williamson. Sarah Arnett currently works for Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, NC as an Organizational Development Specialist. Sarah’s private work includes massage, nutritional health, facilitation, and transformation work through Physical Storytelling. Ann Williamson has served the Presbyterian Church (USA) as an ordained minister for the past 20 years. Now retired, she continues her work in Spiritual Formation and Direction, and serves on the staff of the Davidson Clergy Center in Davidson, NC. (Important: “Care of Self” is offered Tuesday only; a second optional workshop led by Sarah Arnett, “Transformation Through Physical Storytelling,” will be available during free time Wednesday afternoon)

Optional Workshop during free time Wednesday afternoon

• Transformation through Physical Storytelling This workshop helps people find new insights or new “endings” to stories that have played in their head, often for a long while. These stories come from experiences of change, loss, grief, new opportunities, and celebrations. Stories are verbally shared, and then Sarah guides the group to retell the stories in movement only. This way the storyteller becomes witness to his/her story instead of only replaying it in the head (again). The visual replay of the story creates empathy, new insights, and group wisdom….No movement experience is required – abilities and disabilities welcome. Stories may come from recent events or from events that are decades old. Sarah Arnett – see bio above. (This is an additional workshop that will be offered on Wednesday afternoon. You do not need to sign up for this workshop.)

Extended Course for Certification
30 on-site contact hours; additional $75 conference fee applies; advance required reading; required paper following course.
Course Title: Human Growth and Faith Development
Instructor: Kathy Dawson
This intensive course will explore developmental theory from a faith perspective. As educators, we will apply these theories to the way we teach in the church to all ages. Through multimedia and a wide variety of teaching models we will learn together the breadth of the human condition and its relationship to faith.

General Schedule

The following is a tentative schedule for the event. Please note: changes may be made to the schedule, and you will receive a final schedule at the conference registration table. Worship is always open to the public, but attendance at plenary sessions and workshops requires registration for the entire event.

Monday, May 31, 2010

• 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Extended Course in Assembly Inn #2
• 1:30-5:30 pm – Extended Course
• 3:00 pm – Check in to your housing facility
• 3:30-5:30 pm – Conference Registration in the Assembly Inn Upper Lobby (Late registration: Pick up registration packet at the Assembly Inn Front Desk)
• 5:30-6:30 pm – Dinner Break
• 7:00 pm – Welcome & Introductions in Upper Anderson Auditorium
• 7:30 pm – Opening Worship in Upper Anderson Auditorium (open to general public)
• Following Worship – Union-PSCE Ice Cream Social in the Barn (open to general public)

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

• 8:45 am-10:00 am – Plenary Session in Assembly Inn’s Convocation Hall
• 10:15 am – 12:15 pm – Workshops and Extended Course
• 12:30-1:30 pm – Lunch Break
• 1:30-5:30 pm – Extended Course
• 2:00-4:00 pm – Workshops
• 5:30- 6:30 pm – Dinner Break
• 7:00-8:30 pm – Extended Course
• 7:00 pm – Evening Worship in Upper Anderson Auditorium (open to general public)
• 8:30 pm – Evening Activities

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

• 8:45 am-10:00 am – Plenary Session in Assembly Inn’s Convocation Hall
• 10:15 am – 12:15 pm – Workshops and Extended Course
• 12:30-1:30 pm – Lunch Break
• 1:30-5:30 pm – Extended Course
• 1:30-5:30 pm – FREE AFTERNOON
• 3:15-5:15 pm – Hearing and Doing, time to share program ideas
• 5:30- 6:30 pm – Dinner Break
• 7:00 pm – Evening Worship in Upper Anderson Auditorium (open to general public)
• 8:30 pm – Evening Activities

Thursday, June 3, 2010

• 8:45 am-10:00 am – Plenary Session in Assembly Inn’s Convocation Hall
• 10:15 am – 12:15 pm – Workshops and Extended Course
• 12:30-1:30 pm – Lunch Break
• 1:30-5:30 pm – Extended Course
• 2:00-4:00 pm – Workshops
• 5:30- 6:30 pm – Dinner Break
• 7:00 pm – Evening Worship in Upper Anderson Auditorium (open to general public)
• 8:30 pm – Evening Activities

Friday, June 4, 2010

• 8:45 am – Closing Worship and Communion in Upper Anderson Auditorium (open to general public)
• 10:15 am – 12:15 pm – Extended Course
• 11:00 am – Check out of your housing facility

Program Fee

• on or before April 12: $195
• after April 12: $220

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

Learn more about these and other housing options available in Montreat…

Registration/Child Care Information

• Register online now!
• Download registration information
• Child care is available. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED; LIMITED ENROLLMENT.

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.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be received by April 12 in order to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after April 12 but on or before May 24 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 24. All requests must be made in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.

Planning Team

Merri Steinhoff Alexander, Montreat, NC
Emily Causey, Montreat, NC
Melissa Coleman, Valdosta, GA
Kenny Davis, San Antonio, TX
Chandler Guess, Hickory, NC
Mardee Rightmyer, Atlanta, GA
Croskeys Royall, Columbia, SC

Looking for resources from the 2009 Christian Education Conference?
Order conference books & CDs now!

Download Registration PDF »

Register Online »