Events

Below you will find the tentative schedule for the national gathering. All times, speakers and topics are subject to change. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Location:
National 4-H Youth Conference Ctr.
(www.4Hcenter.org)
7100 Connecticut Avenue
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

Schedule

Wednesday March 4th
1.00 – 2.00 – Arrival & Registration
2.00 – 3.45 – “Engaging: Missionary Strategies Then & Now” – Gibbs, Breen
3.45 – 4.00 – Stretch Break
4.00 – 5.30 – “Organizing: Structures for Incarnational Church” – Breen
5.30 – 6.45 – Dinner
7.00 – 8.30 – “Challenges: Barriers to Mission in the Western Context” – Gibbs, Breen

Thursday March 5th
7.30 – 8.30 – Breakfast
8.30 – 10.30 – “Leadership: Guiding Missional Movements” – Guder, Gibbs, Breen (forum)
10.30 – 10.45 – Break
10.45 – 12.00 – Discussion Groups
12.00 – 1.30 – Lunch (Introduction to Ecclesia in separate room)
1.30 – 3.30 – “Sending: Releasing the Lay Apostolate” – Guder, Breen
3.30 – 4.00 – Break
4.00 – 5.30 – Discussion Groups
5.30 – 7.00 – Dinner
7.00 – 8.30 – “Communication: Hearing the Good News in Context” – Gibbs, Tyson

Friday, March 6th
7.30 – 8.45 – Breakfast
8.45 – 10.00 – “Scripture: A Missional Hermeneutic” – Guder
10.00 – 10.15 – Break
10.15 – 11.30 – Forum Discussion
11.30 – 12.00 – Departures

This is a gathering before the National gathering. The goal is relationship building so that the National Gathering is of even greater value.

Wether you are going to the national conference or not, if you live in the Baltimore area, we would like to invite you to a localized gathering at Cornerstone Community Church of Columbia Maryland on February 19th from 10 am – noon.

The format will be simple. Over coffee we will share what has been going on in our lives, share some cool stuff you have seen and perhaps share a few scars as well. Also the hope is that ways we can work together as churches will emerge as well. Anyone who wants to go out to lunch afterwards is invited.

For more information, contact Bruce Hopler (pastor at cornerstone-d6.org)

Date: March 4-6, 2009

Crafting fresh expressions of church that arise from incarnational mission is the overall emphasis for our third annual national gathering in Washington, DC. We all believe in it—and we are all wrestling with how to do it—so let’s wrestle together.

We will be joined by: theologian, Dr. Darrell Guder from Princeton Seminary, missiologist Dr. Eddie Gibbs, church-planting director Mike Breen, and pastor Jon Tyson.

We will also hear from one another, as fellow practitioners sharing the journey of ministry in this new world. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the Ecclesia Network and its future.

This gathering is open to all, and as always, will be intentionally limited in number, so register quickly.

• Click here for rates, travel info and registration information
• download the brochure

Mark Your Calendars!
Thursday October 23, 5:00 pm – Friday October 24, 9:00pm
More information will be coming soon, yet we wanted to give you a foretaste of this exciting event so you would make room on your calendars!

Theme

The Integrated Journey: the upward, inward and outward spiritual journey.

Scheduled Facilitators

Wil Hernandez
Will regularly teaches on the spirituality of Henri Nouwen at Fuller Theological Seminary, Haggard Graduate School of Theology (Azusa Pacific University) and at the Center for Religion and Spirituality (Loyola Marymount University). Wil is the author of Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality of Imperfection (Paulist Press, 2006) and Henri Nouwen and Soul Care: A Ministry of Integration (Paulist Press, 2008).

Keith Matthews
Keith Matthews serves as an associate professor and directs the Field Education and Master of Arts in Ministry Management Programs at the Haggard Graduate School of Theology, and also is an as an adjunct faculty member at Fuller Seminary in the Doctor of Ministry program. Keith has served in pastoral leadership at several churches, including a role as lead pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in Spencerville, Maryland. He is also an accomplished author, having written Dallas Willard’s Study Guide to The Divine Conspiracy, 2001; and “How Is It With Your Soul?”, in Sojourner’s Magazine, 2003, which details his interviews with Richard Foster and Dallas Willard regarding Renovare, Inc. Matthews latest writing projects include two Christian inspirational books.

Gathering Summary:

This is a time to connect with other pastors, staff and leaders to have some meaningful interaction with one another about our spiritual journeys – the upward, inward and outward elements. Some of our time will be focused and guided; other parts will be more spontaneous and experiential. Some of our discussions and exercises will take place at the Fountain Room in Hollywood, other times will take place as some interesting sites in the Los Angeles area.

Cost:

TBA (Expect $10-25, depending on what is included.)

Tentative Schedule:

(schedule and themes are subject to change)

Thursday Evening:The Upward Journey (TBA)

Friday Morning: Nouwen’s Spiritual Journey (Wil Hernandez)
This session tackles the inward, outward, and upward thrust of Nouwen’s spiritual journey, which unravels the very texture and shape of all our journeying realities. Specifically, it underscores the highly integrative way Nouwen embodied his own spirituality, resulting in his equally integrated approach to ministry.

Friday Afternoon: The Inward Journey (Keith Matthews)

Friday Evening: The Outward Journey (TBA)

Out of Town Guests

Members of various churches in LA are willing to host you so that you can save on costs. If you prefer to get a hotel, try and find something close to The Fountain Room at 4903 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

On August 8-9, 2008, The Well, in partnership with the Ecclesia Network and C4ML at Biblical Seminary, will be hosting a one-day conference with Al Hsu, author of The Suburban Christian around the topic of Suburbia and the mission of the Church.

Event Summary
“God always shows up in the most God-forsaken places.” – Alan Roxburgh

In some ways, it doesn’t get any more God-forsaken than suburban America. This seminar will take a look at two important topics: Suburbia and the Church. For some people, there is a sentiment that its impossible to really be the church in the ‘burbs. But for others, we believe that this is the place that God has called us. If we are going to stay, we need to ask what it means to “be the church” in a culture that is defined by comfort, consumerism, isolation, wealth, strip malls and hidden poverty.

This one day seminar will focus on the development and culture of suburbia and the opportunities and challenges that this context presents the Church. We are honored to have Al Hsu, author of The Suburban Christian, lead the discussion along with some other local pastors and thinkers.

This one day conference is open to all and will be helpful for pastors, lay leaders and members of congregations. Our goal is to have some substantial discussion around practical issues that relate to the everyday practice of the Church and the Christian life.

More info and registration here:
http://church.thewellpa.com/news/missional-in-suburbia-seminar/

Tuesday, February 12th – Thursday, February 14th

“Living the good news we believe through our local congregations” will be the overall emphasis for our second annual national gathering in Washington DC.

How does the gospel inform our life, speech, church structures, practices and other various and sundry areas of individual and congregational life?

Two practitioners, Alan Hirsch, author of The Shaping of Things to Come and The Forgotten Ways, as well as David Fitch, pastor at Life on the Vine in Chicago, author of The Great Giveaway, and professor at Northern Seminary will be joining us.

We will also hear from fellow practitioners and have the opportunity to both give and receive guidance on various issues our churches are facing. As always, there will be an opportunity to learn more about the Ecclesia Network and what is ahead for us in the future.

This gathering is open to all and as always, will be intentionally limited in number, so register quickly. (And don’t worry – we will be done in time for just about everyone to get home for Valentine’s day, especially thanks to the time delay in flying east to west).