April 21-22, 2009

On a Braided River: Exploring Tributaries of Congregational Renewal   

[Registration form only (pdf) ]

On a Braided River: Exploring Tributaries of Congregational Renewal Spring Convocation, April 21-22, 2009, will offer dynamic explorations of the many tributaries—history, tradition, rite, and practice— that shape the course of congregational life and renewal.

Presenters include:
William O. Avery, The Arthur L. Larson Professor of Stewardship and Parish Ministry, as well as Gettysburg Seminary’s Director of Field Education and Internship and author or co-author of several books on the topics of congregational mission and leadership. His latest work is If This is The Way the World Works, written with Beth Ann Gaede, Alban, 2007.

Diana Butler Bass, author and scholar specializing in American religion and culture.  She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of six books including the best-selling Christianity for the Rest of Us, released by Harper One in 2006, and The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church (Alban, 2004).

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Tuesday (April 21)
Special Pre-Conference Event Sponsored by the Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic   Kim-Eric Williams ('69) will speak on Justus Falckner             10am Tuesday in Alumni Auditorium		"Justus Falckner, Myths and Facts"
Presenters for  Convocation Tuesday (April 21)   1:30 PM   chapel	Mark Vitalis Hoffman, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Norma Schweitzer Wood Lecture: 3PM in the chapel	Bernadette Brooten Kraft-Hiatt Professor of Christian Studies, supervises graduate work in the areas of New Testament, Second Temple Judaism, early Christian literature, Hellenistic Judaism, and other branches of ancient Post-Biblical Judaism. She co-directs (with Prof. Reuven Kimelman) the doctoral and postdoctoral Brandeis Seminar on Early Judaism and Christianity, which includes research in Rabbinic literature, early Jewish liturgy and various aspects of early Christianity. She has written Women Leaders in The Ancient Synagogue: Inscriptional Evidence and Background Issues (Scholars Press, 1982) and Love Between Women: Early Christian Responses to Female Homoeroticism (University of Chicago Press, 1996).	"Reading the Bible Through the Lens of Freedom:  Feminist Sexual Ethics"
Wednesday	Convocation will offer dynamic explorations of the many tributaries—history, tradition, rite, and practice— that shape the course of congregational life and renewal.	Please Note: Eucharist is at 9AM
Presenters for  Wednesday (April 22)	Diana Butler Bass, author and scholar specializing in American religion and culture.  She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the author of six books including the best-selling Christianity for the Rest of Us, released by Harper One in 2006, and The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church (Alban, 2004).
	Dr. William O. AveryProfessor of Field Education,The Arthur L. Larson Professor of Stewardship and Parish Ministry and Director of Internship He is the author of four books: Empowered Laity (1997), Cooperating Congregations (2000), Revitalizing Congregations (2002) and If This Is The Way the World Works (December 2007), and more than 35 articles, chapters in books, newspaper articles, and book reviews.	Lecture: tba
	The Rev. Paul Hoffman will preach and join with Dr. Gil Waldkoenig in responding to the days topics.

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Detailed Schedule for

Tuesday April 21

Pre convocation Conference:  

9:15 AM - Registration and continental breakfast - Valentine Hall coffee shop
10:00 - 11:00 AM - Presentation:  "Justus Falckner, Myths and Facts" by Kim Eric Williams - Valentine Hall Auditorium
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch and annual meeting - Valentine Hall coffee shop

11:15 a.m.
Registration opens

11:55 a.m.
Worship in the Chapel

12:15 p.m.
Lunch in the Refectory (advance reservations required)

1:30 p.m.
Lecture 

3:00 p.m.
The Norma Schweitzer Wood Lecture
“Power and Passion: Educating for Social Justice” by Dr. Bernadette Brooten

4:15 p.m.
Book signing and reception in celebration of newly published faculty, staff and alumni books

6:00 p.m.
The Alumni Dinner will gather returning alumni and friends to Seminary Ridge and celebrate three
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

Wednesday April 22
8:30 a.m.
Registration opens

9:00 a.m.
Festival Service of Holy Communion
 
The Rev. Paul Hoffman, Preaching
Pastor of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA

10:45 a.m.
Lecture 
 
12:00 p.m.
Lunch – options on campus in Refectory or with
reunion classes at Dobbin House

2:00 p.m.
Lecture 

3:15 p.m.
 

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