April 21-22, 2009

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)		Registration Form (pdf) click here
Special Pre-Conference Event Sponsored by the Lutheran Historical Society of the Mid-Atlantic Kim-Eric Williams ('69) will speak on Justus Falckner 10:00am Tuesday in Alumni Auditorium		"Justus Falckner, Myths and Facts"
Presenters for  Convocation Tuesday (April 21) 1:30pm   chapel	Mark Vitalis Hoffman, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg
Norma Schweitzer Wood Lecture: 3:00pm 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 9:00am
Presenters for  Wednesday (April 22) 10:45am	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).	“From Tourist to Pilgrims: Signposts Along the Way”
	Dr. William O. Avery Professor 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.	"Four, Five, Six, Seven: Leaven for Congregational Vitality"
	“Stories of Congregational Renewal: A Few for the Road” with Diana Butler Bass, William Avery, Paul Hoffman, and Gilson Waldkoenig

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Detailed Schedule for

Tuesday April 21

Pre convocation Conference:  

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

Spring Convocation (Tuesday):  
11:15am
Registration opens

11:55am
Worship in the Chapel

12:15pm
Lunch in the Refectory (advance reservations required)

1:30pm Faculty Lecture  by Mark Vitalis Hoffman

3:00pm
The Norma Schweitzer Wood Lecture
"Reading the Bible Through the Lens of Freedom: Feminist Sexual Ethics"
by Dr. Bernadette Brooten

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

6:00pm
The Alumni Dinner in the Refectory

7:00pm
Alumni Dessert & Wine Reception in Valentine Hall (new option)

Choose to attend either the dinner or the dessert and then come together to celebrate at the awards ceremony in the Chapel

8:00pm
Distinguished Alumni Awards

Following the evening program, the President’s reception for the 25 year and 50 year and above reunion classes takes place at the President’s home (Lewars House)

Spring Convocation (Wednesday) April 22
8:30am
Registration opens

9:00am
Festival Service of Holy Communion
 
The Rev. Paul Hoffman, Preaching
     Pastor of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church, Seattle, WA
The Rev. Judith McKee, Presiding
     Pastor of Union Lutheran Church, York, PA

10:45am Lecture by Diana Butler Bass
“From Tourist to Pilgrims: Signposts Along the Way
 
12:00pm
Lunch – options on campus in Refectory or with
reunion classes at Herr Tavern

2:00pm Holman Lecture by William Avery
"Augsburg Four, Five, Six, Seven: Leaven for Congregational Vitality"


3:15pm “Stories of Congregational Renewal: A Few for the Road”
with Diana Butler Bass, William Avery, Paul Hoffman, and Gilson Waldkoenig

4:15pm Closing Prayer

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