New Wineskins Convocation
set for Oct. 4-6 in Tennessee
The Layman, September 25, 2009
Greg Ogden, pastor and author of Transforming Discipleship: Making Disciples a Few at a Time, will be the featured speaker at the New Wineskins Association of Churches Convocation VI, Oct. 4-6 at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, near Chattanooga, Tenn. Convocation details
New Wineskins Web site
Convocation Web site
Convocation brochure
Register online, or call: 888-754-9693
Contact information: Marlene Becker, administrative assistant.
Host church information: Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church, 612 James Blvd., Signal Mountain, Tenn. 37377
Registration Includes: Conference admission, two lunches and two dinners, worship services, seminars and break out sessions, and conference materials
Ogden will discuss the most effective way to create a transparent, replicating, relational environment for transformation into Christlikeness. He plans to present his vision for transforming both the individual disciple and discipleship itself, showing how discipleship can become a self-replicating process with ongoing impact from generation to generation.
Ogden will lead plenary sessions each day plus a discipleship workshop on Oct. 5. The leadership of New Wineskins is encouraging those planning to attend the convocation to first read Ogden’s Transforming Discipleship. (For a review of the book by Elder Peggy Hedden, a member of the Presbyterian Lay Committee’s board or directors, click here.)
Ogden is executive pastor of discipleship at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Ill., and served as director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Fuller Theological Seminary and associate professor of Lay Equipping and Discipleship.
Convocation theme
The theme of Convocation VI is “Gathered to be with Him, Sent to be like Him,” from Mark 3-6.
In conjunction with the convocation will be the New Wineskins/EPC Transitional Presbytery meeting and a meeting of New Wineskins Association of Churches delegates.
Other highlights include time for participants to “live” the New Wineskins’ missional vision by serving in the local mission field. Mission options include Widows Harvest, Channel of Love AIDS Ministry, Prayer Ministry and Mission to the Culture.
On Oct. 6, the convocation will offer a variety of workshops including one on property issues by Attorney Lloyd Lunceford. He will discuss recent developments in church property cases. “The stakes have gotten even higher,” said Lunceford. “A writ has been filed with the United States Supreme Court. A former U.S. Attorney General and a former U.S. Solicitor General have weighed in. Other cases are pending with several state Supreme Courts. Churches where George Washington served and John Wesley preached have sought civil court protection. What are the issues being decided? How can they affect your church, regardless of where your church is located?”
Other questions to be discussed in the workshop include:
- What legal arguments can local churches expect to face?
- What have been effective rebuttals?
- Do former Presbyterian Church in the United States churches have an ace in the hole?
- What is the most common evidence to look for in favor of a valid trust?
- How have presbyteries used a church decision to dialogue instead of litigate against that church later on in court?
- What are strategies that keep costs down and strategies that drive costs up, for churches and presbyteries alike?
Other workshops at the Convocation include:
- Discipleship essentials
- Entering the EPC
- New Wineskins for all congregations
- Women in leadership
- New church development
- Ministry networks