wfn.org | Conference will focus on change as a key to church redevelopment

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Note #6308 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

14-December-2000
00452

Conference will focus on change as a key to church redevelopment

Jacob cited as a model of the transforming power of struggle

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE -- It's a difficult and thankless task: helping struggling
congregations face the fact that a willingness to change is essential if
they are to be transformed into thriving, spirit-filled houses of worship.

	But the planners of next month's fifth Churchwide Redevelopment Conference
of the Presbyterian Church (USA) aren't shrinking from their prophetic task.
They're challenging church officials to embrace only the best of the past
while envisioning their congregations' futures.

	One conference planner likened redeveloping churches to Jacob, who, by
surviving a fearsome wrestling match with God, gained new strength and faith
and a new identity.

	"The idea is that through God's power, people and congregations can be
transformed," said the Rev. Steve Boots, the PC(USA)'s associate for
congregational redevelopment. "Jacob emerges from that struggle aware of
God's grace, and accepts a new name and is transformed into a new future."

	The upcoming conference, titled "Transformation" (Genesis 32: 22-31), will
be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Miami, FL,  Jan. 14-17. Participants
will be schooled in the dynamics of redeveloping congregations and the
interests, skills and styles that best serve the pastors and members of such
congregations.

	The conference is for church members, pastors and presbytery committee
members involved in redevelopment ministries in rural, urban, and suburban
congregations. It is co-sponsored by the Churchwide Redevelopment Training
Network and the Evangelism and Church Development program area.

	"It is a wrestling job that we do in terms of (dealing with) issues that
relate to change and transformations that sometimes are painful and
sometimes joyful," Boots said. "But it's the kind of thing that we have to
do. We have to wrestle with those."

	Participants will choose from 49 workshops conducted by leaders of
innovative churches and PC(USA) staff members, and will visit redevelopment
churches in the Miami area. About 500 people are expected; more than 260
already have registered.

	Participants will hear from four keynote speakers and chose among workshops
ranging from "Basics of Redevelopment" to "From Conflict to Resolution" to
"Advertising Your Church."

	The keynote speakers are Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., a theologian, pastor and
author; Dale Lindsay Morgan, pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in
Santa Barbara, CA; and two representatives of First Presbyterian Church in
Dumas, TX, a model redevelopment -- Ana Lugo, a parish associate, and the
Rev. Vince Kolb, pastor.

	The worship coordinator for the conference is Raymond Anglin, pastor of
Ascension Peace Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, a merged church
with an integrated congregation of African-American, Afro-Carribean and
Anglo members.

	The registration deadline is Dec. 29; after that, reservations will still
be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information,
call Debra Lanham, (502) 569-5242, or Jessica Pugh, (502) 569-5087, or visit
the conference Web site at www.churchredevelopment.net

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