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United Methodists to lead 'Pastoral Summit' workshops


From "NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>
Date Mon, 16 Dec 2002 15:20:44 -0600

Dec. 16, 2002	News media contact: Linda Bloom7(212) 870-38037New York
10-71B{575}

Three United Methodist pastors will lead workshops for the 2003 "Pastoral
Summit" conferences on local church excellence.

The conferences will be April 28-30 in San Antonio; June 17-19 in
Indianapolis; and Oct. 6-8 in Boston.  Part of a "lay-inspired national
movement" founded by Paul Wilkes, a writer and Catholic layman, the summit
grew out of a project funded by the Lily Endowment. The purpose is to allow
Protestant and Catholic clergy, laity and staff to share information, or what
Wilkes calls "one-stop shopping" for ideas on church excellence.

In San Antonio, the Rev. Terry Van Hook, pastor of Culver-Palms United
Methodist Church in Culver City, Calif., which offers Taize and meditative
prayer services, will co-lead a workshop on "The Power and Use of Ritual
Actions."

He also is co-leader of a workshop at that event on "Ministry to a
Multicultural Church." The Culver-Palms church has integrated members of more
than 35 ethnic groups into its congregation.

The Rev. Patricia Farris, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Santa
Monica, Calif., will co-lead workshops on "Leaders and Resistance to
Growth/Depth" and "Enflaming New Members" at the San Antonio event.  Farris
will share her experiences in reviving lay involvement in a congregation.

In Indianapolis, the Rev. Bob Long, pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist
Church in Oklahoma City, will serve as co-leader in workshops on "Churches
Respond" and "Creating a Renaissance Church."

Long's downtown congregation was involved in responding to the tragic bombing
of the Murrah Federal Building. But he also will demonstrate how a renewed
interest in the arts has helped transform his congregation.

Van Hook will co-lead the workshop on ritual actions twice during the Boston
gathering.

Other summit workshop leaders include a Trappist monk, the chairman of the
theology department at the University of Notre Dame, an Assemblies of God
pastor, a vice president of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and a man
who is both an ordained Baptist pastor and recorded Friends minister.

Registration information for the 2003 Pastoral Summit is available at
www.pastoralsummit.org or by calling Wilkes at (910) 815-0694.

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United Methodist News Service
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