Ask questions about today’s keynote presentation.

Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker
Faith Center

With so many voices vying for our attention over the issues in the Middle East, it can be difficult to understand what is happening, why it's happening, and what we can do about it. 

In this workshop, we will briefly explore the history of the Holy Land before and after Zionism, learn how that impacts global politics, and we will hear stories of current daily life in the place that birthed our faith. 

This workshop will also include several concrete ways you can talk about the situation in the Holy Land with others as well as numerous resources to expand your own understanding. 

(Pastor Naomi is a member of US Lutheran Palestine Israel Justice Network (US-LPIJN), has been to the Holy Land 7+ times, cultivated close relationships with Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and in the State of Israel, and continued to keep up to date with the current situation in the Middle East.)

Pastor Naomi Carriker
Upper Kohnjoy

Have you seen the new compensation guidelines? Have you struggled with presenting even the current guidelines? Do you wonder how to advocate for yourself? (Hint: If you don’t advocate for yourself in one way or another, it is unlikely that anyone else will!)

This workshop seeks to equip you with the tools and confidence to discuss your compensation transparently and without discomfort. Many clergy feel a deep-seated “ick” when it comes to talking about money, often viewing it as antithetical to their spiritual calling. This workshop challenges that narrative, reframing compensation not as a personal gain but as a matter of professional respect, sustainability, and healthy stewardship of the church’s resources.

Participants will engage in a discussion to learn how to articulate their needs, understand the value of their role, and approach conversations with leadership committees from a place of clarity and professionalism. We will explore common anxieties and offer ideas for navigating difficult questions. The goal is to empower clergy to advocate for themselves and their families, ensuring their financial well-being is cared for so they can focus on their vital ministry, ultimately benefiting the congregation and the surrounding community. This workshop moves beyond the guilt, fostering an environment where clergy can talk about their worth with dignity and grace.

Pastor Sean Barrett
Lower Kohnjoy

Learn more about music with our convo musician!

John Jahr
Chapel

Make the most of your sabbatical while still finding time for real rest. This session will focus on what opportunities and funding sources are available, and how to balance all the possibilities that come with a time away. We will also explore how to find sabbath while also parenting.

Pastor Paul Wolner and Pastor Paul Carlson
Lower Efird

There is a lot of demand on preachers to be great without going long and prophetic without being too political. We sometimes struggle to be scholarly yet practical, spiritual and orthodox, and to somehow preach to a room of people who span a century of generations. Moreover, in a digital age, we compete with cathedral organs and heavenly mega-choirs on YouTube.  And now we're supposed to know how to use AI. 

Yet, by the grace of God, our warm, vulnerable sermons still whisper beauty and truth beyond even those we know. Sometimes our seeds of hope are shared via social media far beyond the confines of our pulpit. We make a difference because we are counter-cultural in the best of ways, speaking of a God who loves unconditionally at a moment when people feel more unseen than ever. We are the resistance, and we should be ready for this moment.

I offer this workshop to strengthen our preaching and help you write better sermons faster. Quicken your pace, speak with conviction, and create intentional sound bites. Use alliteration, repetition, and callbacks. Use ChatGPT for research and then as an editor to make your sermon clearer. Tell better stories faster. Preaching is how storytellers like Jesus, Luther, and Dr. King amplified their voices and changed the world. It's your turn to pick up the mic.  

Pastor Daniel Pugh
Mission Hall