“Charting New Terrain:
Mapping Ministry in a Changing World”
Phillips Theological Seminary’s annual Remind & Renew event will begin at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 24, and conclude by noon on Friday, Jan 26. For Remind & Renew this year, we will explore the theme, Charting New Terrain: Mapping Ministry in a Changed World. Our musical guest is Carrie Newcomer, songwriter, recording artist, performer, and educator.
The questions we hope to address during the conference include:
- What are the roles of ministry in a post-COVID pandemic, racially reconciling world for leading communities of faith?
- Are these roles expanding from traditional understandings of minister as preacher, teacher, pastor, prophet to organizer, activist, community leader, influencer?
- Do these roles correspond with understandings of the mission of the church and with differing cultural contexts?
Speakers include Dr. Scott L. Thumma, using data from a pre-pandemic Faith Communities Today and five national surveys of churches administered over the past two and a half years, with a presentation that will examine the significant patterns developing in congregational response to changes taking place in patterns of member engagement and involvement, worship gathering dynamics, and attendance. The presentation will explore various ways congregational life is being transformed even as the reality for clergy and churches continues to evolve over time.
In another compelling lecture, Dr. Irie Lynne Session explores the evolving landscape of ministry and leadership. The lecture delves into the critical roles of ministry in guiding communities of faith through unprecedented challenges and opportunities. It addresses the pressing question: What are the roles of ministry in a world fundamentally altered by the COVID-19 pandemic and actively seeking racial reconciliation? Dr. Session examines the expansion of traditional ministerial roles — beyond the preacher, teacher, pastor, and prophet.
The author of Come Again to the Circle: 40 Leaders Imagine the Church beyond COVID, Dr. Bill Kincaid, will share insights from the book and his service as the Herald B. Monroe Professor of Leadership and Ministry Studies at Christian Theological Seminary and as Senior Minister at First Christian Church, Frankfort, Ky. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Kincaid directs First Season Project, which is a transition into ministry initiative that offers peer and mentoring support to new pastors during their first four years of ministry after seminary.
The full in-person event registration fee is $115 and the online registration fee is $75. Registration deadline is Thursday, Jan. 18.