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Bishop Dwayne Royster is keynote for 2018 gathering

‘Breaking Forth’ is theme for 2018 Annual Meeting.

By Peter Ilgenfritz - Board Moderator
Wendy Blight - AM Planning
Conference Minister Mike Denton
Minister of Church Vitality - Courtney Stange-Tregear

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”  Isaiah 55:12

The PNC Board of Directors, Annual Meeting Planning Committee and PNC ministers look forward to gathering with members of the conference at the Annual Meeting of the Pacific Northwest Conference Friday to Sunday, April 27 to 29 at the Yakima Convention Center. 

The theme this year, “Breaking Forth,” celebrates our ministry of building deeper relationships and growing vitality in our churches and communities.

We’ll gather this year at a familiar setting for some of us, but we will break out of some familiar patterns for meeting and carrying out the business of the conference.

We will bring forward some of the unique ways that we gathered at our camps last year and provide more opportunities to connect with new people and address issues using the power we experience in community.  We hope you can come take part! 

We are blessed to have as our guest presenter Bishop Dwayne D. Royster, who has served in pastoral ministry for the past 20 years and is the minister emeritus and founding pastor of Living Water United Church of Christ in Philadelphia. 

He is currently serving as political director for People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO).  PICO believes in building a more just world by teaching people of faith how to build and exercise their own power to address the root causes of the problems they face. 

At the center of PICO’s model of faith-based community organizing is a belief in the potential for transformation—of people, institutions and the larger culture.

As an advocate for preparing congregations for the ministry of availability, Bishop Royster says, “Ministry should not be limited to Sunday mornings. Sunday is a time of worship. Ministry should be done Monday thru Sunday on the bus stops, at the supermarkets, in workplaces, at soccer games—wherever people are.” 

A passionate speaker and preacher, he will share in both dynamic and practical ways.

“We encourage anyone who is interested in forging new relationships, building power and promise in their local church, and transforming institutions to register for this gathering, even if you’re not an official delegate.  It will be time well spent in faithful community,” said Wendy.

Annual Meeting begins at 9 a.m. Friday with a workshop for clergy and lay leaders, ““Hitting the High Mark,” offered by the Committee on Ministry and presented by the Rev. Tara Barber.  The workshop will deal with “marks’ of effective ministry for ordained clergy.

The opening session for delegates is tentatively at 1:30 p.m., Friday, with presentations on directions and priorities for the PNC in the coming year and the proposed budget. Small group networking sessions begins at 3 p.m.  There will be a 5 p.m. reception for members in discernment and new clergy.         

For information, call 425-213-9313 or email blightwk@hotmail.com.

 

Pacific Northwest United Church of Christ News © February-March 2018

 

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