Three United Methodist pastors will lead a workshop in April 28-30 in San Antonio, June 17-19 in Indianapolis, and October 6-8 in Boston for the 2003 “Pastoral Summit” on local church excellence.
The conference was part of a "lay-inspired national movement" founded by Paul Wilkes, a writer and Catholic layman. The purpose is to allow Protestant and Catholic clergy, laity and staff to share information for ideas on church excellence.
Rev. Van Hook, pastor of Culver-Palms United Methodist Church in Culver City, California will co-lead a workshop on “The Power and Use of Ritual Actions” and “Ministry to a Multicultural Church.” Also, he will co-lead the workshop on ritual actions twice during the Boston gathering.
Rev. Patricia Farris, pastor for the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica, California, will co-lead the workshop on “Leaders and Resistance to Growth/Depth” and “Enflaming New Members” in San Antonio.
Rev Bob Long, pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, will co-lead the workshop on “Churches Respond” and “Creating a Renaissance Church” in Indianapolis.
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.
By Tony C.
