In a culture of outrage, it is often difficult to take the time to listen and have healthy conversations. In our congregations, it can be easier to avoid conversations that are potentially difficult than to minister within the tension and brokenness that our people live in. Come join us as we learn how to engage faithfully and reclaim conversations on sexuality, race, gender, mental health, and more.
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19–20).
When & Where
Boyne Falls
October 6, 2019 @ 5:00 pm - October 8, 2019 @ 10:00 pm
Boyne Mountain Resort1 Boyne Mountain Rd
Boyne Falls, MI, 49713
Presenters
Keynote Speaker
Rev. Dr. John A. Nunes
Dr. John Arthur Nunes has served as Concordia College New York’s ninth president since 2016. Under his leadership, the college has continued its notable growth to record enrollment. Dr. Nunes came to Concordia College from Valparaiso University, where he held the Jochum Chair, a university professorship supporting the study of Christian values in public and professional life. He had previously served as pastor to inner-city churches in Buffalo, NY; Detroit, Mich.; Dallas, Texas; taught at Concordia University Chicago, and was the President and CEO of Lutheran World Relief. He holds a B.A. from Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich.; an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; and both M.Th. and Ph.D. from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He is married to Monique Nunes, and they are the parents of six grown children and an expanding entourage of grandchildren.
Keynote Speaker
Rev. A. Trevor Sutton
Rev. A. Trevor Sutton is associate pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Meridian Township and Lansing, Mich. He is currently a Ph.D. student at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. Sutton has an M.A. (Digital Rhetoric) from Michigan State University, M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, and a B.A. from Concordia University Ann Arbor. He writes for The Gospel Coalition, Sightings, Faith & Leadership, Outreach Magazine, The Conversation, and other publications. His most recent books include Clearly Christian: Following Jesus in this Age of Confusion (CPH, 2018) and Authentic Christianity: How Lutheran Theology Speaks to a Post-Modern World (co-authored with Gene Veith Jr., CPH, 2017). Sutton lives in Okemos, Mich., with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two daughters. You can follow him on Twitter (@atrevorsutton).
Keynote Speaker
Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Chitwood
Rev. Ken Chitwood is a religion scholar, writer, and pastor. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Florida, where he worked with the Department of Religion and the Center for Global Islamic Studies. His academic work focuses on Muslims in the Americas, American religion, religion and culture, Christian-Muslim relations, and ethnographic methods and manifestations of religion-beyond-religion in a global and digital age. Ken is also an award-winning religion, travel, and culture newswriter. As a Lutheran pastor who accents “glocal” 21st-century Christianity, Ken is interested in the contextualization of doctrines and practices across religious boundaries, physical borders, and cultural barriers. Ken has served in parish ministry in California, New Zealand, South Africa, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. He is currently working as a journalist-fellow with the University of Southern California’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture and resides in Berlin, Germany with his wife Paula Rötscher.
Breakout Speaker
Rev. Christopher R. Bodley
Rev. Christopher Bodley is the Michigan District’s Missionary at Large for Acts 2 Enterprise (A2E), a gospel-centered holistic outreach to the urban context. Bodley is also the lead pastor at Bethany Lutheran on the East Side of Detroit. In his role as A2E Director, he facilitates cutting-edge kingdom strategies including computer literacy classes, soft skills training, expungement fairs, partnerships for marketplace ministry, cultural competency, technology training for local churches, and city-wide sports camps in Detroit and other Michigan cities. He has been in ministry for 27 years, having also served as pastor to two multiethnic congregations in Florida and as a military chaplain in the U.S. Navy for 12 years. He and his wife Shikina have 5 sons.
Breakout Speaker
Rev. William (Billy) A. Brath
Rev. Billy Brath serves the church as the Vice-President of Ministry Support – East Region for the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF). He finds joy working with churches, organizations, and leaders to develop and produce ministries that effectively reach the culture today. He has a B.A. in secular religious studies, worked as an entertainer and dancer in Orlando, Fla., received his M.Div. from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, served as pastor and urban Missionary at Trinity Downtown Orlando, planted the campus congregation at the University of Central Florida, LiveUCF, and has worked with district and national church organizations including Lutheran Hour Ministries and NYG. As a devoted Orlandonian, Billy continues to be Pastor to his neighbors and sees it as his primary call.
Breakout Speaker
Mrs. Gretchen Jameson
Gretchen Jameson serves as Sr. Vice-President for Strategy and University Affairs at Concordia University (Wisconsin and Ann Arbor, Mich.), where she leads internal and external stakeholders to accomplish the University vision. Following five years as a high school educator, Gretchen spent eight years at the national level of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. There and through her work with high-profile nonprofit clients at her start-up consultancy, purePR, Gretchen earned a strong reputation for her insight and leadership in the areas of brand development, communications, and organizational culture. A much-sought-after speaker, Gretchen frequently keynotes on the topics of brand identity, strategy, and organizational change. She holds a B.S. Ed. from Concordia University Nebraska; M.A. in Public Relations from Webster University; and is currently a doctoral student in the Organizational Change and Leadership program at the University of Southern California. Connect with her at: twitter.com/gmjameson; www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenjameson.
Breakout Speaker
Rev. Dr. Leopoldo A. Sánchez
Rev. Dr. Leopoldo A. Sánchez M. is the Werner R. H. and Elizabeth R. Krause Professor of Hispanic Ministries at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo (CSL). A faculty member since 2004, he is professor of Systematic Theology and director of the Seminary’s Center for Hispanic Studies. He received his Ph.D. from CSL in 2003 and his M.Div. from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Ind. in 1999. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia University Wisconsin (1995). His primary research interests are in pneumatology (Holy Spirit), Spirit Christology, sanctification, issues in Hispanic ministries (especially immigration and the intersection of theology and culture) and Trinitarian theology.
Breakout Speaker
Dr. Daniel R. van Voorhis
Dr. Daniel van Voorhis has been a professor of history and political science for over 10 years, having most recently served as the assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences at Concordia University, Irvine, Calif. Dr. van Voorhis can be found acting as the Dean of the 1517 Academy, hosting the daily podcast The Christian History Almanac, producing The Soul of Christianity, and writing weekly at 1517.org. He is a nationally sought-out speaker, the author of two books and of numerous articles in journals, magazines, and online. Dr. van Voorhis worked in broadcast radio and television before taking his B.A. in Theology and earning his Ph.D. at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. He practices yoga, loves all music, and follows the Rams, Angels, and Clippers with fanatic zeal. He and his wife, Beth Anne, have two sons.
Registration
Online Registration is now closed.
If Pastors/Deacons/Emeriti still need to register please contact Debbie Hughes at 734.665.3791 ext 234.
Please note: the cost for everyone is now $200.
Conference Lodging:
Boyne Mountain Resort | 1 Boyne Mountain Rd | Boyne Falls, MI
For room reservations, call Central Reservations at 800.462.6963 and ask for the MI District LCMS Pastors' Conference rate or visit www.boynemountain.com to make your reservation online.
Note: District makes Emeriti lodging reservations through September 9, 2019 after which they are responsible for securing lodging at full price.
Deadline to register is September 9, 2019. Lodging will be first come first serve.
Conference Costs:
Pastors & Wives: $200/person (lunch and dinner included in conference fee)
- Breakfast $20/person/day
- Lodging not included. Please contact Boyne Mountain Resort for room reservations.
Emeriti & Wives: $200/person (lunch and dinner included in conference fee)
- Breakfast $10/person/day
- Lodging 50% off through September 9, 2019.
- Note: District makes Emeriti lodging reservations through September 9, 2019.
Deadline is September 9, 2019 after which conference price goes up to $200/person for ALL attendees.
Compassion Ministry
The 2019 All Pastors’ Conference will support the Boyne Area Free Clinic with an ingathering of items commonly used in a clinic setting such as: Lysol wipes, Kleenex, paper towels, band aids, ACE wraps, cotton balls, non sterile gloves, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, hand soap etc. as well as monetarily with their worship offering.
Additional Information
Anniversary Honorees
For a list of this year’s honorees click here.
Goals & Objectives
The goal of the 2019 All Pastors’ Conference is to equip pastors to have difficult but necessary conversations in the midst of the communities they serve. The conference will do this by raising awareness of critical conversations, creating opportunities for pastors to ask questions and have conversations, and sharing resources with pastors so that they can continue conversations in their own congregations.
It is also key that speakers, pastors, and leaders of the conference set a tone and model what it looks like to have these conversations in a way that honors people.
1) Equip pastors to have difficult conversations in their communities;
2) Raise awareness of critical conversations;
3) Create opportunities for pastors to ask questions and have conversations;
4) Give pastors resources to continue conversations in their own congregations.