BUILDING RETIREMENT SAVINGS AND TAX-EXEMPT HOUSING EXPENSE WITHDRAWAL
Organization: EPC Benefit Resources, Inc.
Host: Bart Francescone
Location: Room 423
Join BRI’s Executive Director for an informational session about the EPC’s 403(b)(9) Retirement Plan, and the investment counseling and retirement planning resources available to help you build your retirement savings and guard against losses. Did you know that ordained EPC ministers can withdraw funds to cover housing expenses on a tax-exempt basis? Come and find out how.
CHRISTIANS NEED TO BE EVANGELIZED, TOO
Organization: Westminster Society
Host: Cameron Shaffer
Location: Room 113
Cameron Shaffer serves as Pastor of Langhorne Presbyterian Church in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and is a member of the EPC’s Theology Committee.
CHURCH PLANTERS AND FRIENDS
Organization: EPC Church Planting Team
Host: Rodger Woodworth
Location: Room 413
Our National Church Planting Team has made church planting in under-served and under-resourced areas one of our highest priorities. Our speaker is Rodger Woodworth, founding pastor of two interracial EPC churches, an adjunct seminary professor, and the Director of Cross-Cultural Ministries for the Coalition for Christian Outreach. Roger also is author of Playing Favorites: Overcoming our Prejudices to Bridge the Cultural Divide.
Whether you are a church planter, interested in church planting for your church, or just want to know more about how your church can bridge the cultural divide, we welcome you. Copies of Rodger’s book will be given to the first 50 participants!
DEVELOPING SIX KEY RELATIONSHIPS TO AVOID BURNOUT
Organization: PastorServe
Hosts: Jay Fowler, Clark Tanner
Location: Room 419
The majority of pastors are not truly known—by anyone. They subconsciously isolate themselves from both staff and congregation. Join us as we uncover six relationships that can move a pastor from surviving to thriving.
Jay Fowler serves as Midwest Executive Director for PastorServe. Clark Tanner is PastorServe’s Northwest Executive Director.
EMPOWERING LEADERS TO SPARK DISCIPLE-MAKING MOVEMENTS
Organization: The Antioch Room
Host: Marcos Ortega
Location: Chapel Suite 3 (Room 317/319)
This year, The Antioch Room presents a panel discussion called “Empowering Leaders to Spark Disciple-Making Movements” featuring EPC church planters from four different cities. Those who attend this networking lunch will learn why disciple-making is central to church planting, reflect on successful strategies and hard lessons learned, and be encouraged to implement these strategies in their own ministry contexts.
The Antioch Room is a fellowship group for people of color within the EPC. Our goal is to help people of color develop a network within the EPC to develop relationships, encourage one another, share experiences and insights, and spur one another on to faithful Kingdom ministry. While The Antioch Room exists for the encouragement of people of color, all people are welcome to this networking lunch.
Marcos Ortega serves as Lead Pastor of Goodwill Church‘s Beacon (New York) campus.
GUARDING YOUR SOUL WHILE CARING FOR THE SOULS OF OTHERS
Organization: EPC Chaplaincy Ministries
Host: Jan McCormack
Location: Room 105
Ministry demands that we sit in the pain with others as they live in some of their darkest “valleys of the shadow.” This session will help us explore how to enter into the spiritual and emotional needs of others while guarding our hearts and soul from being overly enmeshed or disengaged from our care-recipients.
Jan McCormack serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Programs at Denver Seminary. She is a retired Air Force chaplain with 22 years of experience in military chaplaincy.
OFFERING GRACE AND TRUTH: THE TRANSGENDER EXPERIENCE
Organization: Where Grace Abounds
Host: Scott Kingry
Location: Room 350
Who is under the transgender umbrella? When did biological sex and gender become separate identities? What does pastoral care look like for a family in the midst of these questions? This luncheon will offer participants information and resources for understanding the transgender experience through discussion and the provision of reference lists.
Scott Kingry serves as Program Director for Where Grace Abounds, a Colorado-based ministry designed to guide and support men and women who seek to understand sexuality and relationship, and to inspire all people to know and personally appropriate God’s plan for their sexuality and relationships.
STRENGTHENING OUR LEADERSHIP RELATIONSHIPS
Organization: PIR Ministries
Host: Roy Yanke
Location: Room 401/403
Based on the premise that strong leadership relationships cultivate a culture of ministry health, this Network Lunch is designed for both Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders. It is targeted to identify the signs of a growing culture of ministry health, and to address how we, as pastors and elders, can share in cultivating that culture. We will identify to the 2 Key Principles that are foundational to leadership relationships and the 5 Critical Features that need to be present if our ministry culture is meant to flourish.
Roy Yanke is Executive Director of Pastor-in-Residence (PIR) Ministries in Farmington Hills, Michigan, an endorsed pastoral care resource of the EPC Ministerial Vocation Committee.
THE EVANGELISTIC CHALLENGE TO THE PRO-LIFE CHURCH
Organization: Presbyterians Protecting Life
Host: Dr. Patricia Lee June, MD
Location: Room 407
Can you confidently navigate pro-life issues yourself and steadily equip your congregation to do the same? Remember that our work for the pre-born is a work of evangelism—a way of spreading the Good News to those in crisis, those who have forgotten or have never heard, and those who might never hear if they remain unborn. There are so many ways to reach people caught in the web of abortion. There is a way that God has prepared for you to not just believe in the pro-life cause, but to act in the prolife cause at such a time as this. Let’s talk about the ways your congregation can prepare to step up its witness for life.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECHARGE A CHURCH DURING A PASTORAL TRANSITION
Organization: Church Health Team
Host: Bob Stauffer
Location: Room 405
For most congregations, the prospects of a pastoral transition of any sort causes uncertainty, panic, and a great urgency to call the next pastor as soon as possible. These normal responses can lead to unhealthy actions. There is a better way—Transitional Pastoral Ministry. Join the EPC Church Health Team for an overview of Transitional Pastoral Ministry, how it can provide for stable and consistent ministry during times of pastoral transition, and also provide tools for recharging the vitality of a congregation, ministry leadership, and the eventual calling of the next pastor. This gathering will be particularly helpful for Ruling Elders and Presbytery Ministerial Committee members.
Bob Stauffer serves the EPC’s National Director of Church Health. A member of the EPC’s first ordination class in 1982, Stauffer has served in a wide variety of roles in the local church, Presbytery, and national levels of the denomination in his 40 years of ministry.
WOMEN’S CONNECTION LUNCH
Organization: Ward Church Women’s Ministry
Host: Rachel White
Location: Room 409
Come and join Rachel to connect with other women in leadership for a time of connection and encouragement. Women of all ages and stages are welcome!
Rachel White serves as LifeGroups Pastor for Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Washington.
WORLD OUTREACH MASTER PLAN
Organization: EPC World Outreach
Host: Gabriel de Guia
Location: Chapel Suites 1-2 (Room 307/309)
Join us and hear about the revised Master Plan for EPC World Outreach that outlines our mission, values, and priorities.
Gabriel de Guia serves as Executive Director of EPC World Outreach.