Abilene Christian University • 113th Annual September 15-18, 2019 • acu.edu/summit
“The Psalms give us words for the deepest, darkest nights of our lives – when the bottom drops out, when the pain seems too much to bear. Second, they tell us that God is big enough for everything we’ve got – our pain, our anger, our questions, our doubts. They even suggest that genuine biblical faith is comfortable challenging God. And that God is present with us precisely when it feels like God isn’t there.” – ROLF JACOBSON
Professor of Old Testament and Alvin N. Rogness Chair in Scripture, Theology and Ministry at Luther Seminary
W
e are pleased to invite you Sept. 15-18 to Abilene Christian University’s 113th annual Summit and its theme, Sorrow, Hope and Joy: Life in the Mountains and Valleys of the Psalms.
Since its modest beginnings in 1906, Summit has been devoted to providing programs and experiences fostering spiritual formation and renewal among students, faculty, staff and congregational leaders. The ways in which we carry out this divine mission have grown through the years. Summit 2019 will feature full-day and half-day pathways (tracks) on a variety of topics for church leaders and other Christ-followers.
David Wray Director
As we continue to involve students, alumni and participants from diverse areas of study, we are excited to collaborate across campus to bring relevant and interesting programming. This year we are partnering with ACU’s Center for the Study of Ancient Religious Texts, the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, and the School of Social Work to offer pathways relevant to people learning and serving in these areas. Theme speakers will guide our hearts and minds to examine ways in which themes from the Psalter can lead us to understand the timeless message and transitional nature of sorrow, hope and joy. A combined chorus composed of the university’s A Cappella Chorus and ACU Alumni Chorus will lead us in a stirring hour of worship Sunday evening, followed by a keynote session with Mike Cope. In addition, we are honored to welcome Mo Isom, Beverly Ross, Shane Wood and Steven Moore as theme presenters throughout the remainder of Summit.
Leah Andrews Assistant Director
Blessing upon blessing awaits all of us as we celebrate our heritage, praise God for the present and look with hope to the future. With great expectations we look forward to welcoming you to Abilene for a Summit of spiritual renewal and formation.
(from left) Keith Clark, Stephanie Hamm, Nathan Burrow, Judy Siburt, David Wray, Leah Andrews and Roland Orr. Not Pictured: Darryl Tippens, Sarah Sells and Sarah Ross
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PATHWAYS
S
ummit now makes its class offerings in pathways: full-day concentrated series of sessions on a specific topic. Think of Summit pathways as mini-conferences within a larger one. Choose specific areas of interest and spend an entire day immersed in that subject matter under the guidance of authorities in each field, or mix and match sessions as you wish. In this way, pathways will assist you in selecting and attending presentations about ministry, missions and/or biblical studies. Our 21 pathways this year will feature nine concentrated all-day mini-conferences on Monday and eight on Tuesday. Wednesday morning will highlight four half-day pathways. This approach allows participants access to more than 90 class sessions, but with more accessibility than in the past, particularly for those who may find it difficult to devote a full three days to the event. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to explore this booklet and pray that God will lead you to the best pathways for you as you join us for Summit 2019.
MONDAY PATHWAYS
Comfort When the Shadow Falls
The Psalms in the Church’s Worship
A Third Way for Churches of Christ
Racial Unity and Justice
Beyond Red and Blue
Faithful and Fractured
Bringing the Generations Back Together
Faith and the Future of Work
Living Out the Gospel in a Secular Age
Faith Among Emerging Adults
Churches: It’s OK to Be Small
Social Justice: What is Home?
Discipleship in a Multicultural Society
Innovative Leadership
We Are Psalm 151
Spirit Shake-Up
A Hope and a Future for Churches of Christ
Growing Young
Biblical Storytelling
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WEDNESDAY PATHWAYS
Enneagram Next Steps
Discover the Enneagram
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TUESDAY PATHWAYS
THEME SPEAKERS
A
bilene Christian University’s 2019 Summit is designed to remind how the spiritual foundation of praying, singing and meditation helps contemporary disciples flourish during times of despair, hope and joy. In the Psalms we encounter words, music and emotions for private and communal worship times. Although sometimes neglected in the 21st century, the Psalter supplies power to transform lives by bringing God’s kindness and mercy into our world. Just as the Psalms were the hymn book for Jesus and his followers, at Summit 2019 we will examine the many ways in which they provide a steady, sustained foundation for healthy Christian living today.
MY LIFE WITH THE PSALMS Sunday • 6:20 p.m. at University Church of Christ Speaker: Mike Cope The Psalms provide us with the hymnbook of the Bible and assist Christians today when in the peaks and valleys of everyday life, with expressions of deep emotions such as sorrow, hope and joy. Like the psalmist, we can become encouraged and empowered to express all the emotions life brings our way.
WRECK MY LIFE: JOURNEYING FROM BROKEN TO BOLD Monday • 11 a.m. in Cullen Auditorium Speaker: Mo Isom Brokenness is the place where God meets us most often, where we acknowledge that each of us walks with a limp. The real heartbeat of ministry is courageously communicating our brokenness to him while authentically and compassionately sharing life, grace and hope with others.
FROM THE DEPTHS I CRY OUT! (PSALM 71) Monday • 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum Speaker: Beverly Ross Since the untimely death of her daughter and because of her own recent battle with a serious illness, hope has become the intentional concentration of Beverly’s life and professional counseling ministry. Reflecting on Psalms 71, we are challenged to come boldly before God, expressing the depths of our pain and our hope with full confidence he not only hears our despair and prayers, but acts on our behalf.
HOPE FOR THE SORROWFUL Tuesday • 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum Speaker: Shane Wood Life isn’t lived under Eden’s tree of life or beneath the healing leaves of the tree in the new Jerusalem. It is lived between them. Life is often hard. In spite of this reality, Shane will challenge us to embrace hope, love and the beauty of reconciliation provided freely by God. There is indeed hope for the sorrowful.
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE (PSALM 98) Wednesday • 11 a.m. in Moody Coliseum Speaker: Steven Moore Who better to fill our hearts and minds with the “enthronement Psalms” than Steven? Just as early God-fearers used enthronement Psalms to celebrate God as King, today we make a joyful noise unto the Lord because he reigns. Joy instinctively pours out in worship to him.
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TRIBUTE TO CARL BRECHEEN rom the first day I attended his undergraduate ministry class, I knew Carl Brecheen was an exceptional teacher. His integration of theory and practice, and his approach to practical theology were foundational in his teachings. He had a deep impact on my life, helping shape me as a minister, university professor, administrator and Summit director. In 1966, in addition to his full-time teaching, Carl assumed the responsibility for planning and leading ACU’s Bible Teachers Workshop. During his almost 30 years in that role, he invited hundreds of exceptional Bible class teachers from many congregations to the campus where they shared important ways to study God and effective methodologies with thousands of attendees. In 1970, I was amazed when he also added directing the annual Bible Lectureship (now known as Summit) to his responsibilities. He led our annual event for nearly 25 years, with his brilliant leadership in the classroom and at these conferences earning him the well-deserved nickname of “Mr. Organization.” In 1974, he joined fellow ACU Bible professor Paul Faulkner in teaching Marriage Enrichment Seminars. For the next 32 years, Carl and Paul took their three-day workshops to more than 90,000 couples in 33 states and seven nations. He excelled in that ministry while still effectively leading the conferences here at home. Summit stands on the shoulders of this spiritual giant whose vision and leadership are foundational to this year’s conference. It is with deep affection and love that we honor him as a leader extraordinaire, a man of God with the heart of a servant who shared his gifts and his love freely to all who came our way. – David Wray 2019 Summit Director
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OPENING NIGHT Summit 2019 begins with an evening of worship. Mike Cope and Randy Gill will lead off our week on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 6:20 p.m. at the University Church of Christ. We will be led in worship by Randy Gill and then Mike will explore “My Life With the Psalms,” focused on the Psalms as the hymnbook of the Bible. This service begins with a joint concert featuring the university’s A Cappella Chorus and ACU Alumni Chorus. It’s a lovely way to begin, with hundreds of voices representing Christians from three generations, joining with us in worship to our God and creator. We believe this time of thanksgiving and praise will be a wonderful beginning to this week of learning and seeking together. Mike Cope Randy Gill
A Cappella Chorus
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SUMMIT FILM FESTIVAL
This year Summit again presents a selection of quality feature films and documentaries to inform and inspire Christians:
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? Documentary • Sunday, Sept. 15 2:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium For more than 30 years, the late Fred Rogers, an unassuming minister, puppeteer, writer and producer, was beamed daily into homes across America. In his beloved TV program, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Rogers and his cast of puppets and friends spoke directly to young children about some of life’s weightiest issues in a simple, direct fashion. Rogers was and still is an original. Though he may be best known today as a soft-spoken, cardigan-wearing children’s TV host, in reality, Rogers’ career represents a sustained attempt to present a coherent, beneficent view about how we should best speak to children about important matters and how TV could be used as a positive force in our society. In Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (Twenty Feet From Stardom) looks back on the legacy of Rogers while focusing on his radically kind ideas. While the nation changed around him, Rogers stood firm in his beliefs about the importance of protecting childhood. Neville pays tribute to this legacy with the latest in his series of highly engaging, moving documentary portraits of essential American artists.
FINDING HOME IN BOOMTOWN Documentary • Monday, Sept. 16 6:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium Sponsored by the Department of Social Work, a screening of this film by 2007 ACU graduate Matt Maxwell will be followed by a panel discussion including the filmmaker. “When the Lord calls you to do something, you don’t say no,” says John-Mark Echols, packing up his young family’s 2,600-square-foot home in boomtown Midland, Texas, to move into a 35-square-foot travel trailer. Their voluntary tumble into poverty, which is fueled by humanity, is chronicled in this film. After years of volunteer work with the homeless in Midland, where shale drilling has
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turned the Permian Basin into America’s hottest oilfield, Echols and his wife sell their home – and abandon their sixfigure income – to create The Field’s Edge, a permanent, supportive tiny-home community for 100-plus chronically homeless residents. Two years in, the project, with 100 homes, counseling, on-site mental and physical health care and varying job opportunities, is becoming a reality. Its motto: “To rebuild dignity through relationships.”
TRE MAISON DASAN Documentary • Tuesday, Sept. 17 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. in Cullen Auditorium A documentary film focusing on viewing adults in prison through the eyes of their children. Three boys: Tre Janson, 13, Maison Teixeira, 11, and Dasan Lopes, 6, visit with their parents who are incarcerated at Rhode Island facilities where families can only spend two hours together each week in an assigned space. The documentary focuses on adults in prison as viewed through the eyes of their children. It also spends time with the three boys, observing their coping mechanisms and behavior.
THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND Drama • Tuesday, Sept. 17 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. in BSB 114 William Kamkuamb was born in the African nation of Malawi. When he was 14 years old, a terrible drought hit his village. Being an excellent student and fond of physics, Kamkuamb decides to search the library for science books and solutions to the potentially catastrophic dilemma facing his neighbors. Unable to read English, however, he begins to study photos and Latin symbols, discovering an idea along the way that helps save people in his small community from starvation.
WACU Famous Pie Sale
One day only! Sunday, Sept. 15 • 3-10 p.m. ACU Museum (Corner of East North 16th Street and Campus Court) Stop by for homemade pie and other goodies while helping build the Women for ACU Endowed Scholarship Fund, which has been supporting Abilene Christian University students for 50 years.
SEX, JESUS AND THE CONVERSATIONS THE CHURCH FORGOT MO ISOM Sunday, September 15 • 8-9:30 p.m. • Cullen Auditorium, free admission Mo Isom is the New York Times best-selling author of Wreck My Life: Journeying From Broken to Bold and the author of Sex, Jesus and the Conversations the Church Forgot. She also is a nationally soughtafter speaker, a popular faith-based blogger, a former All-American soccer goalkeeper and the first woman to have trained with and tried out for an SEC football team. Isom is widely recognized as a powerful female voice rising up for her generation, as her unique personal story and athletic endeavors have provided her with a platform to challenge, encourage and equip others to live boldly, despite their circumstances. Having faced great personal tragedy – including battling an eating disorder, overcoming the suicide of her father, and surviving a horrific car accident – she is passionate about speaking on a
variety of topics and is able to connect with men and women of all ages and demographics. Summit is honored to welcome her to speak to students on Sunday and again on Monday during the Chapel hour. She speaks to an area of struggle for so many young people today. They’ve heard the purity talks, heard that porn is bad, heard they should just wait for the right person to come along. They’ve heard all of the prescriptions. It’s time to cut the clichés and the purity rings, and give them the truth. Mo has been there, and she’s equipped to have real conversations about it. Though her message is directed at university students, anyone will benefit from the life-giving words she speaks. Join us Sunday evening in Cullen Auditorium.
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M O N DAY A N D T U E S DAY
ENNEAGRAM SERIES
Sargent
Reed
If you loved our Enneagram pathway last year, we have a three-part exploration at Summit 2019! Chelsie Sargent and Carson Reed will be sharing more about what the Enneagram is and how to use it. This pathway series will commence with an introduction to the Enneagram on Monday, Sept. 16. On Monday night, attend an Enneagram panel discussion in which all nine types will explain the gifts and challenges of their types in work, relationships and spiritual growth. The Enneagram pathway will continue on Tuesday, when Sargent and Reed will provide more in-depth information about how knowing your number can help you grow as a person (special ticketed event to reserve seating).
Monday DISCOVER THE ENNEAGRAM
Monday ENNE-BODY ELSE LIKE ME?
9 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., BSB 100 (Hart Auditorium)
6:30-9 p.m., BSB 100 (Hart Auditorium)
The Enneagram (any-uh-gram) is a personality typing system that helps us understand who we are and what motivates us. It identifies nine ways of seeing and experiencing the world and describes with amazing accuracy how we think, feel and act. It not only helps us understand ourselves but gives us compassion for other people in our lives. It identifies our core struggles and sins that keep us trapped and helps us get out of our own way so we can grow into the person God created us to be. The Enneagram itself doesn’t change us, but it helps us see who we truly are and gives us clear steps for transformation, to be more like Jesus.
One of the best ways to learn about the Enneagram is to hear from the types themselves. Join us on Monday night for a panel discussion with all nine types represented. We will discuss the gifts and challenges of each type in work, relationships and spiritual growth. There will also be time for a Q&A with the audience. This will be an evening of sharing and learning that you won’t want to miss!
Tuesday ENNEAGRAM NEXT STEPS 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., BSB 129 Knowing your number is just the beginning. This class is for people who are looking for what’s next. With more in-depth and practical information, we will discuss specific growth paths for each number. This will include understanding levels of health within your type, achieving balance with your centers of intelligence (Thinking, Feeling and Doing), and how to best use your stress and security arrows. The Tuesday session is a ticketed event. Please visit acu.edu/summit.
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M O N D A Y PA T H W A Y
GROWING YOUNG Jake Mulder UNLEASHING THE PASSION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH IS POSSIBLE! 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 115 Based on groundbreaking research with more than 250 of the nation’s leading congregations, Growing Young provides a strategy any church can use to involve and retain teenagers and young adults. Co-author Mulder shows ministry leaders how to engage younger generations in a way that breathes vitality, life and energy into the whole church.
Jake Mulder SIX CORE COMMITMENTS OF CHURCHES THAT GROW YOUNG 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 115 What does it take to “grow young” as a church? In their expansive study, Fuller Youth Institute identified six core commitments churches who grow young have in common. Mulder will share these commitments as a descriptive way of imagining a future in which young people are full participants of the faith community.
David Sessions THE PSALMS, EMPATHY AND YOUNG PEOPLE
of churches’ dialogue far beyond young people.
Nicole Brown LESSONS LEARNED FROM GROWING YOUNG IN WEST TEXAS 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 117 Investing your time to develop volunteers allows them to experience your excitement for growing young together with you, the youth, and the church family. Join Brown to explore what it looks like to develop a dedicated, passionate community of leaders among not only the adults serving in your ministry, but the students who are part of it.
Tquan Moore LEADING A CHURCH THROUGH GROWING YOUNG Successes and Failures 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 117
Leading a church through the Growing Young method is more than trying new strategies for developing ongoing significant growth. At its core, it’s about changing church culture. Together we will explore lessons learned from successes and failures.
PATHWAY GUIDE
David Sessions For more than 30 years, traditional models of youth ministry have leaned toward tendencies that fail to consistently invite young people to lifelong service in the body of Christ. Recently, the Fuller Youth Institute researched congregations that have discovered effective ways for inviting young people to enthusiastically participate in every area of church life. Their research is published in Growing Young. What are these habits and how might they also revitalize an entire congregation?
How the Church Can Rediscover the Core Commitment of Empathy 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 115 The Psalms have always evoked language and attitudes toward God that may feel scandalous, but that he considers worship. Sessions will explore how Israel’s hymnal gives churches language – and even methodologies – to extend empathy to everyone, including young people. He will show how empathy can change the course
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M O N D A Y PA T H W A Y
RACIAL UNITY AND JUSTICE * James L. Gorman HOW DID WE GET HERE?
explore a growing and important means of bringing racially diverse Christians together in meaningful relationships and Christian fellowship for the purpose of reaching the world with the gospel.
Race relations in America have created deep divisions and painful wounds. This session briefly explains key developments in the history of race relations in American Christianity, from the colonial era to the present. Raise your historical awareness of why worship gatherings on Sunday mornings in 2019 are still largely segregated by race.
LJ Brodie, Gema Perez, Takuma Tsuneki and Jackson Womack RACIAL HEALING AND YOUNG ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION *
April B. Napier CULTIVATING CULTURAL AWARENESS
This session draws on the experiences of four young adults to explore challenges and opportunities for faith leaders who seek racial healing and spiritual formation. Participants will respond to questions about their personal experience with racial division in a religious context.
A Short History of Race Relations in American Christianity 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 114
PATHWAY GUIDE
James L. Gorman SONGS OF SORROW, SONGS OF JOY: Seeking Racial Unity and Justice
W. E. B. Du Bois called the slave spirituals “Sorrow Songs,” but he found more than sorrow in their rhythm and rhyme: “Through all the Sorrow Songs there breathes a hope – a faith in the ultimate justice of things. The minor cadences of despair change often to triumph and calm confidence. Sometimes it is faith in life, sometimes a faith in death, sometimes assurance of boundless justice in some fair world beyond. But whichever it is, the meaning is always clear: that sometime, somewhere, men will judge men by their souls and not by their skins.” The Sorrow Songs reveal a tension between sorrow and joy, death and life, despair and hope. That same tension permeates the story of race relations and pursuit of justice, healing and unity in American Christianity. Session leaders will explore challenges and opportunities in the work of racial justice, healing and unity. 10
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10-10:45 a.m., BSB 114 It is essential to consider how one’s individual perspective of cultural norms coincides with self-reflection and healing in forming solutions to address community disconnect. This session will explore emotional intelligence, coping strategies and self-efficacy to raise awareness of our personal attributes and how they are connected to our interactions within cultural engagement.
B. Chris Simpson CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN MULTIRACIAL CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 114 Ministering in multicultural congregations presents challenges and opportunities. In this session, Simpson draws on 12 years of experience in multiracial ministry to
2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 114
Panelists and Douglas A. Foster WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
Best Practices for Racial Justice, Healing and Unity 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 114 This concluding session features a roundtable discussion between the panelists and special guest Douglas A. Foster, as well as Q&A time. What are we already doing and what more can we do to overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities we learned about in prior sessions? *This session is offered in collaboration with the Faith Among Emerging Adults pathway.
M O N D A Y PA T H W A Y
BRINGING THE GENERATIONS BACK TOGETHER Holly Catterton Allen EMBRACING INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY 9-9:45 am, BSB 129 Intergenerational Christian experiences uniquely and especially nurture spiritual formation across all ages. Why might this be so? Embedding stories and experiential learning along the way, this session will present a strong case for balancing age-based faith experiences with more intentionally intergenerational approaches.
Wilson McCoy READING TOGETHER
A Spiritual Practice to Bring Generations Together 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 129 The call of the Psalmist is that generations would come together to declare the works of the Lord. But how are we to do this in our churches? One way a church can fulfill this goal is through practices of reading Scripture together. In this session, we will explore one spiritual practice that your church can use as a way to bring the generations together in a meaningful way.
Holly Catterton Allen FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AN INTERGENERATIONAL ECCLESIOLOGY 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 129 To succeed in transitioning toward a more intergenerational paradigm, church leaders must be able to articulate biblical, theological, sociological, theoretical, and even empirical support for revisiting this old but now neglected way of being Christian together. This session succinctly summarizes the rationale and foundational support for bringing the generations back together.
Wilson McCoy MAKING THE TRANSITION
Lessons from a Congregation’s Intergenerational Journey 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 129 The journey towards becoming more intergenerational is worthwhile and meaningful, but how can we practically do this in our churches? In this session, we will explore strategies, struggles and steps from one church’s experience that can help yours become a more intergenerational community of faith.
Holly Catterton Allen and Wilson McCoy III CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES ALONG THE WAY
Stories From Churches Becoming More Intergenerational in Outlook and Practice 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 129 Discussion and stories between the presenters with a Q&A time for audience members.
Catterton Allen
McCoy
PATHWAY GUIDES
Holly Catterton Allen and Wilson McCoy BRINGING THE GENERATIONS BACK TOGETHER Forging an Intergenerational Ecclesiology
Churches that want to become more intentionally intergenerational typically raise two questions. The first: “How can we bring the generations back together?” The second and even more important: “Why?” What is the evidence that intergenerational approaches are beneficial? This pathway will explore both questions engagingly, incisively and experientially. We will briefly share biblical and theological foundations and explore empirical, sociological and theoretical support for cross-age Christian practices. Along the way, the class will address the “how” question, discussing (and experiencing) several successful emerging intergenerational approaches.
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M O N D A Y PA T H W A Y
FAITH AMONG EMERGING ADULTS Amanda Pittman and John Boyles FRESH TAKES ON COLLEGE FRESHMEN 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 121
Pittman
Boyles
PATHWAY GUIDES
Amanda Pittman and John Boyles Are you curious about the faith journeys of young adults? Join us for a series of conversations featuring ministers, researchers and students. Over the course of the day, we’ll consider a range of topics related to young adults and Christian faith: factors shaping affiliation with faith, the experience of working with young adults in ministry contexts, and research into the spiritual lives of college freshmen. This pathway will conclude with a collaborative session on young adults’ faith formation and race, hosted in partnership with the Racial Reconciliation pathway: Songs of Sorrow, Songs of Joy.
Join Pittman and Boyles for an interactive presentation based on two years of research into the spiritual lives of freshmen on a Christian university campus. Topics covered include participation in Christian practices, knowledge of the Bible, approaches to reading the Bible, and strength of connection to God and the Christian community.
Suzie Macaluso and Lynnette Sharp Penya A CRISIS OF FAITH AMONG OUR YOUTH?
Disaffiliation Among Emerging Adults in Christianity 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 121 Join expert researchers Macaluso and Sharp Penya as they walk through current research on disaffiliation patterns of emerging adults who have left Churches of Christ. Their research considers topics like reasons for disaffiliation, patterns of disaffiliation, and setting up contexts – both historical and contemporary – that provide some explanation for these results.
Darren Hagood, Gloria Hagood, Holly Racca and George Galindo TALES FROM THE FRONT LINES Ministry Among Emerging Adults Today 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 121
Listen in on this roundtable discussion as ministers reflect on their ministries: What characterizes the faith of the students with whom they work? What distinct challenges and experiences do students bring to their Christian faith? What it is like to walk alongside, both in teaching and learning from, this particular population in today’s church?
LJ Brodie, Gema Perez, Takuma Tsuneki and Jackson Womack RACIAL HEALING AND YOUNG ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 114
This session draws on the experiences of four young adults to explore challenges and opportunities for faith leaders who seek racial healing and spiritual formation. Participants will respond to questions about their personal experience with racial division in a religious context. The 2:30 p.m. session is offered in collaboration with the Racial Unity and Justice pathway, which participants are encouraged to join in BSB 114 for its culminating session at 3:30 p.m.
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M O N D A Y PA T H W A Y
SOCIAL JUSTICE: WHAT IS HOME? Susanna Lubanga WHAT IF JESUS HAD NOT FOUND REFUGE?
Darrin Cox and Heather Melchor REMOVING EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS
9-9:45 a.m., BSB 117
2:30-3:15 pm, BSB 117
Refugees are not new in history. This session will introduce the Social Justice pathway as we discuss why it is important for Christians to serve refugees in the 21st century.
Jennifer Long WELCOMING THE STRANGER AT THE BORDER The Role of the Church 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 117
Long will discuss the current crisis on the border, U.S. policies toward people who apply for asylum, and the response of Christians to the needs of those arriving. A resident of Casa Marianella will tell the story of his/her journey and experience arriving in this country.
James Petrovich HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES Causes and Solutions 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 117
This session will overview the social problem of homelessness in the United States. It will provide an assessment of factors contributing to homelessness and evidence-based interventions focused on ending homelessness.
Cox and Melchor work with homeless and refugees in the Abilene (Texas) Independent School District. They will describe their work and will explain the MckinneyVento Program in the school environment. Then, they will discuss the community collaboration that is meeting needs of their homeless students.
Kilnam Cha, Susanna Lubanga, Mark Hewitt and Terry Cagle REFLECTIONS ON WHAT IS HOME 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 117
This panel will discuss various challenges immigrants from different parts of the world face in the U.S.
Hamm
Scott
Lipps
Chaney
PATHWAY GUIDES
Stephanie Hamm, Malcolm Scott, Alan Lipps and Sara Chaney The word home has a variety of meanings to the people of God. For some of our neighbors, home is familiar and congenial, safe and loving. Yet for many, this is not the case. Far too many neighbors are labeled homeless, refugee, housing insecure, and immigrant. In this pathway, we will consider how to participate in efforts bridging the gap between oppression and freedom, so that home is a safe, welcoming place. To assemble a just world, lovers of Jesus must come together and establish relationships in spite of, and through, the differences that make us beautiful.
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M O N D A Y PA T H W A Y
INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP Larry James CITYSQUARE An Introduction 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 112
PATHWAY GUIDE
Larry James HOUSE RULES:
Innovative Leadership in a Challenging World The importance of leadership can’t be overestimated. It is not too much of a reach to speak of the “spirituality” of leadership as it works its way into and through the changes, challenges and progress of our lives and organizations. Tapping into the wealth of experience shared by this lineup of leaders, and set against the background music of the Psalms, these sessions will inspire, inform and challenge anyone involved in or aspiring to positions of leadership.
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This initial session reviews the story of CitySquare in Dallas, Texas. It will relate lessons learned over 30 years of leading and building a high-impact organization dedicated to fighting the causes and effects of poverty. CitySquare serves as a case study behind each leadership principle addressed throughout the pathway.
John Siburt LEADERSHIP STYLE AT CITYSQUARE 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 112 Leadership styles define teams. Join Siburt as he leverages his considerable learning and experience as the next generation leader into a discussion of how leadership works at CitySquare.
Matthew Ruffner DON’T DISMISS THE DIFFICULT 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 112 Ruffner is a visionary leader of one of the most influential congregations in Dallas, Texas. Wise beyond his years, he is a leader who doesn’t shy away from difficult problems or challenges. His voice will encourage leaders facing tough issues, as well as wonderful, but challenging opportunities.
Jarie Bradley STICK TO YOUR PROMISE AND IMAGINE PARTNERS 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 112 As the chief people officer at CitySquare, Bradley works diligently to maintain and protect the culture of a growing urban organization. This session raises important value considerations, as well as outline the imperative of being true to mission while working with other leaders and organizations to get the work done.
Gerald Britt BREAKTHROUGHS FOLLOW DARKNESS AND ACT BEYOND YOUR REACH 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 112 Britt brings a seasoned perspective flowing from his illustrious career in the center of urban Dallas. A consummate preacher, community organizer and moral voice for the city, he will inspire leaders to choose faith over doubt and to trust beyond the limits of any human capability.
M O N D A Y PA T H W A Y
SPIRIT SHAKE-UP Leonard Allen WELCOMING THE SPIRIT
Five Reasons Why the Holy Spirit Has Come to the Forefront 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 130
Leonard Allen and Lauren Smelser White THE CHARISMATIC SPIRIT
To Be Christian is to Be Charismatic 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 130
The doctrine of the Spirit is no longer the awkward stepchild of theology but a center of attention. Christian leaders are realizing the Spirit’s presence and power are not secondary but central to the Christian life and the mission of God. This session explores five reasons for the dramatic shift.
Paul does not conceive of two separate kinds of Christians – charismatics and noncharismatics. Membership in the ecclesial body implies Spirit-filled gifting: to be Christian is to be charismatic. This session will focus on the theological and practical implications of this rather astonishing claim.
Leonard Allen and Lauren Smelser White THE MISSION OF THE SPIRIT
Leonard Allen OPENING PANDORA’S PENTECOSTAL BOX
Trinity, Kingdom and Mission 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 130
The Challenge for Churches of Christ 3:30-4:15 pm, BSB 130
In this time of the collapse of Christendom, the church is no longer a comfortable institution. It instead finds itself thrust into mission, which reintroduces the community’s reliance on the Holy Spirit. This session will explore how this reliance is best understood in light of the Trinity’s own mission to establish God’s kingdom in the world.
In light of the odd history of the Holy Spirit in modern Churches of Christ (which this session will briefly recount) our 200-year-old tradition faces several specific challenges. In general, our increasingly post-Christian time offers a “wildly opportune moment,” as George Hunsberger has said, for churches to re-clothe themselves in the garments of their calling.
Lauren Smelser White THE SPIRIT AND THE BODY The Spirit Loves and Forms Real Bodies 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 130
The witness of Scripture indicates that we must not “spiritualize” the Holy Spirit but instead attend to ways the Spirit works in and toward certain material forms. Taking Romans 8 as a touchstone, this session will consider how the Spirit “befriends” materiality in order to form bodies into the body of Christ.
Allen
Smelser White
PATHWAY GUIDES
Leonard Allen and Lauren Smelser White The Holy Spirit is no tame Spirit. When the people of God grow comfortable, satisfied and sleepy, when the call of God’s mission to the whole world recedes, the tendency of the Spirit is to shake up the church and dislodge it from its ease and self-satisfaction. This shake-up is happening to many churches in the West. Many will die, and through the shaking, many will renew or discover a sense of the expansive mission of God and new openness to the Spirit of God. Today the doctrine of the Spirit remains no longer the awkward stepchild of theology but has risen to the center of attention. Why has this happened? Our answer may surprise you.
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BIBLICAL STORYTELLING Danny Yencich THE EARLY CHRISTIANS DIDN’T READ THE BIBLE Ancient Orality and the Composition of the Bible 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 120
PATHWAY GUIDE
Cliff Barbarick Hearing Scripture told to us offers a vastly different encounter than reading it silently to ourselves (or even hearing it read aloud). It’s an experience that blesses both hearers and tellers, and the inherently relational experience builds community and deepens intimacy. In this pathway, we’ll have opportunities to hear stories from Scripture, learn to tell stories ourselves, and dream about ways that our churches can experience this unique encounter with God’s Word.
This session offers an introduction to the oral culture in which the Bible was composed. The biblical “writings” were developed in a predominantly illiterate culture. They were composed to be heard, not read, and we can benefit from experiencing them in the same way.
Pam Faro GO AND TELL The Power of Embodied Biblical Storytelling 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 120 Those who first experienced the Gospel of Mark would have heard the entire story proclaimed on a single occasion. Hear and see an oral performance of its final chapters – the passion story – followed by shared reflections on the storytelling experience.
Emily Sanchez, Cooper Osburn and Matthew San Miguel FAITH COMES FROM HEARING Learning From Hearing One Another 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 120
Hear three current ACU students read the same psalm. Hearing the text in
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this way will provide an opportunity to discuss how different embodiments of the same passage of Scripture yield different insights into the material.
Cliff Barbarick THESE WORDS SHALL BE ON YOUR HEART Learning From Internalizing 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 120 In this class, we will discuss the interpretive decisions required for internalizing and telling Scripture – decisions we often avoid when reading silently to ourselves. Our time together will culminate in learning a short biblical story and telling it to one another.
Randy Fenter and Amy Peterson SCRIPTURE FROM THE HEART Using Biblical Storytelling in Corporate Worship 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 120 God’s Word treasured in the heart overflows into the public worship of the church, by the church, for the church, and to the glory of God. Fenter and Peterson will share how they have incorporated regular biblical storytelling into their Sunday morning worship services at Highpoint Fellowship in Cedar Park, Texas.
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THE PSALMS IN THE CHURCH’S WORSHIP In Collaboration With ACU’s Center for the Study of Ancient Religious Texts
PATHWAY GUIDE
Mark Hamilton The book of Psalms has provided rich resources for Jewish and Christian worship and ethical reflection for centuries. It still does. The speakers on this panel draw on years of work as scholars and artists to explore the book’s many dimensions as a source for study, prayer, song and art. As the church’s first song book, Psalms provides language and images for lament and praise, storytelling and the pursuit of wisdom. In short, it helps us be more fully human in our lives before God.
Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES WITH SHOUTS OF JOY
Jason Byassee CHRIST PRAYS THE PSALMS, THEY PRAY HIM BACK
Embodied Worship in the Songs of Ascents 8:30-9:15 a.m., BSB 114
In Defense of Christological Reading of the Old Testament 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 114
The Psalms are a rich source of information about the worship experiences of our ancestors in the faith. By studying the bodily movements of worshippers in the Songs of Ascents, we can learn more about bringing our whole selves to the worship experience.
The church long read the Psalms christologically. Is there a way, after historical criticism, to learn from these ways of reading anew? More daringly now, is there a way to practice them while avoiding antiJudaism and historical anachronism?
R. Mark Shipp, DJ Bulls SINGING THE LORD’S SONG Psalm-Singing Through the Ages 9:30-10:15 a.m., BSB 114 This session will contain an overview of Psalm-singing through the ages (with audience participation), and an introduction to Timeless: Ancient Psalms for the Church Today Psalter/Commentary, edited by Mark Shipp himself.
Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford ON THE WILLOWS WE HUNG UP OUR HARPS Preaching the Imprecatory Psalms 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 114 The imprecatory words in the Psalter are demands for violence in response to violence, making them difficult to incorporate into our worship experiences. Explore why these words are a vital part of our relationship with God and others.
Pathway Presenters REFLECTIONS ON THE PSALMS IN THE CHURCH’S WORSHIP 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 114 A panel discussion with all available participants, moderated by Glenn Pemberton and Mark Hamilton.
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T U E S D A Y PA T H W A Y
BEYOND RED AND BLUE Amy Black CAN WE TALK?
Engaging Contentious Issues With Civility and Respect 8:30-9:15 a.m., BSB 115 It’s hard to talk about politics in today’s divisive political climate. We’ll consider biblical principles that can frame our approach to politics, talk about the importance of civility, and look for ways to encourage meaningful and civil dialogue about contentious issues.
Allen Hertzke CHRISTIAN DIGNITY AND CITIZENSHIP ACROSS TIME 9:30-10:15 a.m., BSB 115 Christianity carries a radical message for citizenship: that all people – made in the image and likeness of God – are endowed with surpassing equal worth and dignity. The first session will show how Christianity carries this concept of human dignity across time, promoting religious freedom, human rights, civil society, and advances in democracy.
Amy Black POLITICS AS CHRISTIAN WITNESS Approaching Politics With Sorrow, Hope and Joy 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 115
The Christian faith offers us tools to guide our political engagement. We’ll discuss some practices and principles to help us honor God in our political engagement, exploring ways that sorrow, hope and joy can shape a politics of Christian witness
Allen Hertzke GLOBAL CHRISTIAN NETWORKS FOR HUMAN DIGNITY 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 115 Global Christian networks for human dignity – often in the face of persecution and hardship – play an outsized role promoting human rights and religious freedom, fighting injustice, uplifting the poor, and nurturing democratic civil society. Appreciating this global role can help Christians transcend the political polarization and coarseness in American politics today.
Pathway Presenters REFLECTIONS ON BEYOND RED AND BLUE 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 115 A panel discussion with participants and ACU faculty member Mel Hailey, moderated by David Dillman.
PATHWAY GUIDE
David Dillman This pathway will explore the role of Christianity in contemporary U.S. politics and the public policy process. It will address questions faced by Christians who are troubled by the political polarization and coarseness of today’s American politics, and concerned about public policies that seem to conflict with religious expression. The destination of this pathway is more informed and responsible engagement in politics that is faithful to one’s Christian commitments and that ultimately fosters a healthy religious civil society. Amy Black and Allen Hertzke bring the expertise, research and experience to offer insights and ways of thinking about the intersection of religion and politics.
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FAITH AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
Ries
McCracken
PATHWAY GUIDES
Ben Ries and Vic McCracken The certainty, longevity and predictability workers once felt no longer exist as technological advances, the economy, and shifting social and economic realities contribute to an unsettling and unpredictable experience. How might Christians engage these changing dynamics? In what ways do gender, race, social location and the American work ethic affect our career path and development? This pathway will discuss ways Christians might engage the changing landscape of work with greater compassion, curiosity and imagination.
Jonathan Malesic WHEN YOUR JOB HARMS YOUR SOUL
Jarie Bradley FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE
The Broken Spiritual Promise of the American Work Ethic 8:30-9:15 a.m., BSB 112
Walking and Working the Path for Which We Were Fashioned 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 112
In pursuing our calling through work, we often overwork, leading to exhaustion and despair. This session will discuss the ways that a spirituality of labor and leisure can help us put work in its place.
Explore the assurance Psalm 139 provides us in finding our purpose and the “WorkPath” God created for us, juxtaposed with systemic barriers. We also will examine the intersectionality of race, gender, class and religion.
Courtney Hernandez ‘HAVING IT ALL’ AND OTHER LIES Competing Narratives of Work, Identity and Motherhood 9:30-10:15 a.m., BSB 112 Articulating our vocational calling is a vital step in aligning our work, relationships and faith with God’s purpose. But often we may feel the many hats we wear – as student, parent or leader – are in competition for our vocational calling. Explore how reframing our vocational narratives adds richness and diversity to our lives.
Ben Ries TREASURES HIDDEN IN THE WORKPLACE Experiencing God’s Kingdom From the Boardroom to the Broom Closet 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 112 Few things take up more time, energy and emotional resources than our work. It provides income, a sense of fulfillment and can contribute to human flourishing. However, it also can be mundane and, at times, a soul-wrenching grind. God longs for us to flourish in our workplace.
Pathway Presenters REFLECTIONS ON FAITH AND THE FUTURE OF WORK 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 112 A panel discussion with all available participants, moderated by Monty Lynn.
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T U E S D A Y PA T H W A Y
CHURCHES: IT’S OK TO BE SMALL Jason Byassee THE GIFTS OF THE SMALL CHURCH
Paying Attention to the Local in Ministry 8:30-9:15 a.m., BSB 120 Small churches often struggle with what seems an inevitable decline in finances, numbers, young people, and hope. Yet ministry has always been local, even when lots of those small groups collect into larger ecclesial bodies. This session will reflect on a God who is always pouring himself out in churches that have no choice but to think “small.”
Jennifer Allen THE LESS-TRAVELED PATH TO CHRIST
Families, Autism and the Church Today 9:30-10:15 a.m., BSB 120 Autism, depression, anxiety, ADHD and developmental delays often keep kids (and parents) away from church. Allen will share her family’s journey of having a child diagnosed with autism and how the less traveled path to Jesus, though oftentimes rocky, offers beautiful vistas that neurotypicals seldom witness.
Kent Jobe WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Partnering With Your Community for Ministry 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 120
Looking for some practical ways to partner with your community for maximum kingdom impact without sacrificing truth? This session will provide proven methods used to build bridges using the resources already present in your community.
Austin Wright CAN ANYTHING GOOD COME FROM NAZARETH?
Re-imagining Small Churches as Fresh Expressions of the Kingdom 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 120 God calls the church to be faithful and fruitful, yet churches mistakenly measure success numerically. This session attempts to re-define faithful and fruitful ministry by imagining small churches as fresh expressions of the kingdom.
PATHWAY GUIDE
Shawn D. Johnson Small churches are wonderful precisely the way they are, yet there often remains a frustrating belief that, for them to be what God wants, they must become larger. Certainly, growth would be nice, but it is God who makes things grow (1 Cor. 3:7). Let us remove this pressure and simply be the church, regardless of size.
J. Omar Palafox A CHURCH THAT RELATES TO CULTURE
The Hurdle of Discovering a Fitting Spirituality 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 120 Spirituality is a community’s mosaic of stories through various contexts. Learn how the church can gain perspective when it comes to discovering a fitting spirituality in culture, without trivializing faith. acu.edu/summit
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DISCIPLESHIP IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY Jared Looney CROSSING CULTURES BY CROSSING THE STREET 8:30-9:15 a.m., BSB 121
PATHWAY GUIDE
Jared Looney Scripture tells us to go to all nations, yet the church often struggles at the intersection of different cultures. From the center city to the suburbs, cities in North America are increasingly multicultural. While international migration is transforming neighborhoods, individuals are now connected to the larger global world at the push of a button, and shifts in religious belonging are having a profound impact on outreach of the local church.
Most major cities in North America are undergoing enormous demographic changes, both through an influx of international migrants and through shifting perspectives on religion and spirituality. This session will address the major trends impacting ministry and discuss strategic questions to ask in order to better reach our cities.
2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 121
Emmanuel Dominguez MINISTERING CROSS-CULTURALLY TO A PRIMARILY ANGLO CONGREGATION
Jared Looney, Seth Bouchelle and Emmanuel Dominguez REFLECTIONS ON DISCIPLESHIP IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
9:30-10:15 a.m., BSB 121 Many churches that have existed as predominantly homogenous congregations are in the process of trying to diversify their ministry staff. This session will address the various learning and skills required to successfully navigate this transition, and provide insights into how churches can prepare and care for hires from outside their dominant culture
Seth Bouchelle DISCIPLESHIP IN A POST-EVERYTHING CULTURE 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 121 Post-Christendom, Post-Modernism, Post-Colonialism. How are these forces manifesting themselves in ministry and what are some principles to help churches respond? This session will discuss various skills and lessons learned for effective ministry during a time of societal change.
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Jared Looney and Seth Bouchelle MOBILIZING CHURCHES FOR MINISTRY IN A MULTICULTURAL CITY What are viable action steps leaders might take to begin a strategic discernment and outreach with their own congregations? This session offer methods for “stepping-out� toward new ministries for equipping and sending church members as disciple-makers in their cities.
3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 121 A panel will discuss practical challenges and opportunities for nurturing discipleship in a multicultural society. Includes a Q&A with the audience.
T U E S D A Y PA T H W A Y
WE ARE PSALM 151
PSALM
Randy Gill LESSONS LEARNED
Words of Wisdom for Young Worship Leaders 8:30-9:15 a.m., BSB 117 Drawing on two decades of adventures in full-time worship ministry, Gill shares practical tips on dealing with people, politics and preferences without losing your passion for praise.
Stephen Maxwell WORSHIP
From Diversity to Inclusion 9:30-10:15 a.m., BSB 117 God calls worship leaders to take into account his beautiful diversity and to inspire the church to become inclusive when preparing worship. Using North Atlanta’s story, Maxwell will discuss how a wonderfully diverse community of people is using corporate worship to become the inclusive body God intends us to be.
Laura Burnett LEADING IN THE DARK 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 117 What does it look like to lead worship when your heart is breaking? How do you encourage your congregation to be strong when your world is crumbling around you? Look at what scripture says about trial and heartache and discover practical steps to stay strong, yet transparent, when faced with the trials of life.
Taylor Belt LET’S GO TEAM! 2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 117 Learn what it takes to build the foundations of a strong ministry team, with resources you can use to determine how different personalities blend. Discover different ways to assess gifting for your worship ministry, along with a variety of ways to lead these teams into a season of growth, production and peace.
Pathway Presenters REFLECTIONS ON WE ARE PSALM 151
PATHWAY GUIDE
Sam Souder There are 150 psalms in the canon of scripture; 150 songs to the Lord. And yet, the Church is a living, breathing example that our song to the Lord continues. How does a congregation live – or “sing” – in the midst of sorrow, hope and joy? This pathway centered on worship ministry provides some conversations about leading in crisis, as well as practical tips on developing young leaders, leading in multicultural settings, and working with teams.
Discussion and Q&A 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 117 A panel discussion with all available participants, moderated by Sam Souder.
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A HOPE AND A FUTURE FOR CHURCHES OF CHRIST Stanley E. Granberg FACING THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
Survival Challenges for Churches of Christ 8:30-9:15 a.m., BSB 130 Gentry
McCoy
PATHWAY GUIDES
Eric Gentry and Wilson McCoy The data is disarming – Churches of Christ are in decline. But, like Doc Brown told Marty McFly, “Your future hasn’t been written yet.” Hear research from the front lines of revival and renewal among our churches and inspiring insights from the kingdom of God in a post-Christian world. Well-led congregations will help write our future.
Churches of Christ have reached a tipping point in our existence where the challenges of loss of churches, leadership and confidence must be realistically addressed. We’ll name these challenges and offer potential paths forward.
Suzie Macaluso ASSESSING THE HEALTH OF OUR CHURCHES 1:30-2:15 p.m., BSB 130 Macaluso has conducted a Church Health Assessment with more than 20 congregations, gathering valuable information. Join this presentation as we discuss the trends and markers of health seen in the various churches she has surveyed along with suggestions based on these studies.
Patrick Chappell THE DREAMS OF MILLENNIALS, GEN Z AND THE CONVERSATIONS OF OUR CHURCHES
Carson E. Reed UNEXPLORED TERRITORY
9:30-10:15 a.m., BSB 130
2:30-3:15 p.m., BSB 130
One of the unique challenges facing our churches concerns the next generation. What are millennials and Generation Z thinking, asking, and wanting from communities of faith? How does their faith look similar and different from those before them? What do they have to teach us about being faithful in our world?
Mission and Adaptive Leadership for Congregational Renewal Many churches are asking questions about sustainability and whether they have a viable future, while others are discovering mission and purpose. What can be learned from newly planted congregations and from vibrant church movements? Are there elements of the Stone-Campbell heritage that can serve church leaders today?
Pathway Presenters REFLECTIONS ON A HOPE AND A FUTURE FOR CHURCHES OF CHRIST 3:30-4:15 p.m., BSB 130 A panel discussion with all available participants, moderated by Gentry and McCoy.
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W E D N E S D A Y M I N I - PA T H W A Y
COMFORT WHEN THE SHADOW FALLS PATHWAY GUIDES
Eddie Sharp and Cheryl Mann Bacon Part 1: 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 114 Part 2: 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 114 Sharp and Bacon will lead a two-part mini-pathway based on their book, Comfort When the Shadow Falls: Encouraging the Dying and Those Affected by Grief. This presentation is a reflective, compassionate and holistic examination of how Christ calls us to minister in the shadow of death. Not only will they consider the biblical foundation for life, death and hope, but offer seasoned, practical advice on how to serve the dying, come alongside grieving families, lead in funeral services for expected or sudden losses, and minister to the unchurched in our communities. Sharp and Bacon will be joined by John Knox and Jim Nichols.
Sharp
Bacon
W E D N E S D A Y M I N I - PA T H W A Y
A THIRD WAY FOR CHURCHES OF CHRIST PATHWAY GUIDES
Brad East, Mitchell East and Bradley Steele Part 1: 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 117 Part 2: 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 117 In this pathway, the presenters – two young ministers and one professor – will offer a diagnosis and prescription for where Churches of Christ find themselves today. We are at a fork in the road, and two routes seem to be our only options: either retrenchment in the beliefs and practices of the Restoration Movement’s last two centuries, or absorption into broader American evangelicalism. Through two sessions, the presenters will argue for a third way, one that affirms our historic identity but roots it more deeply in the universal tradition of Christ’s one church, stretching from Pentecost and the time of the apostles through the patristic, medieval and early modern periods, all the way up to the present. Such a move avoids the anxious desire to meet the felt needs of the “market” while offering a vision of worship and discipleship that, precisely because it is ancient (rather than the latest trend), has something substantial to offer to believers and seekers of all ages today.
Brad East
Mitchell East
Steele
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FAITHFUL AND FRACTURED PATHWAY GUIDE
Jason Byassee Part 1: 9-9:45 a.m., BSB 130 Part 2: 10-10:45 a.m., BSB 130 Join Byassee for a mini-pathway based on his book, Faithful and Fractured: Responding to the Clergy Health Crisis. Combining the expertise of a health psychology researcher and a leading pastoral theologian, the book brings together the best in social science and medical research, examining the poor health of clergy and exploring what can be done about it. In addition to physical health, Faithful and Fractured treads deep into the territory of mental health and spiritual well-being, and suggests that increasing the presence of positive mental health may prevent future physical and mental health problems for clergy.
W E D N E S D A Y M I N I - PA T H W A Y
LIVING OUT THE GOSPEL IN A SECULAR AGE PATHWAY GUIDE
Randy Harris Part 1: 9-9:45 a.m., BSB Hart Auditorium Part 2: 10-10:45 a.m., BSB Hart Auditorium Examining Charles Taylor’s assertions about living in the 21st century provides insights about how disciples must healthily navigate this secular age. This pathway will scrutinize how our journey shouldn’t be seen as a battle. Instead, we should recognize all the persistent longings for transcendence that characterize our secular age. To proclaim the gospel in such a context is not a matter of guarding some fortress; it’s an opportunity to invite our friends and neighbors to meet the One they didn’t even realize they’d been longing for.
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ACU Summit is mobile!
T U E S DAY E V E N I N G
FINDING HOME IN BOOMTOWN 6:30 p.m., Cullen Auditorium
In the nation’s second wealthiest city, a West Texas oilman sets out to downsize and refocus his family’s life so they can build a tiny house community for the homeless. Join us for the Abilene premiere of Finding Home in Boomtown, directed by 2007 ACU graduate Matt Maxwell, an award-winning filmmaker in West Texas.
acu.edu/summit
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T U E S DAY E V E N I N G
SERMON ON THE MOUNT WITH RANDY HARRIS
7 p.m., Brown Library, top floor
A beloved ACU instructor, Harris requires his freshman fall Bible class to memorize the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). At the conclusion of the semester, he invites each student to his office, where he listens to them individually quote all three chapters. Memorizing them is an important discipline for students, and the spiritual principles from this time-honored sermon are precious to Randy and impactful to students. On Tuesday night of Summit, one of his students will quote the sermon while Harris provides contemporary applications. Hearing scripture orally recited and hearing God’s truth illuminated by Harris will be a spiritually transformative evening. Blessings await for all who gather for this time of worship, reflection and contemplation. Harris’ creative approach to this ageless homily will restore your heart, soul and mind.
M O N DAY E V E N I N G
BIBLICAL STORYTELLING WITH PAM FARO
6:30 p.m., Chapel on the Hill
Long before the narratives of the Bible became scripture, many existed in oral form as stories shared in the faith community and passed down from generation to generation. Gifted storytellers retold them with emotion and excitement, much like their ancestors would have done. The art of biblical storytelling captures the feeling of the original text by allowing people to truly hear the Good News. In conjunction with the Biblical Storytelling pathway, professional storyteller Faro will tell the Old Testament story of Ruth, interwoven with selections from the book of Psalms. In her close-to-the-text telling, Faro grounds her skills as a storyteller in careful, scholarly reflection to create a fresh experience of the biblical narrative.
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T U E S DAY E V E N I N G
PSALM FEST
Sponsored by Timeless: Ancient Psalms for the Church Today (timelesspsalter.com) The Psalms are the world’s oldest hymnbook. They have sustained God’s people when we’re on the mountaintop and in the valley … and everywhere in between. However, the Psalms are remarkably absent from our present worship repertoire. On Tuesday evening, join our worship leaders, DJ Bulls and Mark Shipp, in Chapel on the Hill. Together, we will sing Psalms, learn about an incredible resource for the church today, and be encouraged as we look to the Psalter to find new words for worship from the oldest and most treasured worship resource in history: The Psalms.
School of Social Work at ACU
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he ACU School of Social Work is proud to partner with Summit this year to present the Social Justice pathway. The school offers an undergraduate and graduate degree, and equips students for generalist practice in any area of the field. Our close-knit program allows them to form friendships providing a network moving forward in their career. Experiential learning includes collaboration with the Abilene community, independent research and field placement. Students have participated in an inter-professional education simulation with Texas Tech University students, engaged in clothing drives, researched for neighborhoods and grassroots efforts, and helped with point-in-time homeless counts, to name a few. Students have conducted research on topics such as perceptions of welfare, sex education, and the use of technology in the classroom. They have typically been accepted to present their research at professional conferences. Field placements offer hands-on experience in settings such as schools, and medical and mental health facilities. All of these experiences provide opportunities to gain knowledge while increasing students’ confidence and commitment to further learning.
The Center for the Study of Ancient Religious Texts (CSART) at ACU is pleased to collaborate with Summit to present the Biblical Wholeness pathway. The center fosters the study of ancient religious documents through research, teaching and academic mentoring. CSART seeks not only to encourage research and publication but also to equip students with the capacities needed to study ancient texts, engage academic dialogue, and contribute to the scholarly enterprise. Digital humanities projects around the world supply a rapidly expanding body of materials on which CSART draws and to which it adds. Partnering with others in external projects, the center brings the students and faculty of ACU into collaborative relationships with global scholarship. The center seeks to draw attention to global news of discoveries and noteworthy developments in the study of ancient religious texts.
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Jack Pope Fellows
The Jack Pope Fellows program is pleased to collaborate with Summit in presenting the pathway: Beyond the Red and Blue: Political Engagement and Religious Freedom CU’s Jack Pope Fellows program is pleased to collaborate with Summit in presenting the pathway: Beyond the Red and Blue: Political Engagement and Religious Freedom. David Dillman directs the program and this pathway, which features hosts Amy Black and Allen Hertzke, internationally recognized experts in religion and politics. The Pope Fellows program prepares outstanding students for careers in public service. In 1989, the university established it in honor of Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jack Pope and his considerable contributions to his state and the nation. Originally under the direction of Mel Hailey and with generous funding from Pope and other donors, the Pope Fellows program provides scholarships and requires completion of a minor in public service. It is interdisciplinary and applicants are drawn from all majors and fields of study. The program is administered by the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, which prepares students for Christian public service and leadership throughout the world. Graduates serve in federal, state and local government as administrators, researchers, judges, city managers, elected officials, and legislative assistants. They also serve as administrators in a variety of nonprofit organizations, and as attorneys or partners in law firms, and political science professors.
COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES CELEBRATION DINNER Join us as we honor outstanding Christian servants and leaders! Hear a message by Eddie Sharp in the beautiful Hunter Welcome Center as we honor this year’s recipients:
Carolyn Atkins Oldham Lane Church of Christ in Abilene
Doug and Imogene McAnulty University Church of Christ in Abilene
Tickets are $7 and may be purchased online during registration or at Summit Headquarters. For more information contact Tina Chisholm at 325-674-3700 or txc13a@acu.edu 30
acu.edu/summit
EARN YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE WHILE SERVING IN MINISTRY
CONVENIENT
Choose from on-campus, online or intensive courses.
The ACU Graduate School of Theology offers a variety of on-campus and online programs allowing you to earn your graduate degree while continuing to gain valuable ministry experience.
AFFORDABLE
Students in the Graduate School of Theology receive an automatic tuition discount and may be eligible for additional merit-based scholarships.
FLEXIBLE
Complete your degree full time or part time.
DEGREE PROGRAM
On Campus
Online
Master of Divinity
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Master of Arts in Christian Ministry
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Master of Arts in Global Service
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Master of Arts in Theological Studies
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M.A. track in Theology
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M.A. track in Old Testament
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M.A. track in New Testament
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M.A. track in Ancient and Oriental Christianity
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M.A. track in Modern and American Christianity
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Doctor of Ministry
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325-674-3735 (on campus) • 855-219-7300 (online) • gst@acu.edu • acu.edu/gst
FOOTBALL PREGAME PARTIES
SEPTEMBER 28
UIW
SAN ANTONIO
NOVEMBER 23
MISSISSIPPI STATE
STARKVILLE, MS
For more information visit acu.edu/alumni For the complete fall sports schedule visit acusports.com
ADMISSIONS FALL 2O19 VISIT DAYS Wildcat Preview Days
• Friday, September 20 • Monday, November 25
Admitted Student Days • Monday, October 14 • Monday, November 4 • Friday, December 6
Visit acu.edu/visit or call 800-460-6228 to schedule your visit.
acu.edu/homecoming
acu.edu/familyweekend
Visit acu.edu/alumni for more information about events, volunteering and sharing ideas with us!
Welcome from the Siburt Institute It is an honor to welcome you to ACU Summit 2019!
The Siburt Institute fulfills its mission through four practices:
A part of the Siburt Institute for Church Ministry, Summit is offered annually on the ACU campus, providing programs and experiences devoted to foster spiritual formation, networking, reflection and renewal among students, faculty, staff and congregational leaders.
FORMATION
In today’s trying times, it is easy to become discouraged and troubled and to wonder how God is present and working in and through us. Our theme this year – Sorrow, Hope and Joy: Living the Psalms – offers resources from the Psalms that will serve as timely reminders that these struggles are not new to God’s children, and will remind us that he has been ever-present and faithful throughout time offering hope and joy, even in times of loss and sorrow.
• Summit • Contemplative Ministers’ Initiative • Ministers’ Support Network
RESOURCING • Ministers’ Salary Survey • Church Health Assessment
NETWORKING • Consulting services • Minister transition resources
REFLECTION • Mosaic blog • E-newsletter
We invite you to join us on the journey and hope you will be enriched by the many opportunities brought to our campus by the many pathways of growth Summit offers. We pray your time here will leave you enriched and prepared to bring the Gospel to others, the church and the world. Blessings! Carson Reed Executive Director ACU Siburt Institute for Church Ministry
Equipping and serving church leaders and other Christ-followers for God’s mission in the world siburtinstitute@acu.edu • 325-674-3732 • siburtinstitute.org acu.edu/summit
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ACU Box 29423 Abilene, Texas 79699-9423 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
A Conversation Where Life and Faith Converge in Christ
Blessed Are the Peacemakers Today, our culture seems to thrive on contempt. Unity seems a distant dream. What is our response as God’s children and his disciples? How can we bring God’s love and peace to our world? Make plans to join us in 2020 as we explore the gift of peacemaking.