June 1 – 3, 2021
Tuesday | Belonging through Community and Liturgy
Orbiting Christ: Formation through Liturgy and Community
The presentation by pastoral leaders Rev. Dr. Scott Bruzek (St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton, Illinois) and Rev. Dr. Dien Ashley Taylor (Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx, New York) will unwrap Article VII of the Augsburg Confession in which the Church is both the visible expression of Christian community and the vehicle fostering a sense of belonging for those journeying to discipleship. Without the liturgy as the place where the Word is preached and sacraments administered, there can be no community in Christ. In baptism one is joined to Christ and the Church and in Holy Communion one becomes what one eats—the very body and blood of Christ. The session will conclude with Q & A time for the participants.
Breakout Sessions on Community and Liturgy
- From Font to Feast: The “whens,” “whys,” and “hows” of beginning the process (Rev. John Bussman, Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cullman, Alabama)
- Presiding with grace (Rev. James Wetzstein, University Pastor, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana) Slide Deck | Bibliography
- Hospitality as the on-ramp to community ( Dr. Scott Bruzek, St. John Lutheran Church, Wheaton, Illinois)
- Recognizing ritual and its power in everyday life (Dr. Rhoda Schuler, Professor Emerita, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota)
Wednesday | Believing through Teaching and Preaching
Faith That Comes through Hearing: Teaching and Preaching Christ
The presentation by pastoral leaders Rev. Timothy Droegemueller (Living Faith Lutheran Church, Cumming, Georgia) and Rev. Daniel Eggold (Grace Lutheran Church, West Lafayette, Indiana) will explore the distinctive tasks of proclaiming Christ as Savior and Lord (kerygma) and teaching about Christ. The leaders will also delve into the distinction of personal faith (fides qua) and the core content of believing (fides quae) and how the distinction impacts the catechumenate. The session will include time for Q & A with participants.
Breakout Sessions on Teaching and Preaching
- A learning-centered approach to adult education (Dr. Heath Lewis, DCE, Assistant Professor of Education and Leadership, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota) Slide deck
- Preaching and the catechumenate: An integrated approach (Rev. Dien Ashley Taylor, Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx, New York)
- The one-year lectionary: A guide for the catechumenate ( Timothy Droegemueller, Living Faith Lutheran Church, Cumming, Georgia)
- The Gospels, the catechumenate, and the three-year lectionary (Rev. Dr. Arthur Just, Professor of Exegetical Theology, Concordia Theological Seminary, Wayne, Indiana)
Thursday | Behaving through Witness and Service
Called into Christ’s Orbit: Formed for Witness and Service
The presentation by diaconal leaders Deaconess Raquel Rojas (Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx, New York) and Deaconess Dr. Rhoda Schuler (Professor Emerita, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota) will draw the participants into the daily practice of Christian life for laity. Using biblical themes and texts, the leaders will illustrate how witness and service can function in today’s post-Christian culture to attract the seeker and form the new disciple. The session will conclude with a Q & A time for the participants.
Breakout Sessions on Witness and Service
- Lay involvement in the adult faith formation process: A panel discussion (Moderated by Rev. Danny Eggold with panelists Derek & Mary Baars from St. John, Wheaton and Don Langenbeck from Living Faith, Cumming, Georgia)
- The Church IS you! Shifting from a membership to a discipleship mindset (Dr. Kent Burreson, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri) Regretfully, there is no video for this session.
- Walk with me: The role of sponsors in adult faith formation (Dcs. Raquel A. Rojas and Ms. Carol T. Sandblom, Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx, New York)
- Lay involvement for a family-friendly Easter vigil (Deaconess Rhoda Schuler, Pro Bono Liturgist, Jehovah Lutheran Church, St. Paul, Minnesota)