EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED AS PART OF MIDDLE'S STIMULUS PACKAGE! 

DUE TO CONFERENCE ATTENDEE REQUESTS, WE ARE RESCHEDULING THE MUSIC PRE-CONFERENCE TO TUESDAY AFTERNOON TO ACCOMODATE TRAVEL SCHEDULES

CLICK HERE TO FIND A LIST OF LESS EXPENSIVE HOTELS

Just Announced: Monday Night Keynote Speaker
Michael E. Livingston
Executive Director of the International Council of Community Churches
Past President of the National Council of Churches USA
With special music provided by a festival of choirs

In the context of our current shifting reality, as the world holds her breath and watches America try a bold new thing in race relations, this conference is a critical opportunity to learn how worship allows us to rehearse the Reign of God. Living in multiracial and multicultural communities can be difficult and, yet, as C. S. Lewis wrote, “We only learn to behave ourselves in the presence of God.”

This is why we focus on worship.

 In the words of Karl Barth, worship is “the most momentous, the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life.”

This is why we focus on worship.

On the way to the multiracial, multicultural future that God desires, congregations can rehearse that preferred reality in liturgy, prayer, music, preaching, and the arts.

This is why we focus on worship.

 This puts worship on the border—on the edge—of the soon-coming reign. Join your clergy colleagues, musicians, worship teams and lay leaders in an inspirational, theological and practical conference at a time when we can catch glimpse of hope.

If not us, who? If not now, when?

Live the Reign of God now.

Keynote Speaker

Michael E. Livingston

Conference Leaders

Curtiss De Young

Eric Law

Jacqui Lewis

Mark Miller

 And

Gordon Dragt

John Janka

Brad Motta

CONFERENCE FEES 

Per Person

Music Pre-Conference  $25

Registration $200

Student rate $150 

Group rate   $100 (minimum of 5 registered at same time)

RCA scholarship $0 (first come first served-subject to verification)

Late Registration  $375 (after March 22, 2009)

WORKSHOPS

Please indicate your preferences on the registration form by listing your top two choices for each Workshop. 

A) Hip, Global and Justice Centered: The Basics of a Joyful Music Repertoire that Works—Mark Miller

Practical, hands-on, soup-to-nuts workshop about hymns and other worship music.

B) The Arts in Worship: One Foot Planted in the Center, the Other Dangling Over the Edge—Gordon Dragt

A practical guide to using the arts in worship.

C) LEADing on the Everlasting Arms—Blaine Newhouse

A concrete tool for developing leaders to bear the new vision in multiracial congregations.

D) Caring for People in Times of Transformation—Larry Dove and Adriene Thorne

Practical wisdom for creating a safe holding environment for transitions through care.

E) Storying the Reign Through Music in Worship—Jacqui Lewis and Jonathan Dudley

Creating a musical team to develop a transformational narrative arc for the liturgical year.

F) Worship Is Reaching, Preaching, and Teaching—Brad Motta

The vision for a multiracial future is nurtured everywhere on Sunday morning. Learn how to expand your vision of education.

G) Making the Congregation Your Choir: The Art of Congregational Singing—Pamela Warrick Smith and Charles Brown

The simple raising of voices in harmony creates community. Learn purposeful ways to create community and move congregants from spectators to active participants.

H) Breaking into the Multiracial Future with Worship—Eric Law

Worship is an essential moment in which God’s people experience the transcendent and practice the possible. How do our antiracist values help shape this moment?

I) Bringing the People In: Worship as Evangelism—Irving Rivera

Worship is our greatest tool for sharing the good news. Learn tools to grow your congregation with worship.

J) A Pastor, a Plan, and Changing Worship—Charlie Morris and Mark Adamy

Experience one congregation’s journey to transform worship.

K) When the White House Has a Black Family: Is Your Congregation Post…?—Jacqui Lewis and John Janka

Help your congregation understand race, class, and ethnicity in the Obama era.