Keynote information

It seems that one area where we all can grow and learn as people of faith is the deep engagement of the mystery of sacramental living.  We live in a time where regular communion may be once a month and images of water may not be regularly present.  Many of us have not had the opportunity to reflect deeply on how God works through the most ordinary things like: water, bread, wine, words and people. Engaging in deep reflection on how God is offering means of grace and new life in everyday, ordinary things is the main part of our agenda during our time together. 

Through engaging in the ways ordinary gifts of the earth become sacramental we can begin to see ourselves as living and holy vessels of God’s love and grace.  We can also see others in the same light and hopefully be more open to God’s work in all creation.  Caring for ourselves as sacramental beings and recognizing the world around us as sacred opens us to receive God’s blessings of new life and also be a blessing to others. 

 

Dr. Chip Andrus is currently pastor of South Salem Presbyterian Church in South Salem, New York. His wife Linda works at the local veterinarian hospital and his daughter Danielle and her husband live in Nashville, TN. Chip spent almost five years as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Harrison, Arkansas and worked as an Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology, Worship and Spiritual Formation, PCUSA from 2001-2006.  Chip was also adjunct professor of Worship for Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary until 2006. During that time he participated in the Sacramental Study Group that produced the Sacramental Study Report: “Invitation to Christ”.  This report invites assemblies to deeper sacramental practice and provides deeper praxis in its study guide and reflection.  Chip was also instrumental in the Emerging movement in mainline denomminations.  Chip served several rural churches that could not afford an ordained and installed pastor during his tenure with the Office of Theology and Worship.  He is a singer/songwriter and has four songs in the Presbyterian hymnal supplement Sing the Faith.  Chip also writes music in the Folk and Americana genre. His latest CD entitled “The Place We’re At”.  You can visit his music website at www.chipandrus.com or  listen to his music on iTunes.

Workshops block 1
Monday morning 10:45-noon

1A--Who Are We Educating? Theology and Formation -- This workshop aims to identify recent and emerging theological pictures of what it means to be a human being, and then to suggest the kinds of Christian educational practices that seem most promising.  What do the richest and most compelling theological pictures of human beings suggest about how we help others learn, grow, develop, and mature? Jared Witt grew up in a non-denominational bible tradition, went to Yale for an MDiv and PhD, and hence doesn't read the Bible anymore.  Just kidding. He does sometimes.  He became Presbyterian.  He works as a pastor.  And writes. There are a myriad things he's not good at.  But he believes that good theology funds the pastoral vocation. Jared is pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, KS.

1B--We Are ALL God’s Children: Using Children’s Literature to Address Touchy Topics -- You know you
love kid’s storybooks, but are you using them as well as you could?  Come try out a program called Families All Matter, that helps explore diversity and bullying issues.  It sensitively covers themes of race, aging, sexuality, disability, divorce, adoption and more, with simple instructions for the leader, discussion questions, and journaling exercises.  Use it for children’s church, summer programming, or as an enrichment piece beyond your regular curriculum.  Katie Estes, who has too many children's books, is a pastor and educator in St Paul, MN.

1C--What Is Family-Based Youth Ministry? Over the past 20 + years, "family-based youth ministry" has become a highly popular but seldom understood (and sometimes even maligned) term, often creating more confusion than solutions for youth leaders.  This seminar identifies the peculiar crisis facing youth ministry in this millennium as well as offering a clear picture of the key components.   Jen Dejong serves as Senior Consultant of MINISTRY ARCHITECTS, coaching volunteers and professionals in ministry across the country. She began working in youth ministry in 2002 as Youth Program Coordinator at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. She was also a contributing writer to Letters to a Youth Worker by Mark DeVries.

1D--Filling My Lamp -- Often our own spiritual lives get crowded out by the emergencies, interruptions, and administrivia of ministry. How can we create and keep a strong connection to the Divine in the midst of busy lives? It can be done, and it doesn't have to take hours. Come explore creative ways to engage our spiritual selves in the midst of life and ministry.  The Rev. Teri Peterson is pastor at The Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL. She co-founded & contributes to Liturgy Link; her own blog, CleverTitleHere, and is a contributing author to the Abingdon Creative Preaching Annual 2014 & 2015. Teri and her best friend Amy Fetterman wrote Who's Got Time: Spirituality for a Busy Generation.  Repeated at 4E.

1E--Is Internship for Your Church?  Would you like to engage in a ministry that benefits your church at the local level AND mentors a future generation of church leaders? What are some of the benefits of having an intern, and what are some of the pitfalls?  Learn how to lay the groundwork for your internship program, conduct an effective selection process and supervise your intern for the benefit of all parties.  Phil Blackburn, co-pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith, AR, has extensive experience in all phases of a church internship program.

1F--New Angle on Reformed Faith (CRE Track) -- Theological conversation continues. What are the theological frontiers of Reformed theology? What themes and emphases are emerging at the growing edge of Reformed theology in North America and across the globe? We will look at these emerging themes and consider their implications for thinking, praying, and living the faith. Charles Wiley is the Coordinator for Theology and Worship at the Presbyterian Mission Agency.  This workshop is at Heartland Center, 12 minutes away by car.

1G--Hike! (or a Nature Walk) @ Heartland Center -- Take your Oasis to the Heartland Center walking trails, labyrinth or a bench under the trees, listening to the wind rustling the leaves. We will carpool or take a van. If
nature recharges your soul, come join us! Mary Buchele finds her spirit rejoicing in the sound of wind in the trees, the feel of earth under her feet, the smell of pines. "You will be like a well-watered garden..." is a
favorite phrase from Isaiah.  Mary is the Christian Ed. Director at the Presbyterian Church in Garden City, KS, where water and trees are scarce! Heartland Presbyterian Center is a 10-minute drive from the conference hotel. This workshop’s lunch will be at Heartland Center.

Workshops block 2

Monday afternoon, 2:15-3:30

2A--DVD Resources --This workshop will provide a brief overview of several video based resources currently available through Cokesbury. Resource kits and clips will be viewed, as well as other multimedia options available for teaching and learning. Erin Kincannon Emler is the Cokesbury Community Resource Representative for the Kansas City metro area. She has worked for Cokesbury since 2005 and strives to help educators find the curriculum which best matches setting and needs.

2B--Starting a Birth to Three Ministry -- This workshop provides Biblical texts, theological grounding, euroscience findings, and practical tips for ministry that serves the youngest in your congregation.  Dawn
Rundman is Director of Children's Development at sparkhouse Publishers. She holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology and is passionate about equipping congregations to develop early childhood ministry that nurtures faith formation in young children and families.

2C--Thinking Like a Teen -- Understanding how teens process and think about information deeply affects how and what we teach, the way we relate, and how we practice faith with them.We’ll discuss the more recent research about brain development and the enormous implications it has.  Rev. Zach Walker has been a youth pastor in areas around the country for 12 years, balancing what it means to engage with youth in ways that are both relevant and theological, educational and relational. He currently serves as the Pastor of Youth Ministries at Village Presbyterian Church outside Kansas City.

2D--Reclaiming the Sacraments Day by Day -- We will explore together how the sacraments of the Lord's Supper and Baptism are related to each other and to everyday living.  We will discuss ways they help us see God more clearly in the world as well as open our eyes to God's Word in worship.  How often should we celebrate communion?  Should water be present at every service?  Chip Andrus is the keynoter for this year’s
Oasis.

2E--Social Networking:  Gracefully Doing Church Online -- The social networking experience is like walking around in the fellowship hall, filled with friends in various conversations: lots of brief comments, empathy and even jokes. If the Church must change the way "we've always done things," maybe it's time to dive in. Come and learn about using online social networks:  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more.  Kim Coulter has worked as a faith-based communicator for the Presbytery of Des Moines in south central Iowa (www.dmpresbytery.org). While there, Kim managed all communications efforts assisting church leaders with spreading the Good News online. You can find her on Facebook & Twitter @kimcoulter3.

2F--Working with the Session (CRE Track) -- Working with a Session and its committees is a primary esponsibility for any pastoral leader. How can we best arrange the agenda? Does Robert's Rules of Order matter? How do we prepare people to make faithful decisions?  This workshop is at Heartland Center, 12 minutes away by car.

Workshops block 3
Monday afternoon, 3:45-5:00

3A--Putting the “Adult” Back into Education -- Much of our adult education has become a more “mature” version of children’s Sunday School. For some of our adults this is enough, but others yearn for something
more.  This workshop will discuss the means through which we can intensify and deepen our adult education.  We will look at topics and resources which will allow those adults who wish to constantly challenge theologically themselves to do so.  We will also discuss practical tips and experiences which can help us make intensive adult education more appealing and accessible.  Phil Blackburn is co-pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR.

3B--Child Abuse Prevention and Boundary Awareness -- "We know everyone. People here can be trusted." These statements are most often correct. Unfortunately,” mostly correct” is not an option.  How can we take every precaution to ensure the well-being of our children and youth in church settings? How do we train best practices? Join us as we discuss from both a liability and caring perspective. Sharon Holt has a Masters' degree in Education and five years of teaching experience in public schools.  The balance of her career has been dedicated to adult learning and online training.  She is president of Safe Gatherings, an online abuse prevention and boundary awareness system that serves faith-based organizations. 

3C--The Talk: How to Faithfully Talk to Youth and Parents about Sex -- In a world that bombards young people with ideas and images of what sex and sexuality "is," we must make sure they are hearing God's voice through all the noise.  This workshop will help empower educators to talk to their youth and parents about sex and sexuality in a faithful, loving, lasting and meaningful way.  We will cover how to introduce a sex education curriculum in your church, important points to focus on with your youth, ideas and information to share with parents. We will be ready to answer your questions. Brian Kuhn is the Director of Youth & Family Ministries at Webster Groves Presbyterian Church and a Licensed Professional Counselor in St. Louis, MO.  He has 15 years of experience in youth ministry and is currently the Moderator-Elect of the Core Team for the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association.  Emily Nelson Dickson is the Director of Youth Ministries at Kaw Prairie Church in Lenexa, KS. She has been doing youth ministry for 15 years.  She is a trained MOCSA volunteer and has led workshops for parents and youth throughout her career pertaining to faithful conversations about sex.

3D--What is Contemporary Worship and Why Do It? -- We will explore together the variety of ways people interpret "Contemporary Worship" and talk about reasons for exploring new forms of worship in our churches.  What are good and bad practices? Would this help or hurt our congregation in the local context?  Would it draw new people to our community?  What can we share together to help each other? Chip Andrus is the keynoter for this year’s Oasis.

3E--Young Adult Ministry Outside the Church Box -- Young adults are running away from the church and we as church leaders are faced with the question, "How do we minister to and with them?"   This workshop will explore creative ministry opportunities to reach out to this population where they are, through groups like Theology on Tap. Holly Samborski is the Director of Children, Youth and Young Adult Ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, KS. Holly’s passion to find ways to reach young adults where they are led her to start a Theology on Tap group in her church.

3F--Caring for the Community (CRE Track) -- What are the basic tools of pastoral care? How can Ruling Elders and Deacons develop a mature spiritual presence to best minister to the sick, suffering, broken, and dying in their congregations and communities?  This workshop is at Heartland Center, 12 minutes away by car. Kristin Austin felt a call to chaplaincy and pastoral care as a youth, especially hearing people's life stories, praying with them, and sitting with them as they process life's difficulties and joys.She is currently serving as chaplain for Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.

 

Workshops block 4
Tuesday morning 9:15-10:30

4A--Loving God with Our Mind: Adult Ed for Today -- Jesus invites us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind. Presbyterians understand that means study is an important part of our life of faith.  It can be difficult, however, to know how best to reach others through Christian education.  This session will help you find what works in your church.  Rev. Laura Frazey is the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kansas, where a diverse adult education program flourishes.  It includes classes throughout the week at both the church and also throughout the community.  Laura is passionate about the importance of education in the life of faith.

4B--Space Audit -- No, we're not talking about intergalactic accounting. In this workshop, Dawn will guide participants through a method for reviewing their existing spaces in their church and on the church grounds and evaluating how space speaks powerfully to a congregation's hospitality, theology, and attitudes toward children and families. Dawn will provide tools for participants to conduct space audits of their own congregations. 
Dawn Rundman is Director of Children's Development at sparkhouse Publishers. She holds a Ph.D. in
developmental psychology and is passionate about equipping congregations to develop early childhood ministry that nurtures faith formation in young children and families.

4C--Intentional Youth Ministry can grow the church! The needs of small and mid-size churches will be addressed when considering models for Youth Ministry. Participants will be given tools to develop a relevant youth ministry model that provides appropriate fellowship, support, and discipleship for smaller youth groups in their church communities. Matt Vaughan is the regional director for Youth Ministry Institute, a nonprofit training and consulting organization. He served three different-sized churches in Heartland Presbytery for 18 years, leading small, medium, and large youth groups. Matt and his family enjoy chasing sunlight on epic hiking trips
and eating Cream of Wheat on rainy mornings.

4E--Filling My Lamp – see workshop 1D for description.

4F--Turning Pulpit Time Into Prime Time -- Preaching every week is a daunting task. It's tempting to use gimmicks, canned sermons, or pre-published materials. Yet those results are rarely satisfying. What about movie clips or dramas? Dialogue sermons? We'll explore cultivating creativity. First call pastors, CREs, educators, or anyone looking for new seeds of creativity are welcomed.  Chris Keating is pastor of Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church in suburban St. Louis. He has taught preaching classes for CREs in Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery, writes for "The Immediate Word" at SermonSuite.com. He is a contributor to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Faith Perspectives blog, and is writing a book on preaching and the environment.