Gathering of Orders and Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members - 2015

Rooms in Retreat Center and Eva Walker are full as of 9/23/2015.  Rooms in the Lodge are the only rooms available.

 

Entering the Full Joy of Ministry

Guest Speaker is Bishop Paul Leeland.  Bishop Leeland is the presiding bishop of the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Born in Washington D.C., he graduated from North Carolina Wesleyan College and received his M.Div. and Th.Min. from Duke University Divinity School. He also received his Ed.D. from North Carolina State University.

As a member of the North Carolina Conference, he served as pastor, superintendent, and assistant to the bishop. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Red Shoe Award, presented by clergywomen of their conference for "encouragement and support of women in ministry through advocacy, appointment, mentoring and friendship." He has completed the Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation.

He believes in spiritual leadership that is grounded in the presence of God. His great-grandmother often advised him, “You cannot teach what you do not know and you cannot lead where you will not go.” He seeks to live in the balance of personal holiness and social holiness as we cultivate practices of the means of grace.

He and his wife Janet have been married 47 years and have three children and four grandchildren.

Please Note:

On Monday, October 19, the 10:30 a.m. time with Bishop Wallace-Padgett. This time will include conversation on the topic of transitioning to a Tithing model of funding for the North Alabama Conference.

On Tuesday, October 20  at 10:30 a.m., the Order of Elders and Full-time Local Pastors and Associate Members Meetings will be a combined Session and will focus on Making Sense of our new Health Care Options. This will be led by Scott Selman from Administrative Services.

Schedule

Sunday,October 18
3:00 PM        Registration
5:00                 Word and Table Service
6:00                 Dinner with Local Pastors and Associate Pastors At McKinney Atkins Dining Room- everyone else in Lodge
7:30                 Session with Bishop Leeland
8:45                 Night Prayer
9:00                 Adjourn and Rest
 
Monday, October 19
7:45 AM        Morning Prayer
8:00                 Breakfast
9:00                 Session with Bishop Leeland
10:00               Free Time and Quiet Spaces*
10:30               Time with Bishop Wallace-Padgett - including transitioning to a tithing model of funding for North Alabama Conference
12:00 PM       Lunch with Deacons in McKinney Atkins Dining Room - everyone else in Lodge
1:30                 Session with Bishop Leeland
2:30                 Free Time and Quiet Spaces*
2:30 option     RIM Group Meetings required for RIM participants)
5:00                 Word and Baptismal Remembrance Service
6:00                 Dinner
7:30                 Session with Bishop Leeland
8:45                 Night Prayer
9:00                 Adjourn and Rest
 
Tuesday, October 20
7:45 AM        Morning Prayer
8:00                 Breakfast
9:00                 Closing Word and Table Service
10:00               Free Time and Quiet Spaces*
10:30               Session with Scott Selman - Making Sense of our new Health Care Options for Order of Elders and full-time local pastors and Associate Members
NOON              Adjourn
 

*QUIET SPACES - We encourage you to enjoy our fellowship but also invite you to spend some reflective time in one of our Quiet Spaces. Vespers Trail, Lake Trail, Nina Reeves Chapel, and Hutto Prayer Chapel are available as well as trails behind the lodge for quiet nature walks. We ask that all who visit these Quiet Spaces observe the quiet for others to enjoy.