Ministers Retreat at Camp Pine Lake

Starts: Sunday, April 27th 2014 at 5:00 pm
Ends: Tuesday, April 29th 2014 at 11:00 am

All Ministers (Ordained, Licensed, Lay, Cluster) in the Northern Plains District are invited to atime of retreat and refreshment April 27-29, 2014 at Camp Pine Lake. This event, being planned by the Ministers Professional Growth Committee, will include time for worship, study, rest, recreation, and fellowship.

The theme is: TheBook of Chronicles and the Church: Theology, Continuity, Innovation, and the Kingdom of God

The book of Chronicles contains an alternative vision of Israel’s past, one that promotes innovation while remaining faithful to the people’s heritage. While the book of Kings explains why the people ended up in exile (“how we got into this mess”), the book of Chronicles was written after the exile in the midst of significant cultural shifts to provide a way forward for a new opportunity to follow God faithfully (“where do we go from here”). I believe that Chronicles is extremely relevant for the Church as we attempt to imagine what the future can be. In the sessions, we will explore several central themes in the book and think about how Chronicles may help us answer questions about being faithful in the midst of cultural change, being innovative while remaining authentic and consistent with the past, how the centrality of worship and seeking God provides the core of its message to those who participate in God’s Kingdom.

Leadership will be provided by Steve Schweitzer. Steve is Academic Dean at Bethany Theological Seminary and teaches courses in Old Testament. His book,?Reading Utopia in Chronicles, looks at how this version of Israel’s history creates an innovative and theologically rich vision of the Kingdom of God. Steve and his wife, Jill, have 3 children. They attend Cedar Grove Church of the Brethren in the Southern Ohio district.

Ministers in the Church of the Brethren are called to continual spiritual and professional growth. This event is designed to support that endeavor. Participants in the full event will receive .6 CEUs in Biblical Studies. A tentative schedule can be found below. Weather permitting, we hope to have a campfire on Sunday and Monday evenings. If you play guitar or ukulele or banjo, bring your instrument along to help accompany some singing around the fire.

The registration cost will be $55. Scholarships are available for those who do not have access to professional growth funds from their congregation. More information will follow about how to register. Please save the date and plan to join with your brothers and sisters in ministry for this time of Sabbath renewal.

Tentative Schedule

Sunday

5:00-6:00 Arrive and Settle In

6:00-6:30 Opening Worship

6:30-7:30 Group Building

7:45-8:45 Plenary w/ Steve

9:00-10:00 Campfire and Conversation

Monday

8:00-8:30 Breakfast

8:45-9:15 Morning Worship

9:30-11:00 Plenary w/ Steve

11:15-12:00 Free Time and Coaching/Listening Sessions (one-on-one or small group) w/ Cluster Ministers

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30 Free Time/Sabbath Rest

2:30-4:00 Plenary w/ Steve

4:15-5:00 Free Time and Coaching/Listening Sessions (one-on-one or small group) w/ Cluster Ministers

5:00-6:00 Dinner

6:00-7:00 Plenary w/Steve

7:30-8:30 Ministry Sharing

8:30-9:00 Evening Worship

9:00-10:00 Campfire and Conversation

Tuesday

8:00-8:30 Breakfast

8:30-9:00 Pack and Clean-up

9:00-10:00 Plenary w/ Steve

10:00-11:00 Closing Worship