2012 Program Events

Bible Hour

Tuesday-Friday, 9-10 a.m.
MaryKate Morse
"Jesus' Kingdom Theology as the Foundation for Christ-Centered Change"

Being conformed to the image of Christ for individuals and churches is a journey of change. During the morning Bible Hour we will explore Jesus' prophetic call to an authentic view of God's kingdom, represented by three core theological principles: resurrection hope as it shapes our thinking about possibilities; relational holiness as it shapes our emotional relationships; and radical hospitality as it shapes our behavior toward the "other." Using Jesus' teaching and Romans 12, each session will include a presentation and will end with a pragmatic spiritual discipline for participants to practice.

Evening Worship

Monday-Thursday, 7 p.m.
Tod Bolsinger and Richard Mouw
"The Authority of the Lamb for a Postmodern Culture"

Many Christians, including many theologians and church leaders, seem reluctant to proclaim these days that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior for all peoples and all nations. And even when they affirm this, the emphasis is often on one or another aspect of his authority. Revelation 5 presents Jesus as the victorious Lamb who calls his people, beneficiaries of his atoning work, to serve his cosmic mission in the world as a "kingdom and priests."

Communion & Commissioning Service

Friday, 10:30 a.m.
Richard Mouw

Seminar Tracks

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Tuesday & Thursday, 3:30-5 p.m.

Ecclesiology
Tod Bolsinger
"As It Is in Heaven? The Church and our Churches"

It has been nearly 300 years since the last time the Presbyterian tradition was asked to adapt its ecclesiology to a new world. The rise of a post-Christendom context offers us the opportunity and the responsibility to reconsider our tradition in light of the missional opportunities and challenges before us. This workshop will frame up a conversation for reconsidering our understanding of "denomination," "congregation," and "presbytery" that is both faithful to our theological convictions and able to engage a changing culture.

The Perspectives and Questions of Young Pastors
Mindy Smith & Jerry Deck
"Leading On In Times of Change"

The next generation of young pastors faces new challenges and triumphs in the life of the church. The Young Pastors track at WIM is designed to process the perspectives and questions of younger pastors who are eager to learn from one another. We will focus on the importance of missional theology, spiritual formation, and leading the church in these turbulent times. Leadership for this track will be provided by Mindy Smith, campus pastor at Whitworth University, and Jerry Deck, executive director of Presbyterian Global Fellowship.

Worship Leadership
Ben Brody
"Let All Creation Sing! Singing and Leading Music from the Church Universal"

Corporate worship is one of the primary venues for spiritual formation in the church. Through the Word and the sacraments, paryers and songs, our communities are shaped and molded to reflect the image of Christ more fully. This year's worship track focuses on congregational song as a means of shaping the church's faith through music from around the world and throughout history. The worship track at WIM is designed for music directors, pastors, and interested laypeople; there is no musical prerequisite. We will focus on expanding the breadth and depth of our congregational music repertoire as a way to promote spiritual formation. Participants will develop an understanding of musical practice in a variety of cultures and genres; they will also explore skills in singing and leading a variety of music. Leadership for the track will be provided by Ben Brody, along with other members of the WIM music leadership team.

Track sessions:

• Creative ways of singing the Psalms in Christian Worship
• Recent Worship Choruses Re-invented
• Global Praise: Singing and Leading Music from Nonwestern Cultures
• Singing and Leading African-American Spirituals and Gospel Music
• How Firm a Foundation: Rediscovering and Reinventing Historic Hymnody for the 21st Century

Workshops

Monday, 3:30-5 p.m., for all participants
Tod Bolsinger
"Canoeing the Mountains: Leading into Uncharted Territory"
Leadership in times of change requires a significantly different skill set than is usually assumed. In this seminar, we will use the Lewis and Clark expedition as a model for learning how to lead congregations into a vast, unknown cultural future.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-noon
Suzette McGonigal
Spouses' Workshop
A time of sharing and encouragement for pastors' spouses. Issues include freedom to be one's self at church; "the pedestal problem"; a clergy spouse's sense of identity and calling to ministry; the spouse's relationship with members of the church; children of the pastor/spouse and their spiritual growth and response to congregational expectations; moving from one ministry to another; family competing for a spouse's time and energy; and a spouse's own need for support.

Discussion format (though those who choose just to listen are welcome!)

McGonigal has spent many summers with spouses of people in ministry facilitating small-group interaction. She currently serves on the counseling staff at Whitworth.

For more information, please contact Toni Sutherland at tsutherland@whitworth.edu or 509.777.4345.