Pastoral Consultation: Same-Gender Attraction, Relationship, Lifestyle

November 9-11, 2015
Lindale Mennonite Church

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Schedule

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015
3:00 p.m. Vision for the Consultation and welcome: Clyde Kratz

3:05 p.m. “The Role of the Church in Culture” – Craig Maven
Craig will provide an overview of how the church and culture intersect for the health of both. As culture changes and adapts to contemporary challenges, the church has a dynamic role to both inform culture about its own values and develop ways for religious constituency to engage in the contemporary challenge with integrity.

5:15 p.m. Table Discussions

Public Event
7:00 p.m. Worship: Lindale Worship Team
7:30 p.m. “The Unity of God’s Kingdom”
Phil Kniss has done a remarkable job developing themes of unity at Park View Mennonite Church and will present themes from that experience during this public event.

8:15 p.m. Feedback Opportunity: Phil Kniss, facilitator
8:30 p.m. Closing Worship: Lindale Worship Team

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015
9:00 a.m. Morning Worship
9:15 a.m. Devotional

9:30 a.m. “Six Christian Views of Homosexuality” – Nancy Heisey
Nancy Heisey, a New Testament scholar, will present a spectrum approach to same gender issues. The presentation will provide an authentic biblical bases for each position with a focus on the ethical implications for how each view is lived out by the faith community.

10:15 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Table Discussion
11:30 a.m. Reporting
Noon Lunch

1:00 p.m. “VMC’s History of Navigation through Difficult Issues”
Sam Weaver will share an historical overview of VMC, dealing with divorce and remarriage, women in ministry, and military and membership can provides insight into other difficult issues the church has faced.

2:00 p.m. Table Discussion
2:45 p.m. Reporting
3:00 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. “My Story and Family Experience” – Owen Burkholder will share his story of walking through this issue in their family.

4:30 p.m. Table Discussion
5:00 p.m. Supper

PUBLIC EVENT
7:00 p.m. Worship: Lindale Worship Team

8:00 p.m. “Framing the Issue of ‘Forbearance’ and ‘Membership Guidelines’” – Panel Discussion.
A panel of pastors reflect on their hopes and dreams for Virginia Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA in terms of holding these two resolutions in tension.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015

8:30 a.m. Morning Worship
8:50 a.m. Devotional
9:00 a.m. Table Discussion
10:00 a.m. Break

10:20 a.m. “Moving & Holding”: Circle Process.
David Brubaker facilitates group processes for pastors to talk in an open circle that allows expressions of concern, hope and acknowledged challenges about our future.

11:30 a.m. Closing Worship
Noon Lunch

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Registration

Note: Clyde G. Kratz, the Executive Conference Minister, asks that credentialed leaders attend the entirety of this comprehensive Pastoral Leadership Consultation on Same-Gender Relationships, the fifth and last in the series. No single-day discounts will be granted.

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