Pastors Week 2008

Risky and Risqué: Everything you always wanted to know about testimony, but were afraid to ask

Dates: January 28-31

See news story and photos from Pastors Week 2008.

See Pastors Week brochure with full details

Click here to register online. NEW! Online registration now includes online payment options.

Talking about what God is doing in one’s own life can be risky business in many North American neighborhoods and churches. While many Christians believe they feel, hear and see evidence of God at work in their everyday experiences, talking about these signs of God’s presence is often reserved only for the most intimate of relationships. For many people it’s easier to talk openly about sexuality or other once-taboo topics than to imagine sharing a “testimony” publicly. There may be good reasons for this reticence. Past mis-uses within congregations and the current secular and religious climate may give us pause. Yet, without personal testimonies can Christian faith be truly vital? Without testimonies, will Christian faith live on?

Pastors Week will examine the Bible’s view of this issue, consider factors that have led to the current reticence to testify, and point the way toward new models of testimony that are both faithful to the call of Scripture and authentic to our time.

Featured presenters

Arthur Paul Boers, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, AMBS
Ben C. Ollenburger, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Theology, AMBS
Alan Kreider, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Church History, AMBS; Long-time mission worker in England
Rebecca Slough, Ph.D., Academic Dean, Associate Professor of Worship and the Arts, AMBS

Preachers

Regina Shands Stoltzfus, Ph.D. student in theology at Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago
Barb Smith Morrison, pastoral team member at Saint Jacobs Mennonite Church, Saint Jacobs, Ont.
Esdras Ferreras(invited), pastor at Sonido de Alabanza, Cicero, Ill.

Worship leaders

Brenda Hostetler Meyer, pastor at Benton Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind.
Karla Stoltzfus, 2007 AMBS Master of Divinity graduate and former intern at Benton Mennonite Church; and friends from Benton Mennonite Church.

Workshops

Workshops are offered Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Descriptions of the workshops are available here.

Morning prayers

You are invited to join in praying the Daily Office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the Chapel of the Word, Waltner Hall. The Daily Office is a structured prayer time that utilizes the Psalms and lectionary readings.

Continuing Education Credit

Attending Pastors Week earns 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Indicate if you would like to receive CEU credit on the Pastors Week Registration Form.

Registration

Click here to register online. NEW! Online registration now includes online payment options.

Fee information for registration, meals, transportation, lodging and child care is available here.

Questions?

Contact the Church Leadership Center
(574) 296-6269
ChurchLeadership@ambs.edu