Workshops – Gathering 2024

Session 1 Workshops with Audio

Rwanda Sister Church Relationships: Join Bishop Emmanuel Ngendahayo from Byumba Diocese in Rwanda, along with clergy and lay leaders from around the DRM who have sister church relationships with Rwandan parishes, for this panel session. We’ll learn more and hear stories about the abundant gifts, real challenges, and formational power of sustained relationships between parishes in the DRM and the Anglican Church in Rwanda.
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Godspeed Bible Study: Recovering the lost art of seeing scripture and encountering Jesus (Matt Canlis) Watch Matt lead a Bible study designed for skeptics and believers. And discover the simple method that anybody can do for uniting discipleship and evangelism in your parish.
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Through the Valley of the Shadow: Ministry to Disciples Facing Death and Grief (Ben Wagner and Theology Group) We live in a culture where many people deny death, while others embrace it as a savior from suffering (as in assisted suicide). This workshop focuses on recovering the Christian tradition of the Art of Dying (Ars Moriendi) and “grieving, yet not without hope” (1 Thess, 4:13).  Among the topics discussed will be: Ministry to the dying in the Book of Common Prayer; the traditional Christian funeral versus the modern memorial service; developing a church culture focused on encouraging one another to “finish well.” Listen Below, Download Audio, Download Workshop Outline

Session 2 Workshops with Audio 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm

Political Discipleship in the Local Church  (Ken Robertson) How do we live as disciples of Christ within the political realm? What are some basic principles and practices that churches can pursue to foster a faithful witness as kingdom citizens within the nations of the world? In this presidential election year, the opportunities for transformation and divisiveness in this space abound. Join Pastor Ken Robertson as he shares a basic framework for political discipleship that has emerged from his ministry at International Anglican Church, where  “red” and “blue” worship together, wrestle in political conversation together, and live out their differing convictions about politics – together.
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Literature, Catechesis, and Heart Renewal (Matt Burnett) We all long for people to deepen in their love for God. In the experience of Fr. Matt, the integration of the Anglican catechism, communal prayer, the study of history, scripture meditation, and imaginative literature (specifically The Chronicles of Narnia!) can effectively prime the imaginations of older youth and adults to renew head-and-heart love of God. Come to learn more about how this integration has been happening at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Colorado Springs. 
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Workshops without Audio

Church Polity [Rectors and the Vestry/Parish council] – Working with other Leaders in the Local Church (Ben Fischer) – Much of the conflict we experience among leaders comes from misunderstandings about our church polity, particularly as many in our congregations — including clergy — come from other denominations. In this session we will address clergy relationships and that of the rector with the Parish Council, discussing both theory and practice. There are, in fact, distinctives to the Anglican way of church governance.

Hospitality and Discipleship  (Tara Malouf and Katie Gayle) : Hospitality is key to discipling people into the life of the church. It is the action by which people are moved from being strangers to being friends, with the goal of them becoming family. Join is as we look at hospitality in the liturgy, hospitality as formation, and hospitality as disciple making. 

“Who’s Discipling the Kids?” (Dr. Heather Jennings), In this workshop, I will explore how, if the church is to take discipling the next generation seriously, we must be involved in K-12 education. Students are being formed by secular liturgies in 8+ hours of school and an average of 7-8 hours of screens daily, in comparison to just a few hours a week of formation in the church. After discussing why kids as young as 12 are driving trends in secularization, we will consider education as a form of discipleship and discuss practical resources for churches and families to partner together in K-12 education in our parishes.

Discerning the voice of God (Christy Summers):  Using contemplative conversation reminiscent of group spiritual direction and similar discernment contexts, this workshop will explore the ways in which we hear from and connect with God in our own times of prayer. This is not a “taught class” but an interactive conversation where we will learn from one another, tapping into our individual experiences with the “sound” of God’s voice and how we distinguish His voice from others we might be hearing. Christy Summers, a seasoned spiritual director, will facilitate an interactive experience where we hear from and share with others about different approaches to engaging with the Holy Spirit, overcoming spiritual and emotional blocks, and opening ourselves to the invitations that the Lord might have for us.