Covenant Conversation: San Antonio is Saturday, Sept. 14: Speakers and Workshops Announced

Speakers and workshops have been announced for the latest Covenant Conversation. These events help Presbyterians live into a new day in the church's life, bringing communities together to talk about being church for ALL God's people. Our next Covenant Conversation is in San Antonio, Texas, hosted by University Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. We'll gather this Saturday, September 14, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and you are invited. If you are anywhere nearby, we'd love to have you there. Lunch is included in the $10 registration fee.

To register for Covenant Conversation: San Antonio, click here.

 

Worship Leader/Preacher

The Rev. Lucy Strong is Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. Previously, Lucy served as the Presbyterian Campus Minister at UKirk Agnes Scott and the Greater Decatur Area for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. Lucy is a graduate of CTS, where she was president of the student body and recipient of the Robert Ramey Jr. Church Leadership Award. Lucy and her wife, Sarah, live in Decatur, GA.  

Keynote Speakers

Better Late Than Never: Becoming An Affirming Church, and Saying So, in 2019

The Rev. Matt Gaventa is Senior Pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, and previously served as pastor to Amherst Presbyterian Church in Amherst, Virginia, and as chaplain to Sweet Briar College. Matt is an acclaimed writer and preacher and co-hosts the podcast Sunday Morning Matinee for The Christian Century. He also sits on the Advisory Board of the mainline sermon broadcast Day1 and on the Board of Directors of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. Matt holds degrees from Georgetown University, the University of Iowa, and Princeton Theological Seminary. He currently lives in Austin with his wife Sarah and their son Charlie.

Covenant Conversations in a New Day: Speaking Hopeful Words in an Anxious Church

The Rev. Brian Ellison has served as Executive Director of the Covenant Network since 2012, preaching, teaching and providing overall strategic leadership in implementing the organization’s mission. Previously, he served as pastor of Parkville (Mo.) Presbyterian Church for 13 years. Brian serves the General Assembly as a member of its Permanent Judicial Commission; he previously was a director of the Board of Pensions, a member of the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly, and moderator of both the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment and the Stated Clerk Nomination Committee. He is Associate Stated Clerk of the Synod of Mid-America. A graduate of Harvard University and Princeton Theological Seminary, Brian also is host/contributor at NPR affiliate KCUR-FM. He and his partner, Troy Lillebo, live in Kansas City.

To register, or to see a complete schedule for Covenant Conversation: San Antonio, click here.

Workshops/Leaders

Workshops may include the following...

One Church: The global church and LGBTQIA issues facing our mission workers and ecumenical partners 

Doug Chial works with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland. Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, professor of world Christianity and ecumenical studies at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, is Stated Clerk Emeritus of the General Assembly and former President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Navigating Difficult Conversations: How to talk about controversial things in helpful ways 

Elder Vince Patton is a Human Resources professional who formerly served the Presbyterian Mission Agency. Elder Susan Thornton is Christian Education Consultant for Los Ranchos Presbytery in Anaheim, California.

The Bible & Sexuality: What the scriptures really say … and don’t say 

Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer is Professor of New Testament Studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Creating Safe & Welcoming Space: How to affirm God’s people of all sexual and gender identities in our facilities, our worship, and all our ministry. 

Rev. Marci Auld Glass is pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho, and Co-Moderator of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians Board of Directors.

“Religious Freedom”: A dive into one of today’s hottest public policy issues

Rev. Chad Herring is pastor of the Kirk of Kansas City (Presbyterian) and a member of the Prairie Village, Kansas, City Council. He recently co-sponsored a Non-Discrimination Ordinance, which was passed by the Council, to protect LGBTQIA people.

Intersections: The meeting of immigration, race and LGBTQIA inclusion in our witness and common life 

Leadership of this workshop is TBA.

To register or learn more, click here.

If you can't attend, but would like to offer your financial support to make this and future Covenant Conversations around the country possible, please consider making a financial contribution today!