LCMS Kansas District 2018 Pastors Conference September 30 - October 2, 2018 Hilton Garden Inn, Salina, Kansas

Transcription

1 LCMS Kansas District 2018 Pastors Conference September 30 - October 2, 2018 Hilton Garden Inn, Salina, Kansas Philippians 1:5..because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

2 SCHEDULE Sunday: September 30 5:00-6:30 p.m. Registration/Hotel Check-In 7:00 p.m. Conference Worship [Fellowship] Monday: October 1 7:00-8:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00-8:30 a.m. Opening Devotion 8:30-8:45 a.m. Announcements 8:45-9:45 a.m. Keynote A: Foundations for Building Koinonia 9:45-10:00 a.m. Break 10:00-11:00 a.m. Sectional I 11:00-11:15 a.m. Break 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Sectional II 12:15-12:30 p.m. Break 12:30-1:45 p.m. Awards Banquet/Lunch 1:45-2:15 p.m. Break 2:15-3:15 p.m. Sectional III 3:15-3:30 p.m. Break 3:30-5:00 p.m. Keynote B: What Has Been Done? Free evening Tuesday: October 2 7:00-8:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00-8:30 a.m. Opening Devotion 8:30-8:45 a.m. Announcements 8:45-9:45 a.m. Keynote C: Toward Greater Concord 9:45-10:15 a.m. Q & A 10:15-10:30 a.m. Break 10:30-11:30 a.m. Business Meeting/Closing Devotion 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m Planning Team Meets * The worship service offering has been designated by the Pastors Committee for The Lutheran Center for Theological Studies (CLET). The Lutheran Center for Theological Studies (CLET) provides seminary education for students from eight countries in West and Central Africa: Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi. The first pastors from CLET, five men from Togo, were ordained in In the year, 28 students were enrolled. The typical course of study at the CLET is three years of training at the seminary, and two years of vicarage.

3 REGISTRATION INFORMATION This conference is for all active and retired church workers and their spouses. Online registration begins August 1 at Registration fees: $150 through September 17 $75 Spouse, Vicar $0 Emeritus Pastor $175 after September 17 $75 Spouse, Vicar Registration fee includes breakfast and lunch on Monday, breakfast on Tuesday, all breaks and materials. This is a required conference for all rostered church workers. Cancellations or substitutions Substitute when possible as cancellations after Sept. 17, 2018 may be subject to a $70.00 per person cancellation fee to cover meal costs. Registrants can make changes to the online registration form until Sept. 17. Contact the district office to make changes after that. Save your registration confirmation as this contains the link to your individual online registration form. Up-to-the-minute conference registration details regarding schedule, speakers, online registration and hotel registration can be accessed on the Kansas District website: Questions? Contact Tami at the District Office at or ext. 200 or tami@kslcms.org. Hilton Garden Inn Salina 3320 South 9th Street Salina, KS, HOTEL INFORMATION Reservations: KS District Lutheran Pastor - To make reservations easier you can go online to the hotel website at or by calling the hotel at and asking for the group rate by name (KS Lutheran Pastors). All reservations should be made by August 29, After this date, we will release the remainder of the guest room block. Additional reservation requests will be honored on a space and rate available basis. Cost: $112/night plus tax single Check-in: 3:00 p.m. Check-out: 11:00 a.m. Amenities: 24-hr Pavilion Pantry Market, Bar Area, Coin Laundry, Laundry/Valet Service, Lounge, Luggage Hold, On-Site Convenience Store, Pavilion Lounge, Room Service, Safety Deposit Box, Snack Shop, Fitness Room, Pool

4 KEYNOTE SPEAKER Rev. Dr. Dean Nadasdy Dean Nadasdy has served as President of the Minnesota South District of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod ( ). His parish experience includes pastorates at Woodbury Lutheran Church, Woodbury, MN ( ); Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN ( ); and Grace Lutheran Church, Eugene, OR, on the campus of the University of Oregon ( ). From 1997 to 2000, Dean served as Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he held the Gregg H. Benidt Memorial Chair in Homiletics and Literature. He currently teaches as an adjunct instructor in the D. Min. program at Concordia Seminary. He has lectured in homiletics at seminaries in Latvia and Hungary. He is a frequent presenter in homiletics, worship, and mission at conferences of pastors and Christian educators. Dean served as 3rd and 4th Vice-President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod ( ). He has co-edited a book of essays on homiletics titled Worship is Preaching (CPH, 2011). He was a contributor to the study notes for the Lutheran Study Bible (ESV/CPH) released in From he was founding editor of Faithful and Afire, a series of monthly Bible studies for pastors. He has written a class for children preparing for Communion, This Is the Feast (CPH, 2001). He has written several adult LifeLight Bible studies for publication (CPH). He is a contributor to Preach the Word, a video-based series on excellence in preaching. Two collections of Dean s worship dramas have been published, Gospel Dramas (Augsburg/Fortress) and Cross Views: Story Dramas That Teach the Faith (CPH). His children s Christmas plays are used in churches around the country. He also authored Tough Days and Talks with God (Augsburg/Fortress) and Questions Teens Are Asking Today (CPH). He is a frequent contributor to worship and preaching resources by Creative Communications. Dean received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI, in In 1996, Concordia University, Seward, NE, awarded him its Doctor of Letters degree for his writing. He enjoys writing poetry, drama, and hymn lyrics and loves art history and films. Three of his choral lyrics have recently been published as choral settings (MorningStar and Augsburg). Dean is married to Susie, a retired Lutheran middle and high school English teacher. They are blessed with three children, Kristin, Molly, and Philip, and five grandchildren, Luke, Greta, Micah, Emily, and Esther.

5 Keynote A: Foundations for Building Koinonia We explore the concept of koinonia in the New Testament and in the Lutheran Confessions. We consider three aspects of fellowship: unity, concord, and harmony. We define doctrine and practice. We consider where agreement and uniformity are necessary and where they are not. We identify issues in doctrine and practice that currently divide us in the LCMS. Keynote B: What Has Been Done? We review the concept statement for the LCMS Koinonia Project. We look at what various districts have done to promote greater concord in doctrine and practice. We evaluate the disputation model as a tool for moving toward greater concord. We look at realistic objectives for the Koinonia Project. We test-drive a Koinonia conversation. Keynote C: Toward Greater Concord We clarify both the opportunities and the challenges inherent in a Koinonia process. We consider a variety of models available for Koinonia conversations. We take first steps toward a concept and design for the Kansas District.

6 SECTIONAL LIST Presenter Sessions Session Titles DCE Brian Amey C3 Effective and Faithful Youth Ministry in the District Pr. Geoff Boyle B2 Fire, Darkness, and the Light of Christ: Celebrating the Easter Vigil Pr. Michael C. Brockman C1 Ancient and Apropos for Advent: The O Antiphons Rev. Dr. J.S. Bruss A1, C2 What Does Wittenberg Teach Missouri on Worship?; Protecting Your Ministry against the Known Unknown Pastor Phil Cook B3 Gender Dysphoria and Christ s Compassion Rev. Jacob Gaugert Rev. Dr. Brent Smith A4 Mission Central Updates from Latin American & Africa Rev. Fr. Mark D. Lovett, SSP A2 Koinonia The Families that Pray Together Rev. Dennis Mason (Emeritus) C4 Note the Muslim RAGE Rev. Daniel Ross A3 Exploring the New Lutheran Service Builder Online! Rev. Michael J. Schmidt B1 That s My Manger Box An Advent Series PRESENTER BIOS DCE Brian Amey Brian Amey is passionate about the discipleship and faith development of youth and young adults. He loves working together with parents, youth, and other servant leaders to teach God s children about Christ s love and equip them to go out and show that love to others. Holy Cross focuses on events that will have a greater impact on our youths faith, such as servant events, camps, lock-ins, retreats, and weeklong events. After growing up at Holy Cross in Wichita, Kansas, Brian went to Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska and enrolled in the Director of Christian Education program. While in school, he met and married Pamela, a DCE student. Pam received and took the call to her internship congregation, Redeemer Lutheran, in Lincoln, Nebraska in There she worked for three-and-a-half years. Brian followed Pam to Lincoln, where he was called to serve as Calvary s Minister of Discipleship for just over two years. He was then called to Holy Cross in late 2006 where he still serves as Minister of Youth and Young Adults. He has been blessed with three children, Rachel, David, and Nicole. Pr. Michael C. Brockman Born, baptized, catechized and educated in central Iowa, I decided before my third year of education at Iowa State to travel Europe for six weeks one summer. What a Wunderding! It took me another three years to graduate. Still undecided about vocation after a full four years, I was propelled in a direction I was not considering by the question of a female Roman Catholic student about her baptism ( Does my Baptism save me? ). That also was a Wunderding! It drove me to rediscover my catechism and soon to discover Concordia Theological Seminary at Fort Wayne. Then it was off to Venezuela, later the panhandle of Nebraska, then a short return to Iowa and now 23.5 years in Kansas. Two of our four kids live in the state, but they do not love it as much as do my wife and I. I hope to be buried in some obscure rural Kansas cemetery, facing east, where I will have an unobscured view of the Lord s Second Coming.

7 Pr. Geoff Boyle Pastor Boyle has served Grace and Trinity Lutheran Churches since He is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto, focusing on the Real Presence of Christ in the Old Testament. He has taught adjunct for Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne since 2011, as well as through Seminario Concordia in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has presented papers at numerous theological, scholarly, and pastoral conferences since He is undeservedly blessed by his wife, Nicole, and his five children. Rev. Dr. J.S. Bruss The Rev. Dr. J.S. Bruss presently serves as senior pastor of St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka and circuit 6 circuit visitor. A 1994 graduate of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, he was ordained into the Holy Ministry in In addition to the M.Div., he holds the B.A. in classics from St. Olaf College, the M.A. in classics and the Ph.D. in classics and philosophy from the University of Minnesota. The author/editor of three books, his theological publications have appeared in Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology and Lutheran Synod Quarterly. He is a contributing translator to the 20-volume supplement to Luther s Works presently being published by CPH, and his most recent work on that project can be found in volume 67, Annotations on Matthew Pastor Phil Cook Pastor Phil is an associate pastor at Trinity and the lead pastor at the Shawnee campus. His greatest passions in ministry are seeing people find help, hope, and freedom in Jesus from the pain in their life caused by sin, and to help people know and follow Jesus more closely in their lives. Pastor Phil joined Trinity s staff in 2015 after serving nine years in the Dallas area. He enjoys being outdoors and enjoying God s creation, and playing with tools. Pastor Phil s wife, Rebeka, is his partner in ministry as they raise three young children. Rev. Jacob Gaugert Rev. Jacob Gaugert serves the Lord as a career missionary through The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in Togo. Jacob teaches courses in Lutheran theology at The Centre Luthérien d Etudes Théologiques (CLET), or Lutheran Center for Theological Studies, in Dapaong, Togo, West Africa. He also teaches some distance learning and continuing education courses as needed. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he coordinates visiting professors to CLET. Jacob was born in Sullivan, Wis., and was baptized and confirmed at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sullivan. He graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis., in 2004 with a bachelor s degree in theological and classical languages. He received his MDiv. degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., in Before becoming a career missionary, Jacob served as a pastor at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dr. Martin Luther (LCMS SELC District) in Chicago, Ill., where he was involved with urban/cross-cultural mission work. In his free time, Jacob likes to read, garden and raise chickens. Rev. Fr. Mark D. Lovett, SSP Pastor Lovett serves the Church of God in Herington, Kansas, and has for about a year and a half. Prior to his current call, Pastor Lovett served the Church of God in Hoisington, Kansas for just over ten years. Pastor Lovett graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 2006 with a concentration in church history and exegesis and earned a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, in Pastor Lovett is a member of the Society of St. Polycarp (SSP), a society for Lutheran laymen and clergy meant to foster increased regular prayer and ecumenical dialogue with other local pastors and churches, and to meet for the study of God s word and God s works in history for His people. Pastor Lovett and his wife, Kristi, also manage the Kansas District Retreat Center for the Kansas District. He has served on numerous boards and committees for the district. He and Kristi have three children: Joshua, Sarah, and Kristopher. Rev. Dennis Mason (Emeritus) MDiv., Concordia Ft. Wayne, LCMS Board of Mission Services, [Assigned: Liberia, 84-91; Sierra Leone, 91-95; Nigeria, 96-97]. Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ulysses, KS, Retired. (Vacancy) Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lakin, KS, until Two visits to Guinea. Pulpit supply. Rev. Daniel Ross Rev. Daniel Ross is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Topeka, Kansas and a writer for Concordia Technology Solutions blog. A graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma and Concordia Seminary, Daniel has a passion for bringing God s love to people. Originally technologically ignorant and averse, Daniel has embraced and come to enjoy the opportunities that technology has opened up in spreading the Gospel to all nations throughout the world. He is married and has two young children.

8 Rev. Michael J. Schmidt Rev. Michael J. Schmidt is a 2003 graduate of Concordia College, Bronxville, NY and a 2007 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. He serves Peace Lutheran Church, Natoma and First Lutheran Church, Plainville, and is also the Circuit 15 Visitor. He has been published in Higher Things Magazine and in Life Date Magazine, and been a guest on Issues, Etc. He and Pastor Philip Hoppe have co-authored a Bible study available through Creative Communications entitled: These Things are Written: the Story of God and His People, a 26 Session Study of the Bible. Pastor Schmidt and his wife Lindsey live in Natoma with their son, Theo. Rev. Dr. Brent Smith The Rev. Dr. Brent Smith started serving Nov. 1, 2016 as mission development counselor at Mission Central ( In this role, Smith serves alongside Old Missionary Gary Thies. As mission development counselor, Smith works to inform congregations and their members of LCMS national and international mission work, while also connecting people with opportunities to support missionaries and projects with prayer, encouragement and voluntary giving. In addition, he advocates for regional mission opportunities spearheaded or coordinated by their respective LCMS districts. Brent, Jennie, Zachary (18), Katelyn (16), and Sophia (13) are based in Omaha, Neb. a location that allows him both to welcome missionaries traveling to Mission Central and deploy nationally at the invitation of individuals and congregations. After growing up on a farm outside Imperial, Nebraska, and working in public accounting, Smith has served in various positions in the church since 1995, when he was sent to work as business manager in Central Asia ( ). He later spent six years as an evangelistic missionary in Russia before being called to as executive staff in the role of regional director for the Eurasia region based in Germany ( ). His doctorate focused on strategies for working as Christians in Muslim-majority contexts. Most recently, he served three years based near Washington D.C. in the LCMS Southeastern District as executive director for mission development ( ). SECTIONAL I Monday October 1, 10:00 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Session: A1 Title: What Does Wittenberg Teach Missouri on Worship? Presenter: Rev. Dr. J.S. Bruss Description: In the spirit of the Koinonia project, this paper takes up publicly, appreciatively, and with his permission the Rev. Dr. John Tape s thoughtfully articulated effort to arrive at principles that might inform a truce in the worship wars (John Tape, The Historic Liturgy: Important or Adiaphoron? Yes, unpublished typescript, 2017 Kansas District Professional Church Workers Conference). Testing many of his paper s claims and therefore also conclusions, as well as considering other evidence, it arrives at a significantly different solution, even as it confirms some of its observations. Session: A2 Title: Koinonia The Families that Pray Together Presenter: Rev. Fr. Mark D. Lovett, SSP Description: Everyone knows the saying that the family that prays together stays together. But what of the family of God? What of the congregation? Does the same hold true? Do the families that pray together stay together? I would say: yes! And there is more to praying together than just at church on Sunday. There are a myriad of ways and times for the congregation to join together in prayer, sharing in common not only their time, talents, and treasures, but their petitions and supplications. This presentation will look at several things a congregation might do to foster unity in prayer outside of Sunday morning worship, including at-home prayer or devotions as well as other, more corporate times for the congregation to pray together. We all want ways to foster unity, peace, and encouragement toward faithfulness. And many programs and such have promised to help in that. But what about a program of prayer? Are we not called to pray without ceasing? And doesn t the Bible give many benefits to prayer not the least of which is unity in the bond of peace? It does! So as we look at ways to help congregations foster the Spirit of unity, such as the Koinonia Project, we should take a good, purposeful look at how we, the family of God, pray together so that we might stay together by the blessings and promise of our Lord. Session: A3 Title: Exploring the New Lutheran Service Builder Online! Presenter: Rev. Daniel Ross Description: With the new release of Lutheran Service Builder Online it is even easier to plan and create worship services. Come see what the LSB Online has to offer as Rev. Daniel Ross will lead the attendees through the basics while creating a worship service during the presentation and showing off some of the new features of the online version of Lutheran Service Builder.

9 Session: A4 Title: Mission Central Updates from Latin American & Africa Presenter: Rev. Jacob Gaugert & Rev. Dr. Brent Smith Description: This session will focus on the latest updates on God s work through missionaries in Latin America and Africa. Come learn (1) where the missionaries are located and why; (2) what regional discipleship ministries are multiplying church workers; and (3) which missionaries are receiving support from individuals and congregations in Kansas. SECTIONAL II Monday October 1, 11:15 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Session: B1 Title: That s My Manger Box An Advent Series Presenter: Rev. Michael J. Schmidt Description: Drive past any number of houses in the month of December, and you are going to see more than a few Nativity scenes decorating the front yards of homes. Each scene will have Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus, and more than a few will include a shepherd and some wise men. But if the owner has the complete set, you will also see a cow, a donkey, at least one camel and a sheep. Why are these animals there? Do they bear any significance to the Christmas story? Scripture does not specifically mention any animals present at the Nativity, so why do they show up in the front yards or on the mantels of so many homes? That s My Manger Box is an Advent series that explores each of the animals in the common Nativity scene and how each animal points us to the child in the manger, the Savior of the world. Those attending will receive a handout with a series outline and access to full sermons for four services. Session: B2 Title: Fire, Darkness, and the Light of Christ: Celebrating the Easter Vigil Presenter: Pr. Geoff Boyle Description: Fire. Candles. Darkness and light. This is the night when Christ, the Life, arose from the dead! The Easter Vigil is the high-point and center of the church year, a most beautiful and rich celebration of the paschal mystery. And yet, it seems relatively unknown among us pastors, let alone the people we ve been given to serve. I d like to do two things during this presentation: first, briefly explain what the Easter Vigil is, where it comes from, and why we d benefit from its celebration; and second, what it looks like and how to do it. I ll provide and walk through an example of how we do it at Grace and Trinity in Wichita, and try to answer questions as to how this might be implemented in a variety of contexts. If you ve never heard of the Easter Vigil, then this is for you. If you ve heard of but never offered such a service, this is for you. If you ve done it a thousand times and want to point out all the ways in which I m doing it wrong well, I suppose this is for you, too. Alleluia! Christ is risen! Session: B3 Title: Gender Dysphoria and Christ s Compassion Presenters: Pastor Phil Cook Description: Confused by gender identity confusion? Gender Dysphoria? Transgender? Pan-gender? Join us for a discussion of this complicated topic that is becoming more and more prominent in our society today. We will spend most of our time thinking through the CTCR document Gender Identity Disorder or Gender Dysphoria in Christian Perspective and examining the Scriptures that lie behind it, as well as drawing on a few other resources and personal experiences with the topic. A good chance to learn together with other brothers in Christ. SECTIONAL III Monday October 1, 2:15 p.m. 3:15 p.m. Session: C1 Title: Ancient and Apropos for Advent: The O Antiphons Presenter: Pr. Michael C. Brockman Description: Seven antiphons were sung by the Medieval Church on seven consecutive days before Christmas Eve and are laid out as such in LSB-#357. They can also be used for the weeks before Christmas. A brief history of the practice will be given and seven sermons supplied that may be used in two ways: 1) two years of Advent Vespers; or 2) the Sundays in Advent and Advent Vespers.

10 Session: C2 Title: Protecting Your Ministry against the Known Unknown Presenter: Rev. Dr. J.S. Bruss Description: The school of experience is an excellent teacher, but it s also harsh. And in the work of the ministry, it can unduly shortcircuit your ability to carry out the duties of the pastoral office. However, preparation for the known unknowns can help you avoid pitfalls that can harm your ministry. This session takes up those pitfalls that come in connection with several events that your flock hold dear: Baptisms, weddings, confirmation, and funerals. The aim in avoiding these pitfalls is to protect the integrity of the ministry of Word and Sacrament entrusted to you by Christ, the Lord of the Church, so that His Word, as becomes it, may in fact be preached and taught to the joy and edification of His holy people, and His Sacraments rightly administered. In addition to identifying the pitfalls lurking in those momentous times for people and pastor alike participants will also discuss ways of getting out ahead of them by way of considering some procedural outlines and policies shaped by another pastor s trials in the school of experience. Participants are free to adopt, adapt, and refine these procedures and policies for their own circumstances. Session: C3 Title: Effective and Faithful Youth Ministry in the District Presenters: DCE Brian Amey Description: What is there for your youth in the district? Come find out! We will also discuss the current goals of the District Youth Ministry Committee and how we can best collaborate with each and every church in Kansas. I am the current District Youth Ministry Committee Chairman and have worked closely with the District Gathering, LVR Summer Camps, and the National Youth Gathering. Session: C4 Title: Note the Muslim RAGE Presenter: Rev. Dennis Mason (Emeritus) Description: The Koranic doctrine: Al Walaa wa al Baraa. It is considered second in importance to Al Tawhid (the doctrine of the Islamic creed). The Walaa/Baraa doctrine encourages apartheid, and like the creed, asserts Islamic supremacy. Every social action of the Muslim is affected by this dualistic doctrine. One notable characteristic among those well instructed is RAGE. Walaa/Baraa effectively eliminates social CONCORD with non-muslims. Jihad activity emanates from this doctrine. Jihad is waged against both Kafirs, to force their apostasy, and against fellow Muslims to discourage apostasy. Walaa/Baraa is derived from the core documents of Islam [Koran, Sunna of Muhammad (Sira, Hadith), Sharia].