CHURCH AND CULTURE:
SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS
With special guest
Linda A. Mercadante
October 12-14, 2015
Gathering of the Ministerium
Gather to meet, reconnect, worship, relax, learn, sing, pray and play
together while overlooking the ocean.
What does it mean to be “spiritual but not religious?” And how does
the mainline church reach out to individuals who identify as SBNR?
We welcome The Reverend Dr. Linda A. Mercadante, pastor, professor,
and author of the book, Belief without Borders: Inside the Minds of the
Spiritual but not Religious, to guide us as we reflect on these questions.
Sheraton Oceanfront 3501 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach
New Location!
Our Schedule
Monday Afternoon
12:30 Registration + Reunion (lunch on your own) 1:45 Opening Worship with Covenant Renewal 2:15 Short Break sponsored by Mission Investment Fund
2:30 Welcome and Introduction of Guests & New Leaders 3:00 Presentation and Table Talk 4:30 Short Break 4:45 Portico Benefit Services Update 5:30 Free Time 6:00 Dinner 7:00 Presentation and Table Talk 8:00 Worship with Eucharist 9:00 Reception and Networking sponsored by National Lutheran Communities and Services
Tuesday
7:00 Breakfast 8:30 Morning Prayer 8:45 Presentation and Table Talk 10:00 Break 10:15 Ministry Moments 10:45 Bishop’s Time 11:45 Prepare for Free Time Activities 12:00 Have Fun! Lunch on your own and free time activities
6:00 Dinner 7:15 Evening Prayer 7:30 Presentation and Table Talk 9:00 Have Fun!
Wednesday
7:00 Breakfast 8:45 Question and Answer - Now What? 10:00 Break 10:30 Closing Worship with Eucharist 11:30 Have Fun, Hit the Road!
About our Speaker
The Reverend Dr. Linda A. Mercadante is Professor of Theology
and Straker Chair of Historical Theology for the Methodist
Theological School in Ohio. Her areas of expertise include
constructive theology; theology and culture; faith and film;
addiction recovery; gender/race/ethnicity; interreligious dialogue;
trinity; trauma/victimization; spiritual memoir,
spiritual geography, spiritual but not religious
movement. Her most recent publication is
Belief without Borders: Inside the Minds of the
Spiritual but not Religious (Oxford University
Press, 2014). Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase and
read this text prior to attending the Gathering. You may purchase a
copy through Amazon. Click here for her comprehensive curriculum
vitae.
New this Year!
Our Accommodations
We have a new location this year! We will be
staying at the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Hotel. You are welcome to bring your non-
rostered spouse or family by paying for a single
room. Meals are included for the main registrant
and breakfast is available for an additional cost for spouses and family members. Only
rostered leaders are invited to take part in our sessions and dinner meals. You are
invited to come early or stay late, and the hotel will guarantee the same rate for adding
Sunday, Wednesday, and/or Thursday nights.
4
Free Time Activities
A Round of Golf
Enjoy a full afternoon on the golf course.
Recently renovated Red Wing Golf Course
will host golfers of all skill levels. The cost
for golfers is $32.00 plus tax and is payable
at the golf course. Golfers wishing to
carpool to the course should meet in the
hotel lobby promptly at noon. As a church
of grace, mulligans will be awarded
abundantly and generously!
Cornhole Tournament
Are you ready for a little friendly
competition? Come play in the
Minister ium’s second cor n -hole
tournament. Meet in the hotel lobby on
Tuesday at 1:30 to walk to the beach where
the corn-hole boards will be set up. A
minimum of four (4) people is needed to
play. No experience needed. This activity could take several hours to play depending
on the number of people and desire. There is no cost to participate in this activity.
A Spa Treatment-Not just for the ladies!
Perhaps you’d like some quiet time to be
pampered. If so, join our spa instructor, Cindy
Webb and her students from the Advanced Fuller
School of Massage Therapy between 2:00 PM and
5:00 PM. Choose either a 20-minute chair massage
for $20.00 (cash) or sixty minute full body massage,
for $60.00 (cash) payable at the time of treatment.