Wesleyan Leadership Conference to Reconnect Leaders with Baptismal Living

NASHVILLE, Tennessee /GBOD/ – Lay and clergy leaders will explore baptismal living and disciple-making in the Wesleyan tradition through prayer, scripture, worship and interactive experiences at the 2014 Wesleyan Leadership Conference in October.

The conference, entitled Leaders Living (and Dying) Baptismally, is scheduled for Oct. 23-25 at the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) in Nashville.

“One of the major goals is to reconnect people with the baptismal covenant,” said Steve Manskar, Director of Wesleyan Leadership at GBOD and one of the conference leaders. “We’re going to explore the promises we make when people are baptized and confirmed and are received as members of the church – what they mean and what their implications are for discipleship and disciple-making.

“Baptism marks the beginning of life in Christ and his Church. We regularly need to revisit the promises that God, the church and we make when we are baptized.” Manskar said.

Conference participants will have numerous opportunities for prayer and worship during the event. In small interactive groups, they will discuss ways to apply what they are learning to their own lives and as leaders in their local contexts.

“The goal is not just to give people good information, but rather to help them experience something that contributes to their formation as followers of Jesus Christ, and in particularly, to their ministry as leaders who disciple others,” Manskar said.

During a pre-conference morning session on Oct. 23, Manskar will lead a workshop about how Covenant Discipleship groups form disciples of Jesus Christ who are equipped to disciple others. Participants will explore the General Rule of Discipleship, the group covenant, group dynamics and how to introduce Covenant Discipleship to a congregation.

Other conference leaders include:

• Melanie Gordon, Director of Ministries with Children, GBOD
  
• Taylor Burton-Edwards, Director of Worship Resources, GBOD
  
• Jodi Cataldo, Director of Laity in Leadership, GBOD
  
• Tom Albin, Dean of The Upper Room Chapel, GBOD
  
• Tim Bias, General Secretary, GBOD
  
• Michael Bell, composer and musician, and co-creator of The Martyrs Project: Martyrs Prayers
  
• Dean McIntyre, Director of Music Resources, GBOD
  

The individual registration fee for the three-day conference is $95, and for groups of three or more from the same organization, the fee is $85 per person. The pre-conference fee is $25. For more information and to register, click here.