Change Font Size:   A A A

May 06, 2013 | EDOT Staff

THE Conference Draws Enthusiastic Crowd

On an uncharacteristically cool and clear May weekend at Camp Allen, more than 250 lay and clergy leaders from the Diocese of Texas’s congregations gathered for THE Conference. An amalgam of the Stewardship, Formation and Evangelism Conferences, the event allowed teams of lay and clergy leaders to hear nationally recognized speakers, exchange ideas, laugh and share their personal stories of faith.

 

Two former rectors from the Diocese, Greg Rickel, now Bishop of Olympia and Bill Miller, now rector of St. Michaels and All Angels in Kauai, Hawaii, joined Bishop Andy Doyle; Old Testament Professor Judy Fentress-Williams and former rector of St. Bartholomew’s, New York City, Bill Tully, to address the sell out crowd.

 

Unique to the planning of the conference were three long seminars in addition to regular workshops so that participants could go deeper into each of the conference’s topics with plenary speakers. Fifteen roundtable discussions on Saturday afternoon provided 20-minute opportunities to exchange information on a number of related topics. An opportunity to experience contemplative prayer was also offered.

 

St. James’, Austin’s choir and musicians provided a joyful jazz and gospel Eucharist on Sunday morning, the perfect framework for Bishop Andy Doyle’s challenge “re-purpose” the Gospel and bring it to life in their communities. “We are invited to open up and play in the waters of baptism,” Bishop Doyle said.

 

Videos of the plenary speakers will be published on the diocesan website by the end of the week for those who were not able to attend THE Conference. Dates have been set for May 2-4, 2014. Make plans now to attend.