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.