About Us

February 22-25, 2010 in Nashville, Tenn.

Diana Butler Bass

Bass is a speaker, scholar and author of seven books, including her most recent A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story. She frequently comments on religion, politics and culture in the media, including USA Today, Time, Newsweek, The Washington Post, CNN, NPR, FOX and PBS. From 1995-2000, she wrote a weekly column on religion for a New York Times sydnicate. From 2002-2006, she was project director of a national Lily Endowment-funded study of mainline Protestant vitality. She has taught religion at five different universities. Currently, she lives in Alexandria, Va.



Dave Odom

Odom serves as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity in Durham, N.C., which offers educational opportunities related to traditioned innovation, transformative leadership and vibrant institutions. Leadership Education at Duke Divinity works in partnership with Christian leaders from churches and organizations to cultivate thriving communities. Previously, Odom was the founder and president of the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, N.C., which supports healthy communities of faith through consultation, leadership development, vocational discernment and interim ministry training.



Transportation:

InShuttle Transportation provides shuttle service from the airport to the Scarritt Bennett Center for $11 one way.

For driving directions on the Center and local area maps, go to the Scarritt Bennett Web site.


Hotel Information:

If you choose not to register for the all-inclusive package, which includes lodging at the Scarritt Bennett, there are several Nashville hotels nearby. Considering staying at...

Embassy Suites - Vanderbilt
This hotel is walking distance to the Scarritt Bennett Center. A limited number of rooms are available for $114 a night with the group code "CBF".


Schedule:

Schedule subject to minor changes as needed.

Monday, February 22
11:45 to 12:45 Lunch at Scarritt-Bennett Center
Noon Welcome Center Opens
12:45 p.m. Welcome, Introductions, and Orientation
1:30 p.m. Diana Butler Bass
2:30 p.m. Dialogue with Diana Butler Bass
3 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Diana Butler Bass
4:30 p.m. Dialogue with Diana Butler Bass
5:30 p.m. Dinner 

Tuesday, February 23
7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Worship
10 a.m. Workshop I
          Understanding Islam – Matt Rich & Michael McCullar
Engage in dialogue and reflection around the basic tenets of Islam and the implications for being the "Presence of Christ" to Muslims. McCullar is executive pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Ga. Rich is minister of adult spiritual formation at Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga., and serves on the Current leadership team.

        Essentials for Planning Your Next Move – Clarissa Strickland
Come hear about some tips for negotiating the rapids of creating an effective resume and dealing with minister search committees from the Fellowship’s networking specialist. (Like snowflakes, no two committees are alike.) 

       Negotiating Continuing Education – Steve Graham
Are you thinking about sharpening your ministry skills through continuing education? Learn about strategies and resources for planning and securing opportunities for growth in ministry from Graham, the Fellowship’s director of congregational formation.

      Releasing the Writer Within – Johnny Pierce
Learn techniques for turning your creative ideas into effective writing for publication. Discover some tricks-of-the trade that will make editors welcome your submissions and learn about writing opportunities. Pierce is executive editor of Baptists Today.

      Secrets for Becoming a Very Good Associate – Bo Prosser
Leading as a staff minister is perhaps the most difficult task we face. We’ll talk about five ways to be a good associate, develop confidence and be a helpmate to your pastor. Being an associate does not have to be a "second fiddle" opportunity nor a position of conflict.  Learn how to thrive, be supportive, and improve your serve. Prosser serves as the Fellowship’s coordinator of congregational formation.

    Leviticus – The Core of Jesus’ Spiritual Formation – Jim Dant
Explore, discuss, and dialogue about the relationships, events, and rituals that helped Jesus grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. Dant is the pastor of Highland Hills Baptist Church, Macon, Ga.

      The Latino Challenge for the 21st Century - Carlos Peralta
Explore the opportunities and challenges facing the church in its efforts to share the gospel with the largest and fastest growing minority in United States. Peralta is the director of Encuentro Ministries.

     Ten Mistakes Others (and I) Have Made in Youth Ministry – Rick Jordan
If it's true that we learn best from our mistakes, I have so much wisdom to share. But it's not about me, so this will not be a lecture. It will be an opportunity to share stories, laugh at our goof-ups, be awed by our inadequacies, yet affirmed that there is hope for ourselves, our ministries, our youth and even their parents. Jordan serves as church resources coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina.

      Personal Spiritual Direction – Joy Yee
Do you need to explore your recent experience of God with another?  The practice of spiritual direction may provide the reflection and clarity that you require to move forward in your faith formation. Thirty-minute sessions are offered through 12 Noon.  Be sure to sign up in advance as these slots go fast. Yee serves as pastor of Nineteenth Avenue Baptist Church, San Francisco, Calif.

11:30 a.m. Break
11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. Dave Odom
2:30 p.m. Break
3 p.m. Dialogue with Dave Odom
3:45 p.m. Free Time
5:30 p.m. Dinner
7 p.m. Bluebird cafe comes to Scarritt Bennett

Wednesday, February 24
7:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Worship
9:45 Break
10 a.m. Dave Odom
10:45 Break
11 a.m. Dialogue with Dave Odom
11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch
2 p.m. Workshop II
         Five Barriers to Effective Outreach – Rick Jordan
Intentionally (but often unintentionally) we build barriers rather than bridges to those Christ wants to redeem. And surprisingly (or not), those barriers often have little to do with programs or facilities or tight budgets or other institutional stuff. It's a little more personal than that...

        From Ideas to Opportunities: Missional Collaboration – Matt Norman
Even now, CBF is engaged in building communities of opportunity. Bring your ideas and best practices for local and global missional engagement and learn about CBF’s latest avenues for helping churches and individuals participate in the mission of God. Norman is the Fellowship’s missiologist and personnel selection manager.

       Narrative Leadership in Congregational Life – Steve Graham
Come learn how to mine your personal narrative for its particularity, its uniqueness, and its impact upon personal leadership style and effectiveness. Discover practical ways to learn to fell the fabric of the congregational narrative in the place that you serve.

      Flour Power - Cross Cultural Ministry with the Bread of Life – Gary Long
Italian Bread, French Bread, or Wonder Bread. No matter what your cultural heritage, flour is a nearly universal link.  Jesus was really on to something when he broke bread for remembrance because it is a binding tie across cultures.  This session will explore a model for training deacons, staff, and lay leaders to minister cross-culturally by finding our common links. Long is pastor of the First Baptist Church, Gaithersburg, Md.

      The Church Census – Angela Dennison
Developed as a tool for assessing congregational family life, the Church Census provides a snapshot of a congregation’s strengths, challenges, and faith experiences all in an effort discern how it can minister to families in its community. The Church Census is a research-based census tool based on scientific models and concepts; it has been extensively field tested for use in all size congregations. Dennison is the associate director of the Center for Family and Community Ministries, Baylor School of Social Work, Waco, Texas.

         The Conversation You’ve Been Avoiding: Retirement, Insurance, and Your Financial Future – Gary Skeen
Your ministry training was probably not focused on the compensation and employment environment of a local church or non-profit organization, but it has an impact on your ministry outlook and future. Come see if we can provide some answers and put it in perspective. Skeen is the president of the Fellowship’s Church Benefits Board.

      The Latest in CBF Resources – Devita Parnell and Karyn Hurry
Discover the latest in CBF resources as well as what’s in the pipeline. Share ideas about needed resources and receive a complimentary copy of either Destinations: Mapping Your Missional Journey or Light for the Path: A Guide to Spiritual Formation Resources. Hurry, resources assistant specialist, and Parnell, congregational resources specialist, serve the Fellowship from that national office in Atlanta.

      Personal Spiritual Direction – Joy Yee
Do you need to explore your recent experience of God with another?  The practice of community in spiritual direction may provide the reflection and clarity that you require to move forward in your faith formation.  Thirty-minute sessions are offered through 5:30 PM.  Be sure to sign up in advance as these slots go fast. 

3:30 p.m. Free Time
6 p.m. Small Group Hosted Dinner Options

Thursday, February 25
7:30- 8:30 a.m. Breakfast
9 a.m. Ministry Network Gatherings
                     Children's ministry
                     Youth ministry
                     Collegiate ministry
                     Spiritual formation
                     Chaplaincy
                     Church starting
                     Pastors
                     Adult ministry/Christian education
11 a.m. Worship, Closing Gathering