Best Practices Ministry Conference

Rhoda Schuler will be presenting a breakout session at the Best Practices Ministry Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Conference dates are February 16-18, 2023; registration is free and includes meals and lots of delicious snacks. The BPM website offers this description:

Best Practices Ministry “is a conference hosted by Christ Church Lutheran. For over 10 years we have offered this FREE conference to remind professional and lay church workers that you are loved, you are not alone, and you matter. And when we say free, we truly mean that: free meals, free shuttling, free speakers, free snacks, free activities, free registration.”

Dr. Schuler’s session is titled ‘The Six-Week “New Member Class”: Repenting of This Sin.’ Here’s her summary of the workshop:

The Scriptures teach us that the Church is the Body of Christ present in the world, yet we continue to offer “new member” classes as if our congregation is a club in the business of increasing its “membership.” To replace the new member class with an extensive process of adult faith formation is a risky but rewarding challenge for a congregation, its pastor, and lay leaders. Take a risk; come and hear about the transformational possibilities of adult faith formation emphasizing relationships, not data dumps; focusing on discipleship, not membership; encountering the Risen Christ in Word and sacrament and in Christian community, not in a classroom.

The conference is a great opportunity to connect with other church professionals and laity in the LCMS on a wide variety of topics. The hospitality of the host congregation, Christ Lutheran, is truly amazing. For more information and to register for Best Practices, click here.