Annual Meeting speaker urges watching trends

Rodger Nishioka, associate professor of Christian education at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., will preach on “Communication, Compassion and Community” at the opening worship on Friday during the 2010 Pacific Northwest Conference Annual Meeting from Friday to Sunday, April 23 to 25, in Wenatchee. 

Rodger Nishioka

Nishioka, who promotes educational ministries, especially for youth and young adult ministries considers this post-denominational era a “Reformation-type age.”  His research with people in their 20s and 30s has found that young adults who were baptized, confirmed and in youth groups now consider themselves post-denominational.  He also found that many are looking for mission nearby.

Growing up the son of a United Church of Christ pastor, he switched denominations when he began serving the Japanese Presbyterian Church in Seattle. 

Nishioka earned a bachelor’s degree at Seattle Pacific University in education and taught school in Tacoma.  He earned a master’s in theology at McCormick Theological Seminary, a doctor of divinity degree at Austin College and a PhD at Georgia State University.

An initial list of 16 workshops includes such topics as supporting “members in discernment” (formerly “in-care”) as they explore their call to ministry, political advocacy, ideas for church treasurers, how the conference and committees operate, Celtic spirituality, gracious space for families and communities, InterPlay as a spiritual practice, music, discussion with keynoter, ending homelessness, clergy tax questions, Unified national UCC governance, the spiritual tasks of aging, beyond the progressive church, “Experiencing Faith Practices” curricula and “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees, but...”

Carol Scott Kassner is planning the Saturday morning worship, and Conference Minister Mike Denton will preach for the closing worship on Sunday.

There are also plans as part of the Annual Meeting’s 2009 vote to be a Global Ministries Conference to connect with one or more UCC mission personnel to learn about their lives and ministries.

In business, delegates will vote on a 2011 budget, a resolution from General Synod on changes to constitution and bylaws related to different roads to authorized ministry, bylaws changes related to the PNC Board and Council makeup, said Dennis Hollinger-Lant, chair of the board.  Delegates will be assigned to hearings to review the items of business.

For information, call 206-824-1770.

 

Copyright Pacific Northwest Conference News © February 2010