Professional Leaders Conference

Ancient Gifts for Modern Faith

Online Registration

This year’s Professional Leaders Conference, “Ancient Gifts for Modern Faith” (open to all rostered leaders in the synod) will be held at a new location, George Williams College of Aurora University, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, 53191 on September 20-22, 2010. The speakers will be John L. Bell of the Iona Community and the Rev. Dr. Nancy Cocks, Senior Minister, St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.  

Dates: September 20-22, 2010

Location: George Williams College of Aurora University, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, 53191

Presenters: John L. Bell of the Iona Community and the Rev. Dr. Nancy Cocks, Senior Minister, St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.

Chaplain: The Rev. Albert (Al) Starr, Jr., Director for African Descent Ministries, Multicultural Ministries, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Cost for Program: $120

Cost for Overnight Lodging and Meal Plan (package includes room for two nights, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners, 2 morning and 2 afternoon breaks, and all taxes and fees):

Single: $326
Double: $217
Triple: $191
Quad: $177

The deadline for room registration was Monday, August 30, 2010. More rooms, however, have been made available by the college.

To register for a room, call the George Williams College Conference Center at 1-262-245-8520.

If you would like to purchase a commuter meal plan, the cost is $108.14.  It mirrors the meal plan included with the lodging.  This is an all or nothing package; individuals cannot pick and choose meals. Commuters should contact George Williams College at 1-262-245-8520 to purchase the package; food tickets will be ready on arrival.

Information about the accommodations can be found at www.gwcconferences.com.

If not staying overnight or purchasing the commuter meal plan, food is available for purchase in the cafeteria a la carte.

Program description:

Will you come and follow me

  if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don't know

  and never be the same?

          --from The Summons, Evangelical Lutheran Worship 798, by John Bell

All of us have been touched by the pen of John Bell as he has captured the mystery of faith, the wonder of God's love, and Christ's call to justice in word and song.  This year's Metropolitan Chicago Synod Professional Leaders Conference, held on the beautiful campus of George Williams College in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, will afford us the opportunity to meet the composer of "The Summons."  Everybody's worship is enhanced by John Bell's hymns, five of which are included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.  Who among us is not moved by "Goodness is Stronger than Evil" with words from An African Prayer Book by Desmond Tutu, or "He Came Down," based on a traditional tune from Cameroon?

John Bell will be joined by a long-time presentation partner, Nancy Cocks, who is the pastor of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, and a former professor of pastoral theology at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and at the Vancouver School of Theology in British Columbia.  Her interest in Celtic Spirituality goes back to her work with John Bell at the Iona Community in Scotland.

The Rev. John L. Bell is an ordained minister of the Church of Scotland and a member of the Iona Community, where he develops resources in the areas of music and worship with the Wild Goose Resource Group.  He is a past convener of the Church of Scotland's Panel on Worship and presently convenes the committee revising the church hymnary.  Bell has produced many collections of original hymns and songs as well as two collections of songs of the world church.  He is an occasional broadcaster and lectures at theological colleges in Britain and North America.  In 1999 he was honored with a Fellowship by the Presbyterian Church of Canada and the Royal School of Church Music.  In 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Glasgow.

Sabbath Experiences (Tuesday, September 21, 2010):

Individual sessions are available 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Reflexology

$35 for 30 minute session

$65 for 60 minute session

Massage (multiple massage therapists on site)

$35 for 30 minute session

$65 for 60 minute session

Facials

$65 for 60 minute session
(A limited number of spaces will be available)

You can select and pay for Sabbath Experiences with your online registration.

John L. Bell

The Rev. Dr. Nancy Cocks

Program Schedule