Imagine a church where people can't wait… to serve, to give, to share, to tell... and where they do it all with joy. How can we call out that joy - and that serving, giving, sharing, and telling? The Metropolitan Chicago Synod Spring Stewardship Event, The Gift of Joy - the Joy of Gift, invites you to explore tools and resources that help members discover how to use their many gifts in ways that nourish and energize them, and serve the mission of the church in all facets of life.

The keynote speaker for this event is the Very Rev. Dr. J. Pittman McGehee, Episcopal priest, lecturer and speaker in the fields of psychology and religion. Dr. McGehee will address the biblical context of Paul's "spiritual gifts" and "one body with many members," as well as how these concepts relate in today's world of psychology and personality assessment tools.

Participants will have the opportunity for hands-on review of LifeKeys and Dependable Strengths, two popular faith-based resources that help members understand their unique giftedness and prioritize the demands in their lives. With this understanding, they can better use those gifts as they apply them to their time, skills, financial resources, and passions. In addition to hearing from the developers of these resources, they will hear from local pastors and lay leaders who are applying these and other tools in their congregations to strengthen stewardship in all its expressions.

Conference Schedule

8:00 - 8:30 - Registration
8:30 - 8:45 - Welcome, Greeting and Opening Prayer (Bishop Wayne N. Miller, Metropolitan
Chicago Synod), Announcements
8:45 - 10:30 - Plenary Session 1 (The Very Rev. J. Pittman McGehee)
10:30 - 10:40 - Break
10:40 - 12:00 - Workshops (LifeKeys &
Dependable Strengths)
12:00 - 1:00 - Lunch with Bishop Miller
1:00 - 2:20 - Workshops (LifeKeys & Dependable Strengths)
2:20 - 2:30 - Break
2:30 - 3:50 - Plenary Session 2 - Implementation - Panel Discussion
3:50 - 4:00 - Closing and Sending Prayer

Registration upon arrival
The entire conference will be held at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL 60615. Registration and check-in will be at the main entrance outside the Augustana Chapel. Refreshments will be provided in the cafeteria. Pre-event registration prior to April 28, 2010, is encouraged and preferred.

Who should attend?
Pastors and other congregational leaders, particularly those who serve as volunteer coordinators, on stewardship teams, or on church councils will benefit from this conference. Successful implementation of new ideas is more likely when three or more members of the same congregation attend together.

Spring Stewardship Conference

The Gift of Joy - The Joy of Gift

Online registration is closed.