SAINT PAUL LUTHERAN SEMINARY

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Conference Information


Conference Registration

 

January 21-22, 2019
Jekyll Island Club 
371 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island, GA 31527


THEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE AND RETREAT…Mark your Calendars – January 21-22, 2019.  The theme/focus of the conference/retreat is "By My Own Understanding or Effort: Reflections on the Third Article."  Rev. Brad Hales will also speak on ministry to an aging church on Monday morning.


Sponsored by St Paul Lutheran Seminary and the SEC Fellowship our Lutheran Theological Retreat offers refreshing, faith-enriching experiences for pastors, lay leaders and spouses by offering Christian discussions, rewarding comradery and outdoor relaxation. There will be speakers, discussions, and an outdoor service Monday early eve. You won’t want to miss this event, so mark your calendars now. Virgil Thompson, Dr. Orrey McFarland and Rev. Mark Ryman will be speaking on the theme this year.  For our mission and outreach segment on Monday morning, Rev. Brad Hales will present "Ministry to an Aging Church."  More info forthcoming regards group tour availability.

 

Jekyll Island is a barrier island on the Georgia coast, just across St. Simons Sound from neighboring St. Simons Island and Brunswick, Georgia. Jekyll offers visitors miles of pristine beaches and coastlands, including Driftwood Beach, Glory Beach and Great Dunes, as well as campgrounds, museums, restaurants, eclectic shops and boutique stores, horseback riding and carriage tours, natural wildlife preserves and protected marshlands, miles of bicycle trails to explore, maritime forests, fishing and world-class golf, kayaking and canoeing, not to mention the infamous Historic District and surrounding areas. 


The island is renowned for its landmark Historic District, termed the "Millionaire's Village" long ago, with its 240-acre site containing 33 historic structures, including the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and surrounding cottages that were once home to some of America's most wealthy and prominent citizens, including the Crane family, the Pulitzers, Morgans, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, and Goodyear clan to name but a few. These privileged few used Jekyll Island as a hunting and golf retreat, spending lazy summers here and building these historic homes that have been lovingly restored to their former glory. Jekyll Island has been a part of many historic moments, including the first meeting of the Federal Reserve, and the first transcontinental telephone call.

    

Come for the weekend…Stay for the conference...perhaps stay longer!

  

WHAT WILL IT COST?

 

Early Bird rates for the conference are as follows if you register before November 30:  Individuals-$115, Couples-$205, Seminarians-$65


After November 30th the rates will be: Individuals - $145, Couples-$240,          Seminarians-$75


WHERE DO WE STAY?


We have rooms set aside at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel for the conference/retreat from Saturday through Wednesday at the conference rate (conference rates available until December 15, 2017).  There are other options close by as well.  Jekyll Island is a beautiful area with many outstanding activities for you to enjoy.  Why not come early and stay for the conference or attend the conference and remain for a couple of additional days???  

 

The Jekyll Island Club Hotel is also the location for the conference. Located in a gorgeous historic location on the riverside, it offers three on-site dining venues and great water views.  Ask for the Theological Retreat rate. Room rates last year were $131-162. We will update this info very soon. Make reservations by following this link or by calling (855) 535-9547.


HOW DO WE GET THERE!


Click for a Map to Jekyll Club.  The nearest airport is in Brunswick (approx 30 min). Airports within 90 minutes or so include Jacksonville and Savannah.  Atlanta, likely the least expensive by air, is about 4.5 hours by rental car. We are working on some shuttle and/or shared rides as well.  Contact Chuck Hunsaker for more info and he will keep in touch: 706-464-1142

 

Now, don’t just put this on your calendar.  Get this on everyone’s

calendar.  The “welcome mat” is out and “we will leave the light on for you.”

                      

In Christ, 

Chuck Hunsaker, SEC LCMC Fellowship

Pr. Jon Jensen, St. Paul Lutheran Seminary & Reformation LC

Thank you for your interest in the conference. Please use the form below to help the conference staff better serve our attendees. If husband and wife are attending, please provide the names in the "message" area.  Remember to make your room reservations separately, this form is only for conference registration.


You may mail your registration fee to: St. Paul Lutheran Seminary, P.O. Box 510768, Oakville, MO  63151 or use our paypal option by following this link.

 

Conference Schedule (Preliminary)

 


MONDAY

9:30 Registration Opens (Morgan Center)

9:50 Welcome

10:00 Presentation, Rev. Hales
12:00 Lunch 

12:50 SEC Fellowship/St.Paul Lutheran Seminary Update
1:10 Devotions 
1:30 Presentation 1, Virgil Thompson 
2:15 Presentation 1, Dr. McFarland
3:00 Afternoon Break
3:30 Presentation 1, Rev. Ryman
4:15 Free Time
5:00 Sunset Service (Morgan Center Lawn)

TUESDAY
8:00 Breakfast & Devotions (Morgan Center)
8:45 Presentation 2, Virgil Thompson
9:30 Presentation 2, Dr. McFarland
10:15 Morning Break
10:45 Presentation 2, Rev. Ryman
11:30 Open Discussion
12:00 Conference Adjourns


1:30 - 2:30 SEC Fellowship Meeting


OUR SPEAKERS:


Virgil Thompson received a BA from Luther College, Decorah; the MDiv from Luther Seminary, St Paul; and the ThM from Princeton Theological Seminary. Recently retired from 40 years of fulltime service to the church--as parish pastor and university teacher of New Testament--he continues to serve as managing editor of Lutheran Quarterly as well as teaching the Bible at St Paul Seminary, in addition to writing and lecturing. He and his wife, Linda, live on Lummi Island, off the coast of Washington State.


Dr. Orrey McFarland is Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Thornville, Ohio. He is a member of the teaching faculty of St. Paul Lutheran Seminary and also serves as Visiting Professor of New Testament and Historical Theology at Knox Theological Seminary. He holds a BA in Biblical Languages from Oklahoma Baptist University, an MA in Biblical Studies and a PhD in New Testament from Durham University (UK). The primary focus of his research and writing is the Apostle Paul. Dr. McFarland is the author of God and Grace in Philo and Paul and has published several articles and essays. He is married to Kristi.


Rev. Mark Ryman is Online Resource Editor for Sola publishing. He holds a BA in English Literature from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MA in Theology from Houston Graduate School of Theology in 2004 and the MDiv in Biblical Studies and Theology from Carolina Graduate School of Divinity in 2011. He is now working on a Doctor of Ministry in Stewardship of the Word through Saint Paul Lutheran Seminary. He is married to Susan.


Rev. Brad Hales is the pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church, Culpeper, Virginia, and is also the Dean of the Virginia Mission District of the North American Lutheran Church.  He also leads the NALC's national renewal and senior adult ministry teams and serves the NALC as the Director of Domestic Missions..  Along with having taught several classes at St. Paul Lutheran Seminary, Hales has written articles and bible studies on aging ministry including, "A Covenant of Aging,"  "Graying in Grace," and "Scriptural Retirement."  He is married to Lisa, and they have two daughters, Lydia and Abigail.