You can find the speakers brief bios here and the conference schedule there and the vision for the gathering here. You all know enough about a conference like this to know that there is much more to it than simply the presentations. Please pray for the speakers travel and ministry here (a number are serving in Sunday worship after the conference locally), the time to develop new friendships and renew old ones, for the Bishop and his wife Allison in their hosting capacity, and especially for the the Rev. Jeffrey Miller of Beaufort and his assisting staff, who has the huge responsibility of coordinating it all–KSH.
Big Mere Anglicanism 2015 Conference This week; we ask for your prayers
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I look forward to being there. This is a tremendously well-organized and worthwhile conference.
Truthfully, I miss the smaller MA conferences of even just a few years ago. Many of the speakers had more an emphasis on Anglican history and what Anglicans today believe and do. These smaller conferences were much more enlightening to me (as a layperson) than last years large MA conference. The vision may be that lay people take the theology home with them but I don’t really think that is happening. I ask/wish for for a return to the smaller conference which were much more rewarding to me. These larger conferences seem more like a convention with speakers which are not particularly focused on Anglicans. The one reason I liked the smaller MA conferences- it was my Anglican continuing ed. JMHO.
While we have registered for this year’s conference, I am not sure how much longer I will want to go to MA conferences if they continue in this “more is better” philosophy. Ironically the Gospel Coalition is having an entire session devoted to the place of the BCP in contemporary worship. I gather others are finding the BCP a great resource at the very moment many Anglicans/EPsicopalians are looking to ditch it or change it. Ironic….
This passage from the Vision Statement shows great wisdom:
[blockquote] “We recognize that to achieve a restored and faithful Anglicanism, many battles must be fought, many lessons learned. Seminaries must be re-made with faithful, godly deans and teachers. Orthodox Anglicans must be re-connected with one another and learn to work together strategically and tactically. Dioceses and parishes must develop the right conditions for re-growing believing, discipled Christians—including choosing the leadership of orthodox bishops and priests.” [/blockquote]
The vision recognises that our struggle is carried out on many fronts, and it sums them up well. It sounds like the Mere Anglicanism conference is in good hands.
Prayers for those at Mere Anglicanism, speakers and participants and organisers in South Carolina.
Will the organisers be blessing those of us outside South Carolina again this year with the opportunity to listen to the talks? Will the Diocese of South Carolina continue to shine like a beacon on a hill beyond its own borders? I pray so.
Pageantmaster, this year MP3s of the talks are included in the registration price, so I imagine they will also be available for purchase by those not in attendance.
#6 Thanks Katherine. That will be a lost opportunity for South Carolina not to broadcast what is happening there to the rest of the world. It has been one of the best bits of PR South Carolina has. Let’s hope that there is a softening and warming of hearts, and people put on their long-sighted spectacles.