Ministry Conference: A President’s Vision Becomes a Legacy
by Ginny Proctor, Manager of Lifelong Learning
Research by Dr. Kenneth Kinghorn reveals that the first Ministry Conference (then known as Ministers’ Conference) was held at Asbury Theological Seminary in 1945. Inspired by the excitement and energy of Asbury’s six-day commencement events, President J. C. McPheeters declared that Asbury would host an annual event called Ministers’ Conference. The purpose of the conference would be to provide continuing education through workshops and plenary sessions featuring outside speakers and faculty members, while providing the venue for denominational gatherings and reunion with former classmates.
Over the years Ministers’ Conference grew close to one thousand in attendance, reaching maximum capacity for the Wilmore campus. In 2010, the conference was renamed Ministry Conference, in an effort to also welcome those who serve the Kingdom in professions other than clergy. Themes and topics for plenary sessions and workshops have been geared toward a larger audience, whose witness is on the mission field, in the business office, and with friends and family on a daily basis. Although the plenary sessions are applicable to preaching, many of the workshop leaders discuss principles and practicalities of Christian living, as well as guiding principles for contemporary issues for church leaders and laity.
Holding Ministry Conference the first week of February proved challenging over the years. At times a snowstorm would hit, causing the conference to end sooner to allow participants to travel safely before roads and airports were shut down. That week of February also proved difficult for our Dining Services team, who had not yet returned for duty, causing difficulties related to meals and refreshments for the conference. The solution came in 2010 when Ministry Conference was moved to the month of March. Since then, the conference dates have been carefully planned around Lent and Easter, in hopes that clergy can be on campus for much-needed spiritual and physical renewal and refreshment, either before or after a busy Easter season. The conference schedule intentionally includes free time for rest and relaxation and time to catch up with old friends, classmates, and visits with favorite professors. The Alumni Lunch has been a highlight of Ministry Conference—a time of fellowship and campus updates from our President.
The Beeson International Center for Lifelong Learning hopes to continue building the legacy of McPheeters’ vision for Ministry Conference for many years to come. We look forward to Ministry Conference 2014 (March 17-21), Dust of the Rabbi, with keynote speakers Dr. Ben Witherington, Dr. Bob Tuttle, and Dr. Craig Keener, complemented by Asbury faculty leading workshops related to Applying Biblical Preaching to Contemporary Thought.
Asbury Seminary is also honored to have been selected as one of only four institutions for 2014 to host The Green Collection—the world’s largest private collection of rare biblical texts and artifacts. The Sacra Pagina (Sacred Page) exhibit contains items such as leaves from the Codex Climaci Rescriptus, containing some of the earliest and most extensive copies of the New Testament in the dialect closest to Jesus’ household language of Palestinian Aramaic; a leaf from the first printing of the world-famous Gutenberg Bible; and, several medieval manuscripts dating from the 13th through 15th centuries. Dr. Witherington is personally working with the collectors to select just the right pieces to be on exhibit at Asbury Seminary.
This is all taking place during Ministry Conference 2014, so you will not want to miss this event. Without a doubt, it is going to be a great and memorable experience! Register now at www.asbury.to/register. For more information about Speakers and Schedule, please go to the Lifelong Learning page of the Asbury Seminary website and click on Ministry Conference 2014.
In group conversations at ATS events, President McPheeters receives many compliments; however, it is news to me that his Ministers’ Conference predates my own birth; it is heartwarming to know how ATS history is revered in ways that my generation and those that follow can find occasions to see the march and ties of ATS historical events. Thanks for sharing.