You’re Invited to the New Room Conference – Seedbed August 2014
Tucked away in the heart of the port city of Bristol, England, just off Horsefair and Broadmead, sits a small edifice of little known significance. From here, the Brothers Wesley launched a movement that would change the course of human history. They called it, “The New Room.”
Almost three centuries later, a growing wave of men and women believe the time has come for the movement to return to its deepest roots.
On September 17-19, 2014, we will gather in Franklin, Tennessee, for the first annual New Room Conference. After much prayerful discernment, we’ve determined that this gathering, what we intend to become a true “Annual Conference,” will be decisively, unapologetically, and creatively, Wesleyan. And we want you to join us.
WE KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING… WHY ANOTHER CONFERENCE?!
The New Room Conference is more than just a conference, contrary to what the name might imply. It’s a gathering of men and women ready to recapture the classic verities and clarion voice of the Wesleyan vision for who and what the Church can be in the World. We’re bringing together a phenomenal cast of characters; some you’ll recognize, others you will meet for the first time.
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT?
For starters, we will be talking with one another. Expect a few structured conversations and lots more spontaneous ones. On the main stage, we’ve labored to put together a merry band of pastors, scholars, theologians, and practitioners, and we will be mixing them together for maximum wisdom. Topics will include everything from church planting to social media, from student ministry to John Wesley — all tied together by the common thread of truly becoming people of One Book.
If you are hoping for long lectures from talking heads, you will be disappointed. Instead, expect conversations, dialogues, round tables, short talks, keynotes, workshops and sidebars.
And yes, there will be ample song. Rising worship leader tri-laureates, Mark Swayze, Mark Benjamin and Drew Causey will stoke the fires of worship with melodies, new and old, keeping the conference punctuated with doxology.
IN A NUTSHELL
We created the New Room Conference with two key values in mind: New Voices and New Conversations. Our team has carefully chosen a cadre of men and women who are coming not just to deliver a keynote address, but to cultivate conversations. We have also structured the schedule with a variety of formats and approaches including keynotes, round table conversations, panel discussions, world cafes, breakouts, and so forth. To be clear: This is not an academic conference, but one aimed squarely at the local church.
It’s time to get outside our denominational houses for a few days and gather around the bigger ideas that bind us together. Let’s revivify the pre-denominational movement for the post-denominational 21st century.
Learn more and register at newroomconference.com. Special rates are available for students, groups of 4+, and entire church ministry teams.
We will see you in September.