The 2011 School for Leadership Training (SLT) at Eastern Mennonite Seminary will explore the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. “The Work of the Spirit: Pentecost Remixed” is the theme for the January 17-19 event for pastors and church leaders.
“The Spirit is real and working in many different ways,” said Linda Alley, SLT director. “What is exciting about this program is that we’ll explore all aspects of what we do and how the Spirit touches our lives.”
Plenary sessions led by Cheryl Bridges Johns, a professor and pastor from the Church of God tradition, will explore the workings of the Spirit in the church today. Johns has been part of Church of God/Mennonite interfaith dialogue.
Workshop leaders will help participants discover the work of the Spirit in various aspects of church leadership, from biblical interpretation and theology to creative arts and Christian education. Others will focus on cooperation with the Spirit in healing and on movements of the Spirit on the margins of traditional church life.
A special training session by Nathan D.(Nate) Yoder, associate professor of church history, will highlight Spirit movements within the church during the last two centuries. Dr. Yoder will describe how Anabaptist groups have interacted with Pentecostals and other movements of the Spirit.
“Nate’s presentation will not just be a history lesson,” said Alley. “He will help us see what we can learn today from these encounters with the Spirit in the past.”
School for Leadership Training, held annually Eastern Mennonite Seminary, provides church leaders with an opportunity to explore a topic relevant to life and ministry in today’s changing world. To learn more about this year’s SLT visit www.emu.edu/seminary/slt. Online registration is available, and the early bird discount ends November 30 at noon.