The conference returns to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel in Chicago, beginning January 28 and concluding January 31 – one full day shorter in length. Unlike previous years, the conference will end on Thursday morning instead of the traditional Friday morning. The decision was made to help pastors reduce costs and to accommodate the desire on the part of many pastors to have adequate time at home to prepare for Sunday services.
The theme for this year is “Sustaining Pastoral Excellence: Pastoral Character – When No One Is Looking.”
Various workshops will be offered Tuesday and Wednesday. Mimi Haddad, president of Christians for Biblical Equality, will be the featured speaker at the closing breakfast.
Volf is the author of the award-winning Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness and Reconciliation.
D. Darrell Griffin is pastor of Oakdale Covenant Church in Chicago. He also will be one of the featured speakers during The FEAST next June at Green Lake, Wisconsin. He has been an influential advocate for justice not only in his local community, but also internationally. He was selected in 2004 to participate in the Oxford Roundtable at Oxford University in Cambridge, England, where he participated in discussions of contemporary education. He also serves as chairperson of the Covenant Executive Board.
MacDonald is the author of several books, including The Life God Blesses and Ordering Your Private World.
Several “Connections” will be held prior to the start of the Midwinter conference:
• The Compassion, Mercy and Justice Connection will be held Saturday and Sunday. John M. Perkins, author and community activist, will be the featured speaker.
• The Youth Workers Connection will offer elective seminars Saturday afternoon. The event will begin Saturday evening and last through noon on Monday. Harvey Carey, pastor of Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit, Michigan, will speak during general sessions Saturday night and Sunday morning. Nicole Nordeman will perform in concert Sunday evening.
• The Worship Connection will be held Saturday evening through Monday noon. General sessions will be with Rory Noland and focus on “The Worshipping Artist.” Participants will be able to attend the Nordeman concert.
• The Faith and Health Connection: Faith, Food and Fitness will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday and conclude at 4 p.m. Sunday.
• The Church Planters Connection will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday and conclude at 4 p.m. Monday.
General registration for the Midwinter conference is $355 if submitted by December 14. After that date, registration is $395. Registration forms will be mailed to pastors of local Covenant churches in early November. A complete list of available workshops was included in material mailed to pastors last week.
Attendees may make their hotel reservations now by calling 800-233-1234 and advising the hotel that they will be attending one of the pre-Midwinter events and/or the conference. The room rate is $121 per night plus tax for single or double occupancy. That special rate is available until January 2, 2008.
Scholarships are available – information about the scholarships and an application form were recently mailed to churches. That material outlines the process for application, with a deadline of November 1 for submitting the application form and the required accompanying documentation.
For more information, visit the Midwinter Pastors Conference website or call 773-784-3000 and ask for the Midwinter conference office.
