The Banff Pastors' and Spouses' conference held at the Banff Springs Hotel enters its 35th year.  Wayne Larson has been, by all accounts, to all of them.  The conference offers continuing education, personal renewal, the building of fellowship, community and mutual support, Sabbath, and professional development.  One of the challenges has been the escalating costs of the event.  How can something so essential to our individual nourishment and experience as a family of churches be so inaccessible to many of us?  We are in the midst of securing funds to lower this year's costs.  The costing formulas and savings will be published in late July.  I am working with David Holten, Stu Dinsmore, Bob Webber and the communications and stewardship groups to get permanent subsidies and a significant re-set in funding for the years going forward.

This conference is the most outstanding opportunity I have encountered.

Speaker:  Rev. Darrell W. Johnson, "Doing Gospel Ministry When Your Own World is Falling Apart"

Darrell joined First Baptist Church, Vancouver, Canada as Senior Minister in September 2009. A member of Regent College faculty since 2000, Darrell has been serving nearly 30 years in pastoral ministry.  In addition to serving a number of Presbyterian churches in California, he ministered in Manila, Philippines, during the tumultuous time known as  the "People Power Revolution" where he saw firsthand how preaching can shape history.  He has also taught at Fuller Theological Seminary in the Doctor of Ministry program, and just before coming to Regent was the seminary's chapel director.  Darrell believes that one of the greatest needs in our time is winsome and robust preaching that connects with both head and heart, and thus focused his teaching at Regent on expository preaching.  In addition, he taught in the areas of biblical spirituality, worship and prayer.  Since going to Regent, he has authored six books, including Discipleship on the Edge: An Expository Journey through the Book of Revelation and The Glory of Preaching:  Participating in the Divine Transformation of the World.  Darrell and Sharon have raised four adopted children from four different countries of the world.  They are now experiencing the joys of grandparenthood with four wonderful grandchildren.

Bible Study Leader:  Dr. Barbara Mutch 

BRE, MA (Christian Ministry) (Briercrest); D Min (Princeton)  Barbara is the Vice-President Academic, Charles Bentall Professor of Pastoral Studies and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Carey Theological College.  Prior to her appointment at Carey, she served as the Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church, Regina for fifteen years.  Barbara's Doctor of Ministry thesis project focused on discovering images of God that enabled sexually abused women to pray.  Barbara has been involved in teaching, pastoral care, leadership development, and mentoring others throughout her career, both within the pastoral context and as a professor.

Workshop/Plenary Speaker:  Dr. Patrick ‘Paddy' Ducklow, "Friends in Pastoral Ministry?"

BA (Simon Fraser University); MA (University of British Columbia); MDiv (Regent College); DMin (Trinity International University); R. Psych. Paddy is the Erb-Gullison Professor Family Studies at Carey Theological College.  He is also a Registered Psychologist in private practice and loves his Mac notebook, studying and teaching on "Family Systems Theory", and pulling things out of his garden when he is depressed.  He reads theology books with a yellow highlighter at local coffee shops and teaches marriage, family, conflict theory, parenting and leadership at Regent College, Carey Theological College and other places that will have him.  He retired as the "team-leading pastor" of CapChurch in North Vancouver, BC, where he thrived for 16 years.  Paddy's doctoral degree is in leadership and conflict resolution.  Mostly he is the overly proud parent of two adults, one son-in-law and a spectacular grandson and the delighted husband of one wife (and this for 39 years).  He works out, walks the West Vancouver seawall, equips volunteer staff with the local "food bank," consults with First Nations groups, drinks too many double cappuccinos, doesn't like the local newspaper, has a muffin named after him, and occasionally travels to exotic places (like Banff).

Please consider prayerfully the opportunity of the Banff Pastor's conference this year.  I am very encouraged and excited to see how it will change and challenge each of us.

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it