Event on August 25, 2011
Presbytery Leader Gathering at the Fellowship
August 25 5 – 7 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Three of your colleagues who have homes in Minnesota would like to extend a bit of hospitality for those of you who will be attending the Fellowship meeting in Minneapolis. Their agenda has the Thursday, August 25 afternoon program ending at 5 PM and they recently added a talk by Richard Mouw from 7:00 until 8:15. We think it would be good to gather as Presbytery Leaders to share some food and perhaps some thoughts following the afternoon sessions. We are in the process of renting a room at the Doubletree Hotel (where the Fellowship meeting is happening) and would like to invite you to join us for something to eat and a cash bar. We are currently talking either sandwiches or heavy appetizers.
There is no real agenda in this gathering. It will be a time for us to gather and to talk with each other about what we have heard. There may be a time for an open mike for GPs and EPs to share with the whole group. But mostly it will just be a time to be together. We envision the room opening at 5 PM and the food being available around 5::30. We may offer a time – say around 6:30 when we might have an open mike for folks to share what they have heard as well as their thoughts.
If you are going and would be interested in joining us – please email Dana Knapp – to let him know. executivepresbyter@northernwaters.net
You can also let us know if you would like an open mike opportunity, as well. And let your colleagues know that this is happening and encourage them to join us. In the next few days you will be able to register in advance through the Presbytery of Twin Cities Area website where you can pay by credit card for the cost of the food and room. We’ll need your payment in advance so that we can have the right amount of food available.
These are interesting times and it will be good for us to connect with one another.
Dana Knapp, Executive Presbyter
Presbytery of Northern Waters
Peter Nord, General Presbyter
Presbytery of Baltimore with a home in Grand Rapids, MN
Chaz Ruark, Executive Presbyter
Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
Just an FYI for those EP/GP types attending the gathering in Minneapolis. Presentations will be made with all 1950 people seated in table groups. There will be plenty of opportunity for mixing and mingling away from table groups, but mid-council folks will be seated at table groups together. I understand this decision was made in consultation with some EP's. I trust that it was made for good and sufficient reason and will get over my disappointment with having to sit with y'all.
My understanding is that the table leader will have a laptop or tablet to connect instantly with an email where comments, questions and suggestions can be sent in "real time" to the organizers/presenters. Apparently there will be other times for breakout sessions on various options folks want to pursue that will be a grand mix of folks.
Even though I was involved in some of the early stage conversations about the event, I will know about as little as any of us once I get to Minneapolis. I'm going with an open mind and heart, seeking to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit.
I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Mike Cole
General Presbyter, Presbytery of New Covenant