Colloquium of Writers & Trainers of Training Resources for Ruling Elders

NEW: Visit our Photo Gallery to view highlights from the Colloquium.

Experienced writers and teachers from the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand and Canada, actively engaged in the development of leadership resources for ruling elders in churches of the reformed tradition, attended a special four-day event November 29 to December 2, 2007 at Vancouver School of Theology, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The event was organized by the Elders' Institute, St. Andrew's Hall, a college of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and supported by a grant from the Ewart Endowment for Theological Education.

Participants identified emerging issues and patterns in the field of leadership training of ruling elders, assessed the impact of recent budget cuts and financial constraints on the field and fostered networks and collegiality among writers and trainers that strengthened the vision of the reformed movement and the practice of ruling eldership.

Spirituality and adult religious education
Leona English, Professor of Adult Education at St. Francis Xavier University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, who has written extensively on spirituality, adult education and non-clergy leadership, delivered the keynote address at a public lecture.

What ruling elders need to know about reformed worship
A presentation by Stephen Farris, Dean of St. Andrew's Hall and Professor of Homiletics at Vancouver School of Theology.

Designing learning opportunities for ruling elders: strategies and practical tools for meeting the needs and calling of ruling elders
Lynda Pinnington, Ph.D., was named "Woman of Distinction" for her contribution to continuous learning in the community by the Cambridge (Ont.) YWCA, and is a skilled specialist in the design and delivery of training programs.

The global elders handbook—an invitation to help create a new resource for Presbyterian and reformed ruling elders
The Global Elders Handbook: Understanding Ruling Elders in Reformed and Presbyterian Churches is a template handbook for senior church leaders to adapt to their own contexts, which was a key working document for the consultation to critique. It is being developed and was presented by John Roxborogh, Coordinator of Parish Leadership Training at the Presbyterian School of Ministry, Knox College, Dunedin, New Zealand.

For more information, please contact Roberta Clare, Director of the Elders' Institute, toll-free (Canada & USA) at 1-866-794-8888.

Download the Colloquium 2007 Press Release here. You will need the free program Adobe Reader—download it here.

Updated Sept. 2008