The Missional Church: Ministry "Outside the Box"
Keith Boyer

This workshop will compare two models of mission—attractional and missional—from the point of view that the two can co-exist as complementary in a healthy congregation. The workshop will affirm the importance of hospitality and high quality programs and ministries, but it will focus on how congregations can become partners with Christ in his ongoing mission in the world. What would it look like for your congregation to move “outside the box” of the traditional “bring them in” form of outreach and develop a missional ministry as co-workers with God in a pluralistic society?

Presbyterian Today
John Congram

Is there anything worth preserving in Presbyterianism today? Or is it an archaic, out-of-date religious sect that has outlived its usefulness? Was Bob Reed right when he suggested that “Presbyterianism is a series of meetings occasionally interrupted by a worship service?” What are the things in our tradition we should jettison, and are there things we should fight to preserve even if they are not popular in this modern age? These are some of the questions we will wrestle with in this workshop, and then we'll come up with strategies to implement our answers.

Worship: Welcoming, Worthy and Wise

Christine O'Reilly

Participants will explore the basics of Reformed worhip and look at how we can worship God with passion and purpose. You will take away practical ideas for enriching worship in your church, rural or urban, traditional and/or contemporary, with music, prayer and Scripture.

Faith Basics

Stephen Farris

Together we will explore what it means to have a living faith in a troubled world. The workshop will be organized according to the three-part structure of the Apostles' Creed: God in creation, the story of Jesus and the work of the Spirit in the individual and the church. Living Faith, the most recent statement of faith of the Presbyterian Church in Canada is organized in the same way. We are profoundly one in the core of our faith even though that faith is expressed in different ways. The workshop will be led by Dr. Stephen Farris who was a member of the Committee on Church Doctrine when Living Faith was produced. However, he claims no connection with the writing of the Apostles' Creed.

Called to Serve: Roles & Responsibilities of Ruling Elders

Marilyn Repchuck

You have been called by God, and that call is recognized and affirmed by the people of God—in particular, your congregation. Your role is to share in the leadership, governance, and discipline of the church. The ruling elder’s responsibility is to faithfully serve on his or her kirk session, to be a person of strong faith, to be dedicated and have good judgement. We are challenged to demonstrate the Christian gospel in our daily lives. As elders, we represent the church in the world and are charged with strengthening and nurturing the faith and life of our congregations.

In this workshop, we will explore characteristics that make for effective elder leadership. We will share stories and experiences, which will help us understand and appreciate the blessings as well as the challenges of eldership. Lastly, we will discuss the challenges of leading prayer. 

PAW 2012 pamphlet and printable registration form available here. You will need the free program Adobe Reader—download it here.