The 2023 Ministers’ Convocation – Midwest

April 17-20, 2023

Weber Retreat and Conference Center
1257 East Sienna Heights Drive
Adrian, MI 49221

These are our present protocols for all Weber Retreat & Conference Center guests. (Subject to change due to a resurgence of Covid)

• The Weber Center no longer requires overnight guests to be vaccinated; If a guest is not vaccinated, a negative rapid test must be shown at check in and a mask worn in public areas.
• Masks must be worn whenever in direct contact with a resident sister of Weber Center.
• Each guest will be screened for symptoms at the Front Desk at check in and every morning of their stay.

Topic: The Bible and the Difficulty of Being Human

People open the Bible expecting stories of inspiring saints and pristine mountaintop moments. They usually find something very different. The Bible’s characters often struggle to do the right thing. The world of the Bible doesn’t contain an abundance of good, but rather all sorts of limitations. People face inner turmoil, and the pathway to peace is hard to find. Rather than dismissing these features of the Bible as embarrassing or morally problematic, Matt Schlimm shows how they are precisely what we need when the world seems to be falling apart. The Bible isn’t about thriving in an ideal environment. It’s about surviving and finding goodness in a challenging world.

Speaker: Matthew Schlimm

Matthew is Professor of Old Testament at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA). He’s an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church. He’s written three books. Two of them have been named best-sellers by Christian Century: 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know (Abingdon Press) and This Strange and Sacred Scripture (Baker Academic; also available in Spanish). His work has also been published in several noteworthy places, such as The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Theology and The Cambridge Companion to the Hebrew Bible and Ethics. He co-edited the CEB Study Bible. He’s currently working on a commentary on Genesis. He has lectured throughout the United States and in Sweden, England, and southeast Asia. When he’s not working, Matt loves spending time with his family. His wife Stephanie is a Methodist pastor. Matt enjoys the outdoors. Fishing, hiking, backpacking, biking, and camping are some of his favorite activities. In the colder Iowa months, you’re likely to find him playing games and working on puzzles.

Full registration:
Single Occupancy: $310.00 (includes lodging and meals)
Double Occupancy: $250.00 per person (includes lodging and meals)

Commuter rates:
Monday               $20.00
Tuesday               $40.00
Wednesday         $40.00
Thursday             No Charge

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM Central Time

Register below by April 3, 2023 

Contact Laura Wright, NACCC Staff, if you need additional information.

EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP

Every year, the NACCC hosts the Ministers’ Convocation.  This gathering for clergy is designed to provide continuing education, spiritual reflection and rest. It usually begins on the second Monday after Easter, a perfect time for clergy to renew themselves.  Many churches set aside money to send their pastor to this event, knowing that the spiritual rest their pastor gains benefits the church.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Scholarships of up to $500 are available through the Minister’s Assistance and Enrichment Fund.  Requests for assistance may be made to the Executive Director of the NACCC no later than 30 days before the date of the Convocation.

Grants are also available for registration and travel expenses to attend the NACCC Convocation from the Rev. Howard Conn Endowment.  To apply complete the Application Form on or before March 31st.