Gillespie to keynote Evangelical Pastors’ Conference By Robert P. Mills The Presbyterian Layman Nov/Dec, 1997 Dr. Thomas Gillespie, president of Princeton Theological Seminary, will be the keynote speaker at the 1998 Evangelical Pastors’ Conference, to be held May 4-6 at the Heartland Presbyterian Center in Kansas City, Mo. The purpose of this annual conference, sponsored by the Evangelical Pastors’ Fellowship (EPF), is “to provide evangelical Presbyterian pastors, both men and women, an opportunity for: 1) fellowship and friendship building with other pastors; 2) spiritual refreshment; 3) intellectual stimulation; and 4) practical tools for ministry.” EPF has hosted a conference each year since 1980. Recent keynote speakers have included Elizabeth Achtemeier, Aida Spencer, Thomas Schmidt, and Kenneth Bailey. According to the organization’s president, Rev. Michael Johnston, pastor of the Big Creek Presbyterian Church in Hannibal, Mo., the annual post-Easter conference is an opportunity “for evangelical pastors and their spouses to renew and recharge their batteries, especially after the often hectic Lenten-Easter season. It is a time for equipping the mind and soul for the work ahead.” In addition to featured speakers, the conference has also offered workshops on denominational affairs, and it has given pastors opportunities to learn more about the work of various renewal organizations working within the PCUSA. Asked about his goals for EPF, Johnston replied, “I began attending the conference five years ago and found it so useful and uplifting that I wanted to share it with others. It is my hope and prayer that the Evangelical Pastors’ Fellowship may continue to be a place where pastors can come to be nurtured in their faith in Jesus Christ, both intellectually and spiritually. I especially hope that more pastors who are committed to the evangelical faith would hear about us and realize that they are not alone in their efforts to share the good news.” |
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