River Deep and Wide to explore gospel in interfaith, multicultural society

NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 20, 2008 /GBOD/ -- The Academy for Spiritual Formation, a ministry of the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship’s Upper Room ministries, presents “A River Deep and Wide: Christian Spiritual Practices for the 21st Century” (http://www.upperroom.org/river), April 20-25, 2009, at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville.

Based on the belief that Christian spirituality is “deep and wide” and the notion that challenges of greater diversity in American culture are an invitation to faithful Christian practice, the conference seeks to address the question: in a world of increasing multicultural and interfaith diversity, how shall the Church respond?

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,” Psalm 46:4a proclaims.

“This river is God’s grace; the source of Christian spirituality, which is what we will explore at this conference from various cultural and interdisciplinary perspectives through worship, lecture, silence, art, dance and interfaith dialogue,” says the Rev. Jerry Haas, director of the Academy for Spiritual Formation.

The schedule (http://www.upperroom.org/river/schedule.html) begins with registration and check-in at 3:00 p.m. April 20 and concludes with a Celebration of Word and Table at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25.

Co-sponsored by Scarritt-Bennett Center, Weavings Journal and the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, “A River Deep and Wide” includes contemplative spiritual practices from Native, Africana, Hispanic and Euro-American perspectives.

Recognizing that this event may help lead the denomination to a 21st century global outlook, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, of the Chicago Area and member of the design team, sees the event as a time of searching and shaping how The United Methodist Church is responding to the trend towards an increasingly interfaith, diverse, multicultural society.

“We must discern and seek God’s direction as to how we can learn and serve in light of this changing context,” Jung said.

“A River Deep and Wide” will have intentional learning and celebration as a community, with nearly 40 workshops offered under the categories of “Deepening the River” during the morning sessions and “Widening the River” during afternoon sessions.

The design of the conference reflects the schedule used for the Academy for Spiritual Formation with Morning Prayer, Night Prayer and daily Holy Communion. Begun in 1983, the Academy is entering its 26th year. This conference marks the beginning of its second generation.

“Over the last 25 years, the Academy for Spiritual Formation has been a very strong, sustaining community for spiritual leaders,” said Jung. “And now for the next 25 years and in the future, we are going to re-shape [the Academy] to the need and relevancy of the spiritual leadership for this world.”

Among the key plenary leaders (http://www.upperroom.org/river/leaders.html) are:

* The Rev. Barbara Ann Holmes, Ph.D., author of “Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church” (Augsburg, 2004) and vice-president of Academic Affairs at Memphis Theological Seminary;

* Dr. M. Thomas Thangaraj, who serves as faculty at Tamilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai, India, taught world Christianity at Candler School of Theology of Emory University for more than 20 years and authored “Relating to People of Other Religions: What Every Christen Needs to Know” (Abingdon, 1997);

* Elise Eslinger, editor of “The Upper Room Worshipbook: Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation,” worship coordinator for the event and a musician and worship consultant;

* The Rev. Ben Williams, senior pastor of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina; and

* Dr. Don Saliers, author, theologian and musician, recently retired from Candler School of Theology and now teaching at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.

For more information, call 877-899-2781; ext. 7233. Registration before March 1 is $225 or $175 for students. To register online, visit: http://www.upperroom.org/river/registration.html.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.gbod.org, or call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 7017.