The Pre-Summit Workshop is an opportunity for those who lead in churches to pursue theological exploration of pastoral ministry in the contemporary church in an effort to renew their sense of calling for the challenges of this hour. It will be led by Dr. Willie James Jennings and sponsored by the Theologies for Pastoral Ministry project.

The Pre-Summit Workshop will be held on the ACU campus in Abilene, specifically in the Packer Forum located on the top floor of the Brown Library. 

The Pre-Summit Workshop will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, with a dinner, and it will conclude at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7. It is scheduled to not conflict with any of the other Summit offerings such as the Community of Women Ministers dinner at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, or Summit proper, which begins at 7:00 p.m. that evening with check-in opening at 6:00 p.m.

In a nutshell, anyone who leads in a church (minister/pastor/elder). However, due to the nature of the workshop, it will be limited to 40 participants.

As the Summit team continues to listen to the needs of ministers, churches, and other church leaders, we are always considering the best way to meet those needs. After this Summit concludes, we will reflect on how well we were able to do that and then make a decision about future years. It is also important to note that decisions are also affected by the availability of guests such as Willie James Jennings. Just know that with each year, we prayerfully consider how to be a support and encouragement to each of our Summit guests.

No, it will not. The Pre-Summit Workshop is intended to be relational and discussion-oriented, and as a whole, those are far more difficult to record and rarely provide a good listening experience later, even if the recording quality is good. More importantly, we want participants to feel comfortable speaking candidly without the concern that their thoughts will be preserved for all time. 

Yes, if you are not able to participate in Summit but would still like to participate in the workshop, click on the registration link, and select the ticket option for “Pre-Summit Workshop Only.” 

While the TPM's sponsorship covers many of the costs for the workshop facilitator, it does not cover all of them. Additionally, in considering how to most effectively maximize participants’ time together and foster a relational atmosphere, we made the decision to provide some of the meals (i.e., dinner on Tuesday evening and lunch on Wednesday) as well as refreshments throughout the sessions on Wednesday. The registration fee will offset some of these costs.

One of the reasons we chose to utilize the World Famous Bean for lunch is their ability to accommodate dietary restrictions. They post a daily menu and have a wide range of prepared meals, including gluten free, as well as salad options. While we are still determining the menu for Tuesday evening, we will be mindful of dietary restrictions. When you register for the event, please be sure to tell us if you need accommodations.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer this workshop in Spanish at this time.

Yes! Registration is required. Why? For two main reasons. First, it will help Dr. Jennings prepare well for the size of the group, and second, there are a limited number of spots available for this workshop. Registration opens July 20 and closes September 22. You can register for the workshop only, for both Summit and the workshop, or for only Summit.

We don’t want the cost to keep anyone from participating; therefore, we have scholarships available. If you find the registration price prohibitive, please email us for a discount code.

Registration opens July 20 and closes September 22. Cost for the Pre-Summit Workshop is $25. Summit registration costs are based on early registration ($35) and regular registration ($55) pricing. We are not able to take additional registrations after September 22. 

Click here for a listing of several hotels near campus. Please check with hotels directly for details and rates, including discounts for ACU-affiliated guests.