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Annual Conference
NAPCE 2001 Annual Conference
October 25-27, 2001
Sheraton Arlington Park
Chicago, Illinois
Mark Senter - Conference VP
 Conference
Theme and Description
Conference
Program Overview
Schedule
Accommodations
Conference Theme and Description
Spiritual Journey and our Communities of Faith was the
theme for NAPCE 2001. The conference focused on the richness
of the spiritual journey found in diverse expressions of the Body
of Christ and explored implications for personal and corporate
growth.
The journey to Christian maturity is a shared experience. Much
of spiritual growth literature focuses on the individual, yet
churches and faith traditions represented in NAPCE provide support
and encourage maturing believers through a variety of activities
reflecting their distinctive values. NAPCE 2001 explored the
journey to spiritual maturity in four communities. African, Asian,
Hispanic and Willow Creek Community Church experiences were
described and explored throughout the conference.
In addition to the plenary sessions utilizing a combination of
educationally appropriate presentations, a panel discussion, and
a question and answer session, the conference featured Praxis
Seminars to explore the shared spiritual journey with children,
youth, college and seminary communities, ethnic and immigrant
peoples, as well as the poor and disenfranchised.
Conference Program
Robert Mullholland, Author of Invitation to a Journey:
A Road Map for Spiritual Formation and Academic Dean of Asbury
Theological Seminary, gave direction to our discussion.
He drew from his studies on the role of the faith
community in spiritual formation to help NAPCE gain a perspective
on the spiritual journey that the Church, our schools and NAPCE
are traveling.
Joining Dr. Mullholland were people from four distinctly different
church traditions of spiritual formation. Ruth Barton champions
the rapidly emerging spiritual formation emphasis at Willow Creek
Community Church. As a Korean-American, Peter Cha, ministered
both in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and as an ethnic church
planter before joining the faculty of Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School. Derek McNeil serves in an African-American church
on the west side of Chicago and teaches at Wheaton College. And
bringing to our discussion perspectives from the Hispanic American
Christian communities was Marta Alvarado, who teaches
at Moody Bible Institute.
The conference provided a venue for NAPCE to dialog with people
who have served in, and reflected upon, their rich traditions
of corporate spiritual formation. Following a keynote address
by Mullholland, the four church leaders reflected on the spiritual
journey from their perspectives. NAPCE members then explored
implications of the journey in praxis groups.
On the basis of insights gathered in the praxis groups, the panel
of speakers explored issues raised and attempted to discover
fresh perspectives on the shared passage of the Church into the
twenty-first century. Robert Mullholland concluded the conference
by providing reflections on what conferees have said.
Program Personnel:
1. Registration coordinator – Jana Sundene, Trinity International
University
2. Praxis Seminar Coordinator – David Setran, Wheaton College
3. Research Presentation Coordinator – Kevin Lawson, Biola
University
4. Professional Development Session Coordinator – Gary
Bredfeldt, Moody Bible Institute
5. Liaison to Non-NAPCE Educators in the Chicago Area –
Paul Bramer and Linda Cannell
6. Media Equipment Coordinator – Raymond Moushon, University
of Chicago
7. Projection and Conference Graphics – Bob Whittet (Gordon
College) or ETA
8. Worship leader – Gary Parrett
Schedule
Thursday, October 25
| 1:30-4:00 |
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Registration |
| 4:30-5:30 |
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Reception |
| 6:00-7:30 |
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Dinner sponsored by LifeWay Publishers
– Welcome by NAPCE President, Mark Cannister |
| 8:00-9:30 |
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General Session #1: Spiritual Journey
in a Church Context - Robert Mulholland |
| 9:45-10:30 |
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New Comer’s Reception |
Friday, October 26
| 7:00-8:00 |
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Breakfast |
| 8:30-9:45 |
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General Session #2a: What are we learning
about the spiritual journey in our faith communities? Ruth
Barton, Willow Creek Community Church; Peter Cha, Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School |
| 9:45-10:00 |
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Break |
| 10:00-11:15 |
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General Session #2b: What are we learning
about the spiritual journey in our faith communities? Marta
Alvarado, Moody Bible Institute; Derek McNeil, Wheaton College |
| 11:45-1:00 |
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Lunch sponsored by Standard Publishers
and NAPCE |
| 1:15-2:15 |
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Research Presentations/Breakout Sessions (eight
locations)
Breakout sessions will include further exploration of
each the three faith communities presented in General
Session #2.
Breakout sessions:
• Our Spiritual Journey at Willow Creek Community
Church; Ruth Barton
• Our Spiritual Journey in the Asian American Christian
Community; Peter Cha
• Our Spiritual Journey in the Hispanic Church; Marta
Alvarado
• Our Spiritual Journey in the African American Church;
Derek McNeil
Research presentations:
• Educating the Children's Ministry Professional:
Implications from a Study of Job Satisfaction; Jane Carr,
Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
• Theological Basics and Postmodern Educational Invitations;
Bob Pazmino, Andover Newton Theological School
• High School Church Youth Groups: Growth and Decline;
Leonard Kageler, Nyack College
• "The Spirit of the Age" Disputes over
Evangelistic Methods on the American Frontier; Robert
Lay, Taylor University
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| 2:15-2:30 |
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Break |
| 2:30-3:30 |
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Praxis Seminars
Exploring our spiritual journey from the perspective of
historic traditions of spiritual formation.
The Contemplative Tradition: Discovering the Prayer-Filled
Life - This session explored the relationship
between spiritual formation and the contemplative life.
The emphasis here is placed upon prayer-filled living,
the development of a steadfast intimacy with the God who
loves us.
Facilitator: Dr. James Wilhoit, Price-LeBar chair of
the Christian Formation and Ministry department, Wheaton
College. Dr. Wilhoit teaches courses on Prayer and Spirituality.
He has also co-edited The Christian Educator’s
Handbook on Spiritual Formation (1994).
The Holiness Tradition: Discovering the Virtuous Life
- This session explored the relationship between spiritual
formation and the development of personal and corporate
holiness. Looking particularly at the perspectives and
procedures of the early Methodists, this seminar
examined the current possibilities for developing within
our churches the virtuous life of holiness fashioned in
community.
Facilitator: Dr. Cathy Stonehouse, Orlean Bullard Beeson
Professor of Christian Education at Asbury Theological
Seminary. Dr. Stonehouse teaches in the area of Christian
discipleship, wrestling with how spiritual formation
takes place in the faith community.
The Charismatic Tradition: Discovering the Spirit-Empowered
Life - This session explored the role of the Holy
Spirit in the formation process. The seminar explored
implications for supernaturally "assisted living"
with a focus on engagement in a two-way conversation and
personal relationship with the Spirit (illumination and
guidance).
Facilitator: Klaus Issler, Professor of Christian Education
and Theology, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
and adjunct faculty, Institute for Spiritual Formation
The Evangelical Tradition: Discovering the Word-Centered
Life - The Evangelical tradition of spiritual formation
centers around three aspects, the written word of God,
the Bible; the living word in the person of Jesus Christ;
and the spoken word, in evangelism. Have our labors in
these three aspects produced the fruit of Christians who
impact the Kingdom of God through a life of deepening
love for God and for others? If not, are there other aspects
of the Christian life that need more emphasis?
Facilitator: Judy TenElshof, Director of the Intentional
Character Development program at Talbot School of Theology
and founder of Hilltop Renewal Center. Dr. TenElshof
is concerned with linking together theological, spiritual,
and therapeutic concerns in the spiritual formation
of students and Christian leaders
The Incarnational Tradition: Discovering the Sacramental
Life - This session explored the relationship between
spiritual formation and the sacramental life. The emphasis
here is placed on "making present and visible the
realm of the invisible spirit." Rejecting the Gnostic
understanding of spiritual things as "good"
and material things as "bad," the incarnational
tradition attempts to recognize the presence of God
in creation, in our embodied selves, in physical labor
and work, and in the sacraments.
Facilitor: Rev. Robert Henry, Curate of Church of the
Great Shepherd in Wheaton, Illinois, has a B.A. in Christian
Education from Concordia (River Forest) and an M.A.
in Evangelism and Spiritual Formation from Wheaton College
The Social Justice Tradition: Discovering the Compassionate
Life - This session explores the relationship
between spiritual formation and social justice. The emphasis
here is placed upon the working of God’s justice,
mercy, and compassion in the personal, social, and institutional
spheres of life. The seminar looked at the role of
the Church as an embodiment of these themes in the world.
Facilitator: Dr. Astead Herndon, Pastor of Hallelujah
Temple in Park Forest, Illinois
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| 3:30-4:00 |
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Break |
| 4:00-5:00 |
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Professional Development Sessions / Research Presentations
(eight locations)
Professional development:
•Communicating in Ways Students Learn (Methods for
teaching postmodern young people); Mark Eckel, high school
teacher and motivational speaker)
• Classroom on the Web (Principles of instructional
design for online courses); Doug Filkins from Moody Bible
Institutes’ online project for Europe
Research presentations:
•Toward Semiotic Harmony: Significant Others in Spiritual
Formation; Jonathan H. Kim, Talbot School of Theology,
Biola University
• Christian Spirituality in the Life Stories of Chinese-American
Older Adults; Lily K. Chua, Ph.D. student, Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School
• Artifacts of Education: Archaeological Insights
into Hebrew Education in the Ancient Near East; James
Estep, Kentucky Christian College
•The Promise of Classroom Assessment Techniques;
Donald Guthrie, Covenant Theological Seminary
• Thriving in Ministry: Lessons Learned from Exemplar
Clergy; Barrett W. McRay, Mark R. McMinn, Mike Ramey,
David Swanson, Dennise Villa, Wheaton College
• Self-esteem and Spiritual Well-being in Early Adolescents:
A Correlational Study; Jim Mohler, Trinity International
University
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| 5:30-7:00 |
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Dinner sponsored by Group Publishing |
| 7:30-9:00 |
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General Session #3 – Discovering
our common journey through diversity – Marta Alvarado,
Ruth Barton, Peter Cha, Derek McNeil and Robert Mulholland |
Saturday, October 27
| 8:00-9:00 |
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Breakfast |
| 9:00-9:30 |
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Business Meeting |
| 9:30-10:45 |
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General Session #4 – What Have
We Learned and What is Missing? - Robert Mulholland |
| 10:45-11:00 |
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Break |
| 11:00-12:00 |
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Research Presentations / Professional Development
Sessions (eight locations)
Professional development:
• Revitalizing the Curriculum (A Look at Educational
Ministries curriculum at Wheaton Graduate School) James
Wilhoit, et al.
•Teaching 101 (Practical tips and practical advice
from a seasoned professor) Dennis Fledderjohann and a
panel of NAPCE’s best
• Discerning Celluloid Spirituality with Postmodern
Generations; Joseph Taylor, Claremont School of Theology
Research presentations:
• Confession, Phenomenology, or Spirituality? What
the North American Church can learn from the UK Experience;
Eugene Gibbs, Ashland Theological Seminary
• The Measurement of Spiritual Maturity Through the
Educator's Eyes: Validation of the Christian Spiritual
Participation Profile; Richard Emilson, Canadian Theological
Seminary
• Spiritual Formation Class - An Unexpected Journey
for Pastors in Training; Carol Tasker, Andrews University
• John Dewey on the Student: Are There Implications
for Christian Educators? Douglas Simpson, University of
Louisville
• Curricular Implications of the Study of Protestant
Youth Ministers in America; Karen Jones & Dave Rahn,
Huntington College Link Institute
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| 12:15-2:00 |
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Lunch and Closing Worship |
| 12:00-8:00 |
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Opportunities |
Accommodations
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Sheraton Arlington Park
3400 West Euclid Avenue
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005-1052
(847) 394-2000 or (800) 344 3434
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Copyright © 2001. North American Professors of Christian Education.
All rights reserved.
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