Ankeny Forum
Monthly seminars for pastors and other rostered leaders are offered on the third* Tuesday of the month, September-November and January–May. The Ankeny Forum provides pastors and other church staff with monthly interaction with theologians and other leaders of the church, as well as an opportunity to interact with colleagues.
The forum is held at Resurrection Lutheran Church*, 914 NW Ash, in Ankeny, Iowa. Gathering time at 9:00 a.m. is followed by worship at 9:15. Sessions begin at 9:30 a.m. and end by noon, usually followed by lunch. Cost is $130 for active rostered participants and $90.00 for for all others for the series of 8 events. For those wishing to attend only occasionally, the cost is $20 and $15 respectively per session you attend.
* On occasion we deviate from this schedule due to external factors.
REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE HERE.
April 23, 2013
Left behind … and loving It!
With the enormous popularity of Tim LaHaye’s and Jerry B. Jenkins’ Left Behind series, dispensationalist theology and the prospect of the “end of the world” continue to captivate the American conscience. At play in this fascination are specific methods of interpreting scripture, as well as specific theological convictions, which many people of faith find either confusing or simply wrong. Mark Davis, teaching elder at Heartland Presbyterian Church in Clive, will share a critique of Left Behind Theology as well as some of the hermeneutical and theological alternatives that he has developed in his book, Left Behind and Loving It. Participants will be guaranteed at least one chuckle, as well as some promising ways of approaching some key portions of scripture that give rise to apocalyptic eschatology.
May 21, 2013
Preaching and the parables of Jesus
Forty years ago preaching underwent a major shift with the introduction of narrative styles, largely influenced by the parables. The parables are narrative events, we were told, and our sermons should be as well. Except the parables are not only narrative events but notoriously ambiguous, which seems at odds with the ideals of preaching. Mike Graves, Wm. K. McElvaney Professor of Preaching at Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, will lead us in an exploration of preaching and the parables. We will think together about how our preaching might be more parabolic.
return