The final day of the NEXT Church 2018 gathering started with a keynote presentation by Dr. Jonathan L. Walton, Harvard University Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and the Pusey Minister at the Memorial Church of Harvard University. His talk, titled “Be suspicious of praise!”, gave voice and encouragement to bold and prophetic ministry.
The second day of the NEXT Church 2018 gathering in Baltimore began with a worship service focusing on “testimonies of death and dying.” Over 675 participants have gathered for the annual conference of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members, pastors and those in affiliated ministries under the theme of “The Desert in Bloom: Living, Dying, and Rising in a Wilderness Church.”
The Rev. Jessica Tate, director of NEXT Church, opened the NEXT Church gathering in Baltimore today welcoming the 675 participants in this year’s event under the theme of “The Desert in Bloom: Living, Dying, and Rising in a Wilderness Church.” The annual conference brings together Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) members, pastors and those in affiliated ministries to envision what is “next” for the denomination.
The 2017 gathering of NEXT Church concluded today with worship and a sermon by the Rev. Paul Roberts, Sr., president of Johnson C. Smith Seminary in Atlanta. In its seventh year, the three-day conference was attended by 550 people under the theme of “Wells & Walls: Well-Being in a Thirsty World.”
The 550 attendees of the 2017 NEXT Church National Gathering this week were treated to inspiring testimonies, over a dozen workshops, worship opportunities and a discussion on the “spiritual but not religious” research of the Rev. Dr. Linda Mercadante as the conference concluded its first day and began the second.
