TCF Annual Conference: Gather | Practice | Witness: A Journey toward Hope: Full Schedule

Dr. Robert Chao Romero has been a professor of Chicano/Latino Studies at UCLA since 2005. Together with his wife Erica, Robert serves as co-chair of the Matthew 25 Movement in Southern California (https://www.matthew25socal.org). He earned his Ph.D. in Latin American history from UCLA and J.D. from U.C. Berkeley, and is also a pastor and attorney. Robert's current book project is entitled, The Brown Church: Towards a Latina/o Christian Social Justice History and Identity (forthcoming Intervarsity Press Academic, 2020). His first book, The Chinese in... Read More →

Michael Gulker

President, The Colossian Forum

Michael Gulker is President of The Colossian Forum. He has a long-standing interest in the oft-times contentious intersection of faith and culture and how both thrive best when rooted in worship. During his ten years at The Colossian Forum, Michael has become a leader in helping to... Read More →

Dr. Rob Barrett

Director of Forums & Scholarship, The Colossian Forum

Rob holds two PhDs—one in Applied Physics from Stanford University and the other in Theology from Durham University in England. He worked as a research scientist at IBM, a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew in England, and as a postdoctoral researcher of Old Testament in Göttingen... Read More →

Thursday September 12, 2019 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Great Hall

Keynote

7:00am EDT

Breakfast

Friday September 13, 2019 7:00am - 8:30am EDT
Hotel Breakfast Area

General Session

7:45am EDT

Keynote/Workshop Speaker Breakfast Meeting

This is a meeting for all keynote and workshop speakers to quickly check-in with TCF and each other while eating breakfast. Please feel free to grab food in the breakfast area, then head to the President's Dining Room for a short meeting lead by Chris De Vos.

Thank you, presenters!

Speaker

Rev. Chris De Vos

Manager of Church Partnerships & Care, The Colossian Forum

Chris has strong threads of reconciliation and unity woven into his life, and fully believes that it's possible to collaborate across differences. He graduated from Calvin College and Calvin Seminary and completed a Doctor of Ministry degree at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary... Read More →

Friday September 13, 2019 7:45am - 8:15am EDT
President's Dining

Invitation Only

8:30am EDT

Keynote 2

Speaker

Dr. Ruth Haley Barton

President/CEO, Transforming Center

Ruth Haley Barton (Doctor of Divinity, Northern Theological Seminary) is founder of the Transforming Center (www.transformingcenter.org), a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of clergy, Christian leaders and the congregations and organizations they serve. A sought-after speaker, retreat leader and trained spiritual director (Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation), she is the author of numerous books... Read More →

Michael Gulker

President, The Colossian Forum

Dr. Rob Barrett

Director of Forums & Scholarship, The Colossian Forum

Friday September 13, 2019 8:30am - 10:15am EDT
Great Hall

Keynote

10:15am EDT

Break

Friday September 13, 2019 10:15am - 10:30am EDT
Fireside Room

General Session

10:30am EDT

Beyond Good Intentions: The Practices of Calm Presence

When it comes to the challenging work of engaging difficult issues within Christian unity, good intentions are not enough. We need robust practices that help us to keep our balance emotionally while we work things out. In this workshop, we will explore—and actually practice—the skills of being a calm presence, expressing our own point of view and staying connected with those who see things differently.

Speaker

Trisha Taylor, MA LPC

Partner, The Leader's Journey

Trisha Taylor is an ordained minister, counselor, author and consultant from Houston, Texas. In more than 25 years of ministry, she has been a co-founder of Faithwalking, Missional Marriage, Ridder Church Renewal and is a co-author of two books, Learning Change and The Leader's... Read More →

Friday September 13, 2019 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Maple/White Pine Room

Friday Morning Workshop

10:30am EDT

Gender as a Source of Delight and Division: A New Colossian Way Series

Speaker

Dr. Jenell Paris

Professor of Anthropology, Messiah College

Jenell Paris received her Ph.D. in anthropology from American University, Washington, DC and is Professor of Anthropology at Messiah College, Mechanicsburg, PA. Her recent books include The End of Sexual Identity: Why Sex is Too Important to Define Who We Are(IVP, 2011); The Good... Read More →

Friday September 13, 2019 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Willow East

Friday Morning Workshop

10:30am EDT

Keynote 2: Deeper Dive

Speaker

Dr. Ruth Haley Barton

President/CEO, Transforming Center

Friday September 13, 2019 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Willow West

Friday Morning Workshop

10:30am EDT

Reimagining Disagreement through Dialogic Questioning

One premise of The Colossian Way is that engaging—rather than avoiding—conflict provides a productive context for practicing forbearance, patience, kindness, and love. But surfacing conflict can be risky and challenging. Based on a close study of one TCW group, this workshop discusses the communication patterns through which the group avoided conflicts. The workshop reports the findings of the study, which found that a central challenge facing TCW participants is imagining communication in the face of conflict outside of debate. The workshop will offer dialogic communication as an alternative communication practice for productively engaging conflict and will discuss dialogic questioning as one practice that can help Christians productively engage divisive issues in the church.

Speaker

Dr. Stacey Wieland

Associate Professor of Communication, Calvin College

Dr. Stacey Wieland earned her PhD from the University of Colorado, Boulder. A specialist in organizational communication, her qualitative research focuses on identity, culture, and discourse. She has published in journals such as Communication Monographs, Management Communication... Read More →

Friday September 13, 2019 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Board Room

Friday Morning Workshop

10:30am EDT

The Colossian Way: Talking about Politics

Even when we find ourselves deeply divided over politics, The Colossian Way proclaims our hope for unity in Christ. This hope for unity flies in the face of what we find in the political news, social media, and many face-to-face interactions. There’s a reason conventional wisdom says talking about politics will only drive us further apart. Moreover, some of us have to admit that, when we talk about politics, we’re tempted away from deep, loving truthfulness about the facts, the arguments, our political opponents, and ourselves. In this workshop, we will reflect on our current situation of political division, preview a new Colossian Way series on Political Talk, and seek God’s wisdom for using our political talk redemptively.

Speaker

Dr. Rob Barrett

Director of Forums & Scholarship, The Colossian Forum

Friday September 13, 2019 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Hickory

Friday Morning Workshop

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Friday September 13, 2019 12:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Great Hall

General Session

2:00pm EDT

The Colossian Way: Talking about Politics

Speaker

Dr. Rob Barrett

Director of Forums & Scholarship, The Colossian Forum

Friday September 13, 2019 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Hickory

Friday Afternoon Workshop

2:00pm EDT

Basic Components of The Colossian Way

The Colossian Forum’s mission is to help Christians transform conflicts into opportunities for spiritual formation and witness. Central to that work of transformation is a ten-session, small group process called The Colossian Way. The aim of The Colossian Way is to increase the capacity of participants to engage messy problems with the character of Christ. This workshop will explore the conceptual framework and practical components of The Colossian Way as a Christian practice. Participants will learn the design of the curriculum, experience some exercises included in the group process and come away with ideas about implementing The Colossian Way in a local church or school setting.

Speaker

Rev. Chris De Vos

Manager of Church Partnerships & Care, The Colossian Forum

2019 CAO PowerPoint Slides pdf

Friday September 13, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Maple/White Pine Room

Friday Afternoon Workshop

2:00pm EDT

Keynote 1: Deeper Dive

Speaker

Dr. Robert Chao Romero

Professor of Chicano/Latino Studies, UCLA

Friday September 13, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Willow West

Friday Afternoon Workshop

2:00pm EDT

Living Faith in Polarized and Uncertain Times: Lessons from Northern Ireland

Speaker

Dr. Joseph Liechty

Professor of Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies, Goshen College

Joe Liechty is a professor of Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, and belongs to Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship. He earned his Ph.D. in Irish History from National University of Ireland. Joe has had several years of involvement with The Colossian... Read More →

Friday September 13, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Willow East

Friday Afternoon Workshop

2:00pm EDT

Reimagining Disagreement through Dialogic Questioning

Speaker

Dr. Stacey Wieland

Associate Professor of Communication, Calvin College

Friday September 13, 2019 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Board Room

Friday Afternoon Workshop

3:30pm EDT

Refreshments & Fellowship

Take some time to fellowship, discuss, and meet new friends!
The following rooms are available for use: Hickory Room, Willow West, and Board Room.

Friday September 13, 2019 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Fireside Room

General Session

4:00pm EDT

CRC Pastor Presentation

If you are unsure if you should attend this event, please email mlawrence@colossianforum.org to confirm.

Speaker

Rev. Chris De Vos

Manager of Church Partnerships & Care, The Colossian Forum

Friday September 13, 2019 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
Maple/White Pine Room

Invitation Only

4:00pm EDT

Back to God Ministries TCW Overview

If you are unsure if you should attend, please email mlawrence@colossianforum.org.

Friday September 13, 2019 4:00pm - 5:15pm EDT
President's Dining

Invitation Only

7:00pm EDT

Community Event: Continuing the Conversation

Come hear the story of community leader Tru Pettigrew and former police chief Tony Godwin, who entered a conversation following the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO around racial tensions in their own community of Cary, NC. Hear how they learned to love each other across difference, brought healing to their community and continue to work for justice and peace. We invite you to experience an example of hope that serves as witness to God’s kingdom.

Admission is free. No registration required. No transportation provided.
Co-hosted by First Christian Reformed Church, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, True Light Baptist Church, and The Colossian Forum

Friday September 13, 2019 7:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
First Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids

General Session

7:00am EDT

Breakfast

Saturday September 14, 2019 7:00am - 8:30am EDT
Hotel Breakfast Area

General Session

8:30am EDT

Keynote 3

Speaker

Dr. Bungishabaku Katho

Biblical Studies Professor, Shalom University

Dr. Bungishabaku Katho is the founder and director of the Jeremiah Center for Faith and Society (JCFS), an organization started in 2017. The JCFS aims to build a just and peaceful society in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Center seeks to gather leaders to articulate and promote... Read More →

Michael Gulker

President, The Colossian Forum

Dr. Rob Barrett

Director of Forums & Scholarship, The Colossian Forum

Saturday September 14, 2019 8:30am - 10:15am EDT
Great Hall

Keynote

10:15am EDT

Break

Saturday September 14, 2019 10:15am - 10:30am EDT
Fireside Room

General Session

10:30am EDT

Basic Components of The Colossian Way

Speaker

Rev. Chris De Vos

Manager of Church Partnerships & Care, The Colossian Forum