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We hoped you joined us at the Big Tent!
June 11–13, 2009
Atlanta, Georgia
Big Tent was a first-of-its-kind event held June 11-13, 2009, in Atlanta under the theme, “… And the Word became flesh.”
What is the Big Tent?
The Big Tent has been called “a denominational happening” and “a big Presbyterian family reunion.” Big Tent inspired people and made them proud to be Presbyterian. The event was celebratory, diverse, participatory and intergenerational. We worshiped together and shared meals. The partner conferences had plenary sessions, panels, Bible studies, workshops, tours and networking opportunities. The exhibit hall featured displys of the PC(USA) agencies and some of their related organizations. We closed with a Saturday evening celebration at Atlanta's Centennial Park. Youth programs were organized and provisions were made for child care.
Ten Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ministries and groups held their conferences in conjunction with the Big Tent event.
News from the Big Tent
Get stories from the Big Tent as they are published and read stories leading up to the Big Tent. Learn more.
Schedule at-a-glance
Wednesday, June 10
Pre-conferences sponsored by the Multicultural Church Conference.
Thursday, June 11
Pre-conferences sponsored by the Multicultural Church Conference and the Presbytery Pastoral Care Network.
Noon - Big Tent Registration opens
Noon - 6 p.m. - Big Tent exhibit hall open
6 p.m. - Big Tent opening dinner (included in Big Tent registration fee)
7:30 p.m. - Big Tent opening worship, Anna Carter Florence preaching
Evening - Hospitality and networking
Friday, June 12
9:00 - Big Tent worship, Claudio Carvalhaes preaching
10 a.m. - 5:30 pm - Big Tent exhibit hall open
10:30 a.m. - Big Tent common workshop session – more than 40 concurrent workshops!
Noon - Big Tent box lunch (included in the Big Tent registration fee)
Afternoon - Partner conference plenary sessions, meetings, workshops and tours*
Dinners - Sponsored by these conferences: Evangelism, Healthy Ministry, New Immigrant Ministries, PHEWA, Peacemaking, Racial Ethnic, Stewardship & Investment
Evening - Partner conference plenary sessions, workshops, hospitality events*
Saturday, June 13
Morning - Partner conference worship, Bible study, plenary sessions, workshops, and tours*
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Big Tent exhibit hall open
Lunch - sponsored by these conferences: Evangelism, Multicultural, Elders, New Immigrant and Racial Ethnic
Afternoon - Partner conference plenary sessions, workshops, meetings*
5 p.m. - Big Tent closing worship
6:30–10 p.m. - Celebration at Centennial Park
Sunday, June 14
Consider staying to worship in area churches!
Worship
What would a Presbyterian conference be without those gathered giving thanks and worshipping God? Though the Big Tent featured workshops, plenaries and tours for each of the 10 partner conferences, it also featured opportunities for all participants to come together as one community to break bread and to worship together. On Thursday evening, Anna Carter Florence, the Peter Marshall Associate Professor for Homiletics at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, preached at the opening worship service. Friday morning’s service was led by Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s Claudio Carvalhaes, associate professor of worship and preaching. And at the event’s closing worship service, late Saturday afternoon, the preacher was Graham Baird, organizing and senior pastor of Highland Church, Paso Robles, California. A mass choir from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta joined us at the service, featuring communion. The music leader for all three services was Sally Ann Morris, a lifelong Presbyterian, who has written more than 85 hymns and currently serves as director of music ministries at Parkway Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. |
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