One, the Rev. William H. "Bill" Lawser, a congregational development specialist for the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois, also did a stand-up routine as the "Rev. Knox Calvin."
"Remember the other night, someone asked the question when
our new moderator (said), 'It's like having a sixth sense,'" he
said as "Calvin." "Well, there was a middle governing body
person sitting near me, that leaned over and said, 'I work
in transformation; I have a sixth sense. . I see dead churches!'"
The mission of the Network for Churchwide Transformation is to provide an "organic web of relationships, support and education" for redevelopment/transformation churches, practitioners, governing body staff and committee persons.
It was announced during the luncheon that the network will hold its 2005 conference at Columbia University in New York City, from July 14-17. For more information, visit the organization's Web site at www.churchwidetransformation.org.
The Rev. Jean Marie Peacock, vice moderator of the 216th General Assembly, attended the luncheon to greet the participants. Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase said at the event, "The first reason I called Jean Marie was because of her heart for transforming churches." |
