The 2009 Moderators’ Conference

November 20-22, 2009
Louisville, Kentucky

“Blessings and Burdens: Where Technology and Church Life Converge”

Registration is now closed.

Two plenaries will be broadcast live from this location.

Please note that broadcast times listed in the video window are in PST because that is where the provider is located. EST times are as follows:

• Nov 20, 2009 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m. EST
  • "Technology Town Hall: Integrating Technology into the Life of Church and Presbytery"
• Nov 21, 2009 8:30 a.m. -12:00 a.m. EST
  • "Social Media and Web 2.0 – Connecting"

To participate in the conversation simply select the blue "Menu" button from the bottom of the video window above and choose "Go to show page" from the options in the right column. From there you will have the opportunity to join the open social discussion of the presentation via Twitter and the comment area. Also, you will be provided with the chance to ask questions, follow other viewers comments and questions and participate in community discussions. The reserved Twitter hashtags are #modconf and #pcusamod.

What is the Moderators’ Conference?

The 209th General Assembly (1997) voted to encourage "that an annual gathering be called by the Moderator of the General Assembly, such as the Racial Justice Conference of June 6-7, 1997; and that this conference be held in Louisville, providing moderators the opportunity to meet and talk with national staff. [All expenses would be paid by the individuals attending or by their governing bodies, and the gathering would be held at a Presbyterian church in Louisville or at 100 Witherspoon.]" (Commissioners' Resolution 97-3: Minutes 1997, Part I, p. 738)

Event information

The Moderators’ Conference will begin with a tour of the Presbyterian Center at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2009, and will close no later than 11 a.m. following worship on Sunday, November 22, 2009. The optional Parliamentary Procedures training will be from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 19. Breakfast and lunch will be included.

Costs

The registration fee for the conference (November 20-22) is $275 for each participant. This fee includes materials for the conference as well as the following meals:  Friday breakfast, lunch and dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and Sunday breakfast. The registration fee may be paid by credit card or by check. If you are planning on participating in the Parliamentary Procedures Training Day (Optional) the registration fee is an additional $50 for a total of $325 for the Training Day and the full conference.

Hotel accommodations

The conference will be held at the Brown Hotel, 335 West Broadway, Louisville, KY  40202, (502) 583-1234. Participants must make their own hotel reservations with the Brown Hotel by calling the hotel’s reservation number at (888) 888-5252 and mentioning that you are attending the Moderators’ Conference of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The hotel rate for the conference is $115.00 per night single/double. You must make your reservations by October 2 to ensure this rate.

Cancellation/refund policy

If received in writing by November 6, 2009, we will honor refund requests of the registration fee less $50.00 for participants who need to cancel. Such written requests must be sent to Angela Lucear or sent via fax to (502) 569-8765. Cancellation of hotel room and/or airline tickets is the responsibility of the participant. Please check with your airlines and the hotel for cancellation requirements and policies.

If you have other questions contact Angela Lucear by email or (888) 728-7228 x5428.

Agenda

Registration for Optional Parlimentary Training – 8 a.m. November 19 at the Brown.

Registration for Moderators’ Conference  November 20 – 8:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Center.

Wednesday, November 18

6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Registration, J. Graham Brown Suite (3rd Floor)

Thursday, November 19

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Parliamentary Procedures Training

6:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Breakfast in Café (Receive Coupon at Check-in)

9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Parliamentary Procedures Training, Crystal Ballroom (3rd Floor)

Friday, November 20

6:30 a.m.-8:00 a.m. Breakfast, Bluegrass Ballroom (2nd Floor) (Receive coupon at Check-In)

7:45/8:15/8:45 a.m. Tour Buses Leave for Presbyterian Center (Please wear your nametags to get access into the Center)

• Presbyterian Center Tours
• Visit Presbyterian Bookstore (30% Discount)

10–10:45 a.m. Opening Worship, Chapel (3rd Floor), The Rev. Steve Jester, Second Presbyterian Church, Louisville, KY

10:45-11:45 a.m. Plenary One – “The Technology Culture”
Carol Howard Merritt, pastor, Western Presbyterian Church (Washington, D.C.), author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation

11:45 a.m. Buses Return to the Brown Hotel

Noon Lunch at the Brown, Bluegrass Ballroom (2nd Floor), nFOG Presentation, Cindy Bolbach and Dan Williams, Greetings from Vince Patton, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

2–5 p.m. Plenary Two – Crystal Ballroom (3rd Floor), “Technology Town Hall: Integrating Technology into the Life of Church and Presbytery”, Bruce Reyes-Chow, moderator of the 218th General Assembly

5–6 p.m. Free time

6 p.m. Dinner, Bluegrass Ballroom (2nd Floor)

7–9 p.m. “All You Wanted to Know About Being a Moderator! Nuts/Bolts: Commissioning, Installation, Ordination Examination of Candidates”
Theresa Howell, stated clerk of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee
Ken Hockenberry, stated clerk of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery

9 p.m. Closing prayer

Saturday, November 21

6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast, Bluegrass Ballroom (2nd Floor), (Receive coupon at Check-In)

8:30–noon Crystal Ballroom (3rd Floor), Morning Prayer led by Byron Wade, vice moderator of the 218th General Assembly

Plenary Three – “Social Media and Web 2.0 – Connecting”
Carol and Bruce

Noon–1 p.m. Lunch and free time, Bluegrass Ballroom (2nd Floor)

1–2:30 p.m. Workshop Session One

2:45–4:15 p.m. Workshop Session Two

Workshop Only Offered During Session One

“Beyond Labels – What is Diversity and
How Do I work with it or Attempt to Achieve it?”
Molly Casteel, Interim COR Manager and
DeBorah Gilbert White, Associate, Cultural Proficiency
Broadway C (3rd Floor)

Workshop Only Offered During Session Two

“Be Prepared!” Not Just the Boy Scout’s Motto
Tom Hay, Director of Operations
(Note:  This Workshop will only be presented at 2:45 p.m.)
Broadway B (3rd Floor)

Workshops Offered For Both Sessions

“Managing Presbytery Stress and Conflict”
Jill Hudson, Coordinator, Governing Body Relations
Broadway A (3rd Floor)

“The Presbytery as a Spiritual Community”
Betty Meadows, Executive Presbyter, Mid-Kentucky Presbytery
Secretariat B (1st Floor)

“A Manual for Moderators!”
Ken Hockenberry, Stated Clerk, Mid-Kentucky Presbytery
Citation A (1st Floor)

4:15 p.m. Reception Kentucky Center for the Arts (Transportation Provided) [Receive complimentary tickets at registration]

5:45 p.m.  Free evening and dinner on your own
Synod moderators may choose to dine together

Sunday, November 22

6:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast, Bluegrass Ballroom (2nd Floor), (Receive coupon at Check-In)

8:30–10 a.m. Time with Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow and Vice Moderator Byron Wade, Crystal Ballroom (3rd Floor)

10–10:15 a.m. Evaluation

10:15–10:30 a.m. Morning break

10:30–11:30 a.m. Worship for the Lord’s Day and Celebration of Holy Communion
– Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow
– Judd Hendrix and the worship team from Covenant Presbyterian Church

11:30 a.m. Depart!