September 1-3, 2010: Paul S. Wright Lecture Series

Registration for the Wright Lecture Series is now closed.  We are sorry if you missed the opportunity to join us and Dr. Rodger Nishioka at Menucha.  We will again offer the Paul S. Wright Lectures in 2011 and will post information about next year’s guest some time next spring.

Dr. Rodger Nishioka, Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary.   Engage with the newest happenings in the life of educational ministries and contemporary culture.

Dr. Nishioka focuses on equipping pastors to be teachers and leaders in the church’s educational ministry.  He is particularly interested in building a congregation’s youth and young adult ministries.

A gifted speaker, Dr. Nishioka recently was the keynoter for the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association (PCCCA) annual conference (2007), the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) annual conference (2008), and has been a workshop leader at APCE workshops on a regular basis. We look forward to his joining us in Oregon for 2010!  Meals and lodging provided at Menucha.

Event Schedule Click Here!

For the 2010 Wright Lecture Series, Dr. Nishioka will be facilitating dialog on contemporary issues facing ministry in the 21st century.  He writes: “Church historians tend to be a prickly bunch.  They remind us that nothing is really new.  They caution us against thinking that what we are facing is any more serious a challenge than the church of the 16th century or for that matter the first century.   So it is worth noting that there appears to be a growing consensus among church historians that we are on the cusp of a new age of Christendom.   Together, we will explore what this new age might look like.  We will look at this new age through three lenses.  The first lens will be recent research concerning adolescents.  The second lens will look at the church through young adults (persons in their 20’s and 30’s) and finally the third lens will be a broader examination of eight trends that are changing and shaping the nature of ministry—perhaps giving us a glimpse of what this new Christendom might look like.  Throughout these presentations, conversation will be welcomed and hopefully nurtured as we contemplate what we need to be doing today to prepare for being the Church of Jesus Christ tomorrow.”

Guests arriving Wednesday afternoon are welcome to engage in Sabbath practices on site.  Your room may not be ready until the evening.  Enjoy our grounds or walk our prayer labyrinth!