A Wesleyan Institute, September 25-28, 2006, Nashville Scarritt-Bennett Center

A Wesleyan Institute will be held September 25-28, 2006, at Nashville’s Scarritt-Bennett Center. Theme for the Institute is “Opening Ourselves to Grace: From Membership to Discipleship.” Co-sponsoring the event are The General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church and The Council for Accountable Discipleship.

This Wesleyan Institute will be a time of Christian conferencing with leaders seeking to help Christians grow from church membership to discipleship. Participants and leaders will explore together how spiritual disciplines help to form faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Discipleship is first and foremost a relationship with Jesus Christ. When Christians open themselves to grace they move from church membership to living in the world as faithful disciples.

Jesus summarized his teachings in two commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12: 30-31).

Christ has given to his disciples the means for following him. John Wesley called these spiritual disciplines means of grace because they are “signs, words, or actions ordained of God, and appointed for this end: to be the ordinary channels whereby Christ might convey to men and women preventing, justifying, or sanctifying grace” (Sermon 16: The Means of Grace).

The means of grace are those holy habits through which God helps Christians and the church to take discipleship to a new level. They are how grace forms church members into faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

In plenary sessions, small group table conversations, prayer, and worship we will explore the meaning and practical application of the means of grace in the life and mission of the church.

The leadership team for the event includes Henry H. Knight III, Bishop Ann B. Sherer, Tom Albin, Carmen M. Guad, Sandra King-Shaw, and Steven W. Manskar.

Henry H. Knight III, is Donald and Pearl Wright Professor of Wesley Studies at Saint Paul School of Theology. He is author of The Presence of God in the Christian Life: John Wesley and the Means of Grace and Eight Life-Enriching Practices of United Methodists. Hal is one of the foremost authorities on the means of grace in the Wesleyan tradition.

Ann B. Sherer is Bishop of the Nebraska Annual Conference, and is President of the Council of Accountable Discipleship.

Tom Albin serves as Dean of the Upper Room Chapel and Director of the Upper Room Program Unit. He is a recognized authority in Wesleyan spirituality and Christian formation.

Carmen M. Gaud is an International Editor of El Aposento Alto, the Spanish edition of the Upper Room. Carmen was one of the translators of Obras de Wesley, a project that gave Spanish-speaking readers access to a significant portion of John Wesley’s work.

A life-long member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., Sandra King-Shaw coordinates the Class Leader Ministry. She recently retired after 10+ years as Deputy Director of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital. Sandra is a member of the Council for Accountable Discipleship.

Steven W. Manskar is Director of Accountable Discipleship at the General Board of Discipleship. He is author of Accountable Discipleship: Life in God’s Household, A Perfect Love: Understanding John Wesley’s ‘A plain Account of Christian Perfection’, and A Disciple’s Journal.

For individuals registering before July 15, 2006 the cost of the Institute is $297 which includes 3 nights lodging in a private room and 8 meals at Scarritt-Bennett Center. You will also receive a copy of A Disciple’s Journal: Daily Bible Reading and Guidance for Reflection (Year C) by Steven W. Manskar. After July 15th the cost per person is $372.

You can register online at http://www.WesleyanInstitute.org or you can call 877-899-2789, extension 7059, Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Central Time) and ask for Becky. Payment is accepted via major credit cards.