Renewing Faith Conference featuring Thomas Jay Oord, Sheri D. Kling, Bruce Epperly, Jeff Wells, and others

January 23-25, 2025 (Online)

Reignite Your Faith and Your Ministry at the Renewing Faith Online Conference

Join fellow open-minded Christians in a transformative journey to rediscover your calling and rejuvenate your spirit.

Experience a Faith Renewal Like None Other

Are you feeling burnt out and disconnected from your ministry or spiritual life? The Renewing Faith Online Conference is designed specifically for forward-looking Christian pastors, staff members, lay leaders, spiritual directors, chaplains, and those outside traditional church settings - whether you consider yourself a progressive mainliner, a quiet contemplative, a spiritual seeker, or a “deconstructing” post-evangelical - who are seeking to reignite their passion and find life-giving purpose in their faith journeys.

At the Renewing Faith Conference, you will:

Grow and Deepen Your Theological Roots: Participate in thought-provoking discussions led by renowned theologians and ministry leaders.
Gain Fresh Perspectives on Ministry: Hear and discuss ways to incorporate process and open-relational theology and practice into your preaching, ministry, community, and personal faith journey.
Build Lasting Connections: Network with like-minded Christians who share your commitment to fresh expressions of Christianity, forming lasting relationships and networks of support.
Embody Your Faith: Experience worship and practices that connect mind, body, and spirit through the arts and movement, fostering a holistic approach to ministry and well-being.

Imagine leaving the conference with a renewed sense of purpose, a refreshed spirit, and practical tools to sustain your faith and your ministry for years to come. This isn’t just another conference; it's a life-changing experience designed to help you thrive in your calling and spirituality.

Don't let burnout or boredom define your ministry or faith life. Take the first step towards renewal and transformation.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

Join us online at the Renewing Faith Conference and rediscover the joy and life-giving spirit at the heart of Christian life.

Themes

During this multi-day online event, we’ll dive into core themes of Christian faith, including:

Renewing Faith

Can faith be reimagined to renew our spirits, our lives, and our communities?

Renewing
God

Who is God and does God care about us? How does God act in the world in each and every moment?

Renewing
Jesus

Who is Jesus for us today and what is still saving about his life and work?

Renewing
Message

How can ancient texts come alive for us now? What is the good news in this adventure of faith?

Renewing
Worship

What is still beautiful and nourishing in our liturgy, creeds, and sacramental worship?

Renewing
Spirit

How can religious experience and practice bring us to wholeness and transformation?

Renewing
Community

What is truly renewing in our education, outreach, and service?

We’re going to do our best to not be all heady about it, but actually drop down deeper - into our bodies and souls! It’ll be ONLINE, so both body and soul can join from home. Access to recordings will be provided after the event to registrants.

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Speakers

Thomas Jay Oord

Thomas Jay Oord, Ph.D., is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. He is an award-winning author, and he has written or edited more than thirty books. Oord directs a doctoral program at Northwind Theological Seminary and the Center for Open and Relational Theology. He won the Outstanding Faculty Award twelve times as a full-time professor and now speaks at institutions across the globe. Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, and freedom and relationships for transformation.

Website

Sheri D. Kling

Sheri D. Kling, Ph.D., is the director of Process & Faith with the Center for Process Studies and interim minister of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bradenton, FL. Sheri earned her Ph.D. in Religion: Process Studies from Claremont School of Theology. She is a theologian, songwriter, and spiritual teacher, as well as a faculty member of the Haden Institute, adjunct faculty with Claremont School of Theology, and the author of A Process Spirituality: Christian and Transreligious Resources for Transformation. She regularly delivers dynamic “Music & Message'' presentations to groups, and offers courses, concerts, and spiritual retreats. She may be found online at sherikling.com.

Bruce Epperly

Rev. Bruce Epperly, Ph.D., is a teacher, pastor, spiritual guide, writer, lecturer, retreat leader, and reiki teacher. He is the author of over 70 books, including Finding God in Suffering: A Journey with Job, Process Theology: Embracing Adventure with God, Become Fire: Guideposts for Spiritual Pilgrims, One World: Process Theology and the Lord’s Prayer, Piglet’s Process: Process Theology for All God’s Children, and Restless Spirit. He is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ. He has served on the faculties of Georgetown University, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Claremont School of Theology.

Jeff Wells

Rev. Jeff Wells is the lead pastor of the Church of the Village, a progressive, radically inclusive, and anti-racist community in New York City. He practices and promotes open, relational, and process theology. Jeff co-edited the book, Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God: Sermons, Essays, and Worship Elements from the Perspective of Open, Relational, and Process Theology (2024). Jeff is an active member of the Alliance for Ecological Civilization. In 2022, he helped found and co-chaired the Living Earth Movement. With John B. Cobb Jr., he co-authored, Is International Cooperation Possible? A Bold Appeal for a Living Earth (2022).

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Elvi Bjorkquist

Elvi Bjorkquist attended college in Michigan and then University of California and finished her degree at Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Art and Art History Degree upon moving to Denver. She received a Master of Divinity and a Master of Philosophy from Iliff School of Theology. In addition, Elvi taught Advanced Graphic Design and Advanced Drawing at the University level. Elvi recently retired from managing her own graphic design company where she served clients on a national and international basis. She creates her abstract art from her home studio in the Denver metropolitan area. Her goal is to represent the world not in a discursive manner but rather a non-discursive mode that is “unsayable”. She is interested in furthering and developing her technique, imagination and “ways of feeling” to continue to develop her artwork.

Website | Facebook | Sync Gallery

Tim Burnette

Rev. Dr. Tim Burnette writes and teaches in philosophy, theology, cosmology, and decolonial mysticism. He earned his doctorate from Claremont School of Theology, where he studied process metaphysics and compassion. He has hosted the Theopoetics Podcast and currently curates Way Collective, which is a contemplative community for love and liberation in Santa Barbara, CA. He is a partner, father, musician, athlete, and avid reader. He agrees with Kurt Vonnegut that you can see all kinds of things from the edge that you can’t see from the center. Although...sometimes it helps to be centered out on the edge as well.

Website | Instagram

Monica Corsaro

Rev. Dr. Monica Corsaro is the Senior Settled Pastor of Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa, CA. Her career combines traditional ministry and political activism, serving diverse communities in Washington State, Illinois, Colorado, and now Southern California. She holds a BS in Political Science from Illinois State University, a Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology, and a doctoral degree from Wesley Theological Seminary. Pastor Monica is a strong advocate for social causes.

Andrew M. Davis

Andrew M. Davis, Ph.D, is program director for the Center for Process Studies where he researches, writes, teaches, and organizes conferences on various aspects of process-relational thought. An advocate of metaphysics and meaning in a hospitable universe, he approaches philosophy as the endeavor to systematically think through what reality must be like because we are a part of it. He is author, editor, and co-editor of eleven books including Mind, Value, and Cosmos: On the Relational Nature of Ultimacy and Metaphysics of Exo-Life: Toward a Constructive Whiteheadian Cosmotheology. Follow his work at andrewmdavis.info.

Teri Ditslear

Rev. Dr. Teri Ditslear is grateful to be the pastor of a progressive ELCA Lutheran Community in central Indiana, Roots of Life. She recently graduated from Northwind Seminary, with a Doctorate of Ministry and Theology in Open and Relational Theology. Her area of study is ecclesiology and reimagining church with an open and relational dialogue. She lives with her husband John, two dogs and a cat. They have six adult children and a bunch of grandkids.

Instagram | Twitter

Mark Feldmeir

Mark Feldmeir is the author of five books, including his latest, Life after God: Finding Faith When You Can’t Believe Anymore (Westminster John Knox, 2023). He currently serves as Lead Pastor at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and has previously served on the Adjunct Faculty at Claremont School of Theology, where he taught homiletics.

Website | Twitter

Al Gephart

Beth Hayward

Thomas G. Hermans-Webster

Thomas Hermans-Webster is a United Methodist Elder, currently serving as Acquiring Editor at Orbis Books and Affiliate Faculty in Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Memphis Theological Seminary. Tom earned his PhD from Boston University School of Theology in constructive theology and theological ethics. His scholarship explores how process thought reshapes our understanding and practice of the Eucharist, arguing for a dynamic interpretation of sacramental presence that enhances Christian action for ecological well-being. Through his writing and teaching, he examines how divine participation in the world manifests through communal ritual and sacred meals, drawing on both Whitehead's metaphysics and liturgical traditions.

Leslie King

Rev. Dr. Leslie King received her BA from Kansas University (’91) and her MDiv from McCormick Presbyterian Theological Seminary (‘94) and DMin in 2010 from Saint Paul School of Theology with an emphasis in Spirituality and Organizational Change. Serving just two churches since 1994, she enjoys the process of redevelopment. Process Theology informs her ministry, redevelopment efforts and writing.

Instagram | Facebook | First Presbyterian Church Waco

Dongwoo Lee

Rev. Dr. Dongwoo Lee is a scholar, pastor, and non-profit leader with expertise in theology, philosophy, ecological justice, and religious studies. He holds a PhD in Religion from Claremont School of Theology, specializing in Comparative Religion and Philosophy, Asian philosophies, grounded in Christian theology, with a focus on process thought. Dr. Lee serves as Chaplain and faculty at Schreiner University, and has a long history of pastoral leadership within the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is the Director of the Korea Project at the Center for Process Studies. His writing and research explore innovative church responses, artificial intelligence, and ecological challenges.

Website | Instagram | Facebook

Jorge Lockward

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Jorge Lockward currently lives in New York City where he works as Director of the Global Praise Program of the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, and lectures on worship at Union Theological Seminary. As song leader and workshop leader, he models a passion for the ways congregational song both reflects and shapes the theology and praxis of the assembled community. Presently, he is the Minister of Worship for The Church of the VIllage, a United Methodist church in New York City andalso leads the New York based ecumenical chorale Cántico Nuevo.

Jay McDaniel

Timothy Murphy

Timothy C. Murphy currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church of Fort Wayne, IN, a position he has held since 2018. He previously served as the Executive Director of Progressive Christians Uniting in Los Angeles and as the Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion and Politics at Claremont School of Theology. His justice and service passions include dismantling racism, combating economic inequality, and addressing climate change, as well as theologically connecting salvation with problems in our world. He is the author of three books, the most recently being an illustrated children’s book entitled Jesus Learns to Glow.

Paul Nancarrow

Sandra Nixon

Sandra Nixon has been in pastoral ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about bringing process-relational thought to "the people in the pew." She currently serves as Coordinating Minister for Trinity-Grace United Church in Vancouver, BC and recently contributed to Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God, published earlier this year. She lives with her family in Richmond, BC and enjoys gardening, cooking, kayaking and yoga.

Instagram | Facebook | Medium

Rebecca Parker

Rebecca Ann Parker, PhD, process-relational theologian, justice activist, artist and educator is President Emeritus and Professor of Theology Emeritus of Starr King School for the Ministry; co-founder of The Braxton Institute for Sustainability, Resilience and Joy; and co-author with Rita Nakashima Brock of Proverbs of Ashes: Violence, Redemptive Suffering and The Search for What Saves Us and Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire. Currently, she is a David B. Larson Fellow in Health and Spirituality at the Kluge Center at the Library of Congress.

Braxton Institute for Sustainability, Resiliency and Joy

Bonnie Rambob

During the pandemic, Rev. Bonnie Rambob transitioned employment from parish ministry to teaching kindergarten at her local public school. Bonnie enjoys working in, writing about, podcasting on, and exploring areas such as: multi-faith leadership, the spirituality of children and parenting, process theology, political activism, and progressive Christianity. As a spiritual traveler who migrated out of evangelical/fundamentalist Christianity, Bonnie co-leads several ministries of accompaniment for others who are in faith-shift. Bonnie loves climbing trees, knitting, and hiking with her partner and two young adult sons.

Facebook | Substack | Irenicast Podcast

Vikki Randall

Kathleen Reeves

Jeanyne Slettom

Jeanyne B. Slettom is an academic publisher and public scholar whose primary interests are process-relational and transdisciplinary thought. She is the publisher of Process Century Press, a former director of Process & Faith, and an ordained UCC minister. She has taught at Claremont School of Theology and United Theological Seminary (MN). Her PhD is in Philosophy of Religion and Theology (Claremont Graduate University). She lives and works on the banks of the Mississippi River.

Process Century Press

Bonnie Tarwater

In 2016 Rev. Bonnie Tarwater founded and is the minister of Church for Our Common Home, an untraditional church, God centered and guided, caring for our common home, Mother Earth. The church teaches the mystical esoteric teachings of Jesus, with an arts ministry using the arts as spiritual practice. Rev. Bonnie and her husband Dr. Walt Rutherford are creating a local and global, transdisciplinary, eco-spiritual loving community, with a counseling center, retreat center and biodynamic farm.

Church for Our Common Home | Our Common Home Counseling Center

Nichole Torbitzky

Rev. Dr. Torbitzky received her doctorate from Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, CA. She earned her Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University. She served congregations in Pittsburgh, PA; Ontario, CA; and De Soto, MO, before taking up the Chaplaincy at Lindenwood University where she serves as faculty in the Philosophy and Religion Department. Her research focuses on the atonement theory and process theology. Torbitzky recently co-edited a volume on Open, Relational, and Process preaching and practice, Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God. She also edits the Process & Faith lectionary commentary series.

Instagram

Matthew Duplessie

Matthew Duplessie's music will fuel our dance party. He is a multifaceted creative professional with over two decades of experience in audio production, voice work, and holistic healing arts with certifications in Recording Arts, Holistic Voice Therapy, Kundalini Yoga, Reiki, and Life Coaching. His music has nearly 2 million plays and his healing voice courses nearly 20,000 students around the world on the Insight Timer meditation app. He just finished writing his 2nd book - The Art of Energy Awareness: 12 Keys of Human Health & Wellness. To explore his music, books and courses or to work with him directly, please visit www.AudioSoulHealing.com.

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Schedule (all ONLINE)

This is an overview of the current schedule. A detailed schedule will be published in the program book PDF and made available to registrants prior to the event. This is not a final schedule, and is subject to change.

Each day will include periodic breaks and Zoom breakout discussions, as well as experiential offerings that include art reflections, movement, and worship.

Thursday, January 23, 2025

3:00 PM-6:30 PM Pacific/6:00 PM-9:30 PM Eastern

Conference Opening
Keynote Conversation: “Renewing Faith” with Sheri Kling, director, P&F, and Bruce Epperly
Big Conversation: “Renewing God”
Sacred Way, Art Reflection

Friday, January 24, 2025

7:15 AM-6:00 PM Pacific/10:15 AM-9:00 PM Eastern

Sacred Way, Optional Wake Up Movement
Welcome to Day 2
Big Conversation: “Renewing Jesus”
Big Conversation: “Renewing Message”
Sacred Way, Art Reflection
Big Conversation: “Renewing Worship”
Zoom Breakouts
Sacred Way, Worship Experience
Sacred Way: Dance Party

Saturday, January 25, 2025

7:15 AM-1:30 PM Pacific/10:15 AM-4:30 PM Eastern

Sacred Way, Optional Wake Up Movement
Welcome to Day 3
Big Conversation: “Renewing Spirit”
Big Conversation “Renewing Community”
Sacred Way, Art Reflection
Zoom breakouts
Closing and Vision for the Future

This conference is fully ONLINE. Access to recordings will be provided after the event to registrants.

Reserve Your Spot Today!

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Sponsoring Partners

The Renewing Faith conference is grateful for our Supporting Partners who are helping to make this event possible. Please explore their work and offerings below.

Center for Christogenesis

Christianity is fundamentally a religion of evolution premised on the Incarnational symbol of the Christ—matter matters. Like the physical sciences, Christianity must remain ready for discovery, exploration, and innovation. The Center for Christogenesis is an organization catalyzing this transition. At the cutting edge of Christian and Western scientific thought, we serve all those hungry for discernment in an era of religious convergence, and those searching for a future that opens toward a unified, planetary whole beyond conventional definitions and divisions. Find out more at https://christogenesis.org/

Center for Open & Relational Theology

The Center for Open and Relational Theology fosters networks, develops resources, sponsors projects, and promotes events that deepen and broaden open and relational theologies. It promotes and serves as a hub for people and organizations promoting this broad theological vision. Find more at the Center's website: c4ort.com. Contact the center director Thomas Jay Oord, its advisers, or those listed as voices to find out more.

Center for Process Studies

The Center for Process Studies fosters interdisciplinary research and education to cultivate holistic understanding for human and planetary flourishing. Our core values are whole persons, whole communities, whole planet, and holistic thinking and we offer scholarship, conferences, webinars, and educational resources. Process & Faith is a program of the Center. Find out more at https://ctr4process.org

Claremont School of Theology

One of 13 seminaries of The United Methodist Church, Claremont School of Theology (CST) aspires to nurture communities of compassion, justice, and belonging by promoting learning through interreligious, intercultural, and global contexts. To that end, we seek to form leaders and lifelong learners who are adept at engaging the wisdom in sacred textual and artistic works; tending the movements of the interior life; practicing liberative and creative action; exploring the complex legacies of their traditions; cultivating cultural humility; celebrating diversities; and striving for equitable and accountable sustainability in the institutions, communities, and ecologies of the world. Find out more at https://cst.edu/

Cobb Institute

Named in honor of our founder John Cobb, the Cobb Institute promotes process and relational ways of understanding and living in the world, seeking to cultivate ecological civilizations through just and compassionate communities. Its aims are accomplished by fostering creative transformation through initiatives in holistic education, community building, and spiritual discovery. It provides a wide variety of offerings, such as a weekly online gathering that features fascinating thinkers and topics, a certificate program in process thought and practice, courses covering many captivating themes, learning circles exploring profound texts, and publications that offer insights about life, meaning, and fulfillment. Find out more at https://cobb.institute

Haden Institute

Since 1994, the Haden Institute has trained participants to serve as guides on the transformational path to health, wholeness, spiritual maturity, and individuation. We focus on the core tenets of Jungian psychology in the sacred work of individuation in our 2-year Spiritual Direction and Dream Work Training Courses, as well as our Summer Dream and Spirituality Conference. We offer both in-person and virtual experiential learning through group work, ritual, creative expression, and embodiment, along with large group lectures, the best of current and classic literature, and self-study to include mind, body, and spirit. Learn more at https://hadeninstitute.com.

(Re)Thinking Faith

(Re)thinking Faith is a Theology/Philosophy podcast that seeks to explore the depths of Religion and Spirituality from a Process-Relational perspective. Listen on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts!

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January 23-25, 2025 (Online)

Main

Themes

Speakers

Schedule

Sponsors

Reignite Your Faith and Your Ministry at the Renewing Faith Online Conference

Join fellow open-minded Christians in a transformative journey to rediscover your calling and rejuvenate your spirit.

Experience a Faith Renewal Like None Other

Themes

Renewing Faith

Renewing
God

Renewing
Jesus

Renewing
Message

Renewing
Worship

Renewing
Spirit

Renewing
Community

We’re going to do our best to not be all heady about it, but actually drop down deeper - into our bodies and souls! It’ll be ONLINE, so both body and soul can join from home. Access to recordings will be provided after the event to registrants.