Did God Assign My Gender? A Theological and Pastoral Consideration of the Gender Movement
1. Did God Assign My Gender? A Theological and Pastoral Consideration of the Gender Movement…Some of the most complex and novel questions of our day revolve around the topic of gender identity. Especially as more young people express a desire to transition genders, and the influence of the gender movement extends from entertainment to education, it’s crucial Christians have a robust understanding of the movement’s beliefs and practices on the one hand, and a compassionate and biblical sense of how to engage friends or children expressing confusion on the other. Those who believe in God the Creator and the goodness of His Creation must hold out a vision of gender identity that runs along the grain of creation—the nature of the body—, as well as a view of transformation that aims along the arc of redemption—the resurrection of the body.
The Rev. Sam Ferguson is the rector of The Falls Church Anglican in Falls Church, VA. Along with pastoral experience working with individuals and families navigating questions of gender identity, Sam has done extensive research in the area of anthropology in Early Judaism (MPhil, Cambridge University) and the New Testament (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Seminary), published a work in this field, The Spirit and Relational Anthropology in Paul (Mohr Siebeck, 2020), and is currently working on a book on the topic for Crossway Publishers. His desire is to see the church well equipped to articulate the Bible’s compelling vision of gender as a gift from God to be stewarded, and also more deeply engaged in the issues of discipleship and formation this conversation raises.
Saturday Morning Prayer
The Rev. Mary Maggard Hays is Canon for Clergy and Congregational Care of our Diocese. She coaches clergy and consults with the vestries and search committees of our churches, particularly those in transition or crisis. She also recently served as Priest-in-Charge of Truro Anglican Church, Fairfax, VA. Earlier in her ministry, she served both All Saints’, Woodbridge, and Truro Church before going on to be Dean of Students and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology at Trinity School for Ministry and then for 17 years Canon to Archbishop Duncan in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. She graduated from Smith College (A.B. in religion), Berkeley Divinity School at Yale (M. Div.), and Fuller Theological Seminary (D. Min.), and was ordained in the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut (Deacon, 1983; Priest, 1984).
Friday Evening Eucharist
The Rev. Graedon Zorzi is Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Patrick Henry College. Before taking a Ph.D. from Yale University in Political Science and Religious Studies, he completed an M.Div. at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and served as Associate Pastor at Christ the King Anglican Church in Alexandria, VA. He specializes in early modern moral, political, and religious thought, focusing especially on theological anthropology and the foundations on liberalism. His research was recognized with the 2021 Manfred Lautenschlaeger Award for Theological Promise.
PreSynod Workshop
Ministry in a Secular Age: Practices for Faith Formation and Evangelism with Robert Cunningham and April Murrie
The world and the church are not what they used to be. Almost everyone can agree that a life of faith and belief in Jesus encounters different obstacles than was common to previous generations. The philosopher Charles Taylor’s important work, A Secular Age has become a go-to for many seeking to understand the nature of these changes. Both evangelical practitioners and intellectuals commonly lean into Taylor’s analysis in their efforts to understand the changes afoot, but also as an aid for sorting out what faithful ministry must look like if we are to faithfully engage both insiders and outsiders with the gospel of Jesus. One of the chief observations Taylor makes is that in our day, all beliefs are contested all the time, the world is disenchanted; Doubt is commonplace.
Robert Cunningham and April Murrie are planting Church of the Good Shepherd in Charlottesville, VA. Much of their ministry lives have been lived among students and young adults most deeply impacted by the kinds of changes reflective of our secular age. Taylor’s work and the work of his interpreters have deeply shaped the way they have sought to engage the unbelief of our day. The work of James K. A. Smith, Mike Cosper, and Andrew Root press Taylor’s analysis into the work of ministry and mission of the church. Join us for a Pre-synod workshop that grapples with the particularities of this cultural moment of widespread doubt, anxiety, and meaninglessness. We will consider how the secular age impacts churches and the people they minister to, as well as to note the helpful structures Anglicanism has to resist secularism. Finally, we will consider ways we’ve seen the Spirit continue to faithfully press the Good News of the Gospel toward skeptics and believers alike, even today.
Discipling Children through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Additional resources mentioned during presentation:
CGSUSA.org United States Association of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
The Good Shepherd and the Child Podcast Episode 75: “FAQs: Beginning The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with Karen Maxwell”
The Good Shepherd and The Child: A Joyful Journey (Cavalletti, et al)
Discipling Children through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd…Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is a children’s faith formation program that draws from the Montessori method and enables children to engage with the Gospel at their particular developmental levels. CGS offers the whole church the opportunity to be involved in the process of discipling children, praying through the liturgy and living together the habits and teachings of the Christian faith. In our session you will experience CGS and hear about the joys and challenges of implementing CGS in small churches and church plants.
The Rev. Morgan Reed helped to plant Incarnation Anglican Church in South Arlington, and then God called him to begin a new church plant in 2020 that would serve Franconia, Kingstowne, and Springfield. He has a PhD in Hebrew and Syriac studies at the Catholic University of America.
Josie Ortega is the Lead Children’s Catechist at Incarnation Anglican Church in Arlington, VA. She spends her days homeschooling her three children, hanging out in their beloved Del Ray, Alexandria
Alpha Panel Discussion: How Alpha Can Help You Evangelize
Alpha Panel Discussion: How Alpha Can Help You Evangelize…Come explore how the Alpha Course can help create a missional culture in your church. We’ll talk all about the benefits, challenges, and practicalities of running Alpha in different church contexts (large and small, established and new, with and without a building, and more).
The Rev. Amy Rowe is the Rector of Incarnation Anglican Church, Arlington. She lives in South Arlington with her husband, two kids, and way too many books.
The Rev. Clancy Nixon has been Rector of Church of the Holy Spirit (Anglican) in Leesburg, Virginia, for 21 years. With his wife Ginger, he planted this now 400 member church. He has been a leader in church planting at Diocesan levels for many years, involved with over a hundred church plants, and is a certified church planting coach. He is also known for healing prayer ministry, including leading the Healing in Mission network of New Wineskins.
Unlawful Harassment Policies for Churches
Unlawful Harassment Policies for Churches…Our churches have a sacred responsibility to care for all persons. An important aspect of that care is the adoption by the Vestry of appropriate policies regarding sexual and other unlawful harassment. This session will present, consideration, adaptation, and implementation by Rector and Vestry, a sample policy for the protection of God’s people that honors our biblical convictions and safeguards religious liberty.
Scott J. Ward is the Chancellor of the Anglican Church in North America, of our Diocese, and of The Falls Church Anglican. He is an owner in the law firm of Gammon & Grange and leads the firm’s Religious Liberty practice group and Litigation practice group. His practice concentrates on the law of religious and other nonprofit organizations, child abuse prevention and response, employment and human resources law, computer and internet law and other areas.
Shaping the Imagination of the Church in Our Secular Age
Shaping the Imagination of the Church in Our Secular Age...The Lord’s Prayer provides a liturgical framework for reimagining God, ourselves, each other, and world in the wilderness of our secular age. This presentation and discussion will focus on identifying the ways in which secularism diminishes our imaginations and how the regular habit of praying the Lord’s Prayer renews us to embody the way of Jesus in our time. This has implications both for individuals and for our parishes and institutions.
The Rev. Dan Marotta is the founding Rector of Redeemer Anglican Church in Richmond, VA. He previously served at The Falls Church Anglican, Falls Church, VA. He is the author of the newly released book, Liturgy in the Wilderness: How the Lord’s Prayer Shapes the Imagination of the Church in a Secular Age.
Growing Your Involvement in Global Missions
Growing Your Involvement in Global Missions...Join in learning how your church might grow in its love for all the peoples of the earth through hospitable worship and local and global partnerships.
The Rev. Katie Hamlin is the interim associate rector at Incarnation Anglican Church in Arlington, VA and the DOMA global missions advocate. Prior to joining the staff of Incarnation, she lived with her family in Bangkok, Thailand for four years.
Tolkien Talk: The Rings of Power
Tolkien Talk: The Rings of Power...This session is for those interested in learning more about Christian author J.R.R. Tolkien and the new Amazon Prime series inspired by his works called The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. An overview of Tolkien’s life and works will be followed by a discussion of the theological significance of Middle-earth along with the themes in The Rings of Power and the potential for the series to provide common ground inside and outside of the Church.
The Rev. Jessica Lee is an associate priest at Church of the Redeemer, Camden, NC involved in missions to the animal rescue community in Virginia Beach and working on her doctorate of Theology and Ministry in Romantic Theology, studying the works of the Inklings.
Campus Ministries & the Coalition for Christian Outreach
Campus Ministries & the Coalition for Christian Outreach...The Coalition of Christian Outreach (CCO) is a college ministry that partners with congregations to facilitate ministry on campuses. If your congregation exists in a university context, join in this discussion of the CCO model.
The Rev. David Comeau has spent the past three years in campus ministry at Virginia Commonwealth University and serving in various capacities at Redeemer Anglican Church in Richmond. He now lives on the southside of Richmond with his wife and four kids and serves as the Assisting Priest at All Souls Anglican Church, our new church plant in Richmond.
Sam Levy serves with the CCO as Area Director for Philadelphia. He has worked in campus ministry for ten years—prior to his current role, he served on campus at Slippery Rock University, Grove City College, and Penn State Harrisburg. He now lives in Lancaster, PA with his wife and three kids.
Bivocational Ministry
Handout title: “Five Takeaways from Seven Years of Bivocational Ministry”
Bivocational Ministry…This workshop will explore the promise and pitfalls of bi-vocational ordained ministry, as well as pathways into full-time vocational ministry. It will also explore how lay leaders and the wider congregation can best support bi-vocational clergy.
The Rev. Justin Clemente brings over a decade of experience in parish ministry to his work as a parish priest. Prior to his calling to begin New Creation Church in 2012, Justin served as Pastoral Assistant & Liturgist for Church of the Saviour of Rohrersville, MD (2007-2012). He was ordained to the transitional diaconate in December 2015 and ordained a priest in June 2016. He planted NCC while employed full time by United Healthcare Systems. Justin earned his B.A. in Biblical Studies at Trinity College of Florida and earned a Master of Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.
Community Outreach
Community Outreach…Practical steps for outreach and soul care in a rural setting that is increasingly becoming both more suburbanized and urbanized.
The Rev. Darryl Fitzwater began evangelistic ministry, which included field preaching, cross-cultural missions, and street ministry, in 1996. In 2003, he began serving as a Senior Pastor in suburban, urban, and city-appalachia contexts. In 2010, he was appointed to the Global Missions Board of his then denomination to serve for two years before becoming the Global Missions Director. However, in 2012 he began working on the plans for what would become Church of the Ascension while also being realigned into the Anglican way. Church of the Ascension was formally started on Palm Sunday 2018.