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2015 Texas District Pastors' Conference
Date and time
Location
St Paul Lutheran Church
1301 Hogan Lane Waco, TX 76705Refund Policy
Description
"Pastoral Ministry: A look at Spiritual, Emotional, and Relational Health"
This is a three-day conference for professional church workers in parish ministry to learn about establishing and improving their spiritual, emotional and relational health.
Speakers
Rev. Dr. Bill Knippa
Rev. Knippa is senior pastor of Bethany Lutheran, Austin, having begun his ministry there in 1977. He and his wife Melissa, from Tomball, Texas have three adult children and three grandchildren.
He graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and received his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He has also studied at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England and did post doctoral work with the Menninger Clinic in marriage and family counseling.
Knippa particularly enjoys the preaching and teaching responsibilities of the ministry, and is committed to assisting people in being faithful to Bethany's mission to "make disciples of all nations." His column, "The Family Counselor", appears in The Lutheran Witness. He has conducted many seminars and retreats on topics related to Christian living, marriage and family, and personal and professional growth.
Rev. David A. Muench
Rev. Muench is a graduate of Concordia College, Seward; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and The University of Nebraska, Lincoln. He is an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
Muench is currently serving Concordia Plan Services as Director of Ministerial Care. His ministry journey has included service as Pastor, Teacher, Christian Counselor, and Youth Minister with congregations in Houston, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri, and Utica, Nebraska. Prior to serving in his current role, he served as Executive Director of the LCMS Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support. A passion for ministerial wellbeing has brought a multitude of opportunities for Muench to develop and deliver strategies for nurturing ministers (ordained and commissioned) at personal, congregational, circuit, district, and synod levels.
Muench and Mary, his high school sweetheart and wife of 42 years, have six children and thirteen grandchildren.
Rev. Jim Otte
Rev. Otte graduated from Concordia, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, with a Master of Divinity degree. He has been a Pastor since the early 1980’s and also has a Masters of Education degree. One of his main talents lies in his outstanding ability to counsel those who are troubled or in need of spiritual guidance. He received his Licensure as a Professional Counselor in Texas and has enjoyed a long-term relationship as a counselor on the staff of Samaritan Counseling Center of East Texas. Otte currently does visitation for shut-ins and hospitalized, as well as counseling at Messiah Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas.
Agenda
MONDAY, October 19
11:00- 12:30 p.m. Registration
12:30- 1:00 p.m. Welcome and Announcements
1:00- 1:30 p.m. Devotions
1:30- 2:30 p.m. Presenter: Dr. Bill Knippa
2:30- 3:00 p.m. Questions and Answers
3:00- 3:15 p.m. Vendor Presentations
3:15- 3:30 p.m. Break
3:30- 4:30 p.m. Presenter: Rev. David Muench
4:30- 5:00 p.m. Questions and Answers
5:00- 5:15 p.m. Break
5:15- 6:30 p.m. Worship with communion
6:30 p.m. Dinner at church
TUESDAY, October 20
8:30- 9:00 a.m. Coffee and Announcements
9:00- 9:30 a.m. Devotions
9:30- 9:45 a.m. Vendor Presentations
9:45- 10:45 a.m. Presenter: Rev. David Muench
10:45- 11:15 a.m. Questions and Answers
11:15- 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30- 11:45 a.m. Vendor Presentations
11:45- 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30- 2:30 p.m. Presenter: Rev. David Muench
2:30- 3:00 p.m. Questions and Answers
3:00- 3:30 p.m. Break
3:30- 5:00 p.m. District Time: President and MMFs
5:00- 5:30 p.m. Devotion
WEDNESDAY, October 21
8:30- 9:00 a.m. Coffee and Announcements
9:00- 9:30 a.m. Devotions
9:30- 10:30 a.m. Presenter: Rev. Jim Otte
10:30- 11:00 a.m. Questions and Answers
11:00- 11:30 a.m. Wrap-Up
11:30- 12:00 p.m. Closing Devotion
Accommodations
Holiday Inn and Suites Waco Northwest
1801 Development Boulevard
Waco, TX 76705
(1.7 miles away from St. Paul Lutheran Church)
Reservation’s link for guests to make reservations online: Room rates and packages
Cost: Rate is $119.00, single – quad occupancy and includes a full, hot cooked to order breakfast each morning as well as complimentary parking and free Wi-Fi throughout.
Reservation Deadline: Reservations by attendees must be received before 5:00pm, September 18, 2015.
Cancellation Deadline as applicable: All guaranteed reservations must be cancelled by 5:00pm, October 16, 2015 in order to avoid a cancellation penalty of 1 night’s room and room tax.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Waco North
4257 North IH-35
Waco, TX 76705
(.6 of a mile away from St. Paul Lutheran Church)
Reservation’s link for guests to make reservations online: Book your group rate for LCMS Conference
Cost: Rate is $99.00, single – quad occupancy and includes a full, hot cooked to order breakfast each morning as well as complimentary parking and free Wi-Fi throughout.
Reservation Deadline: Reservations by attendees must be received before 5:00pm, October 4, 2015.
Cancellation Deadline as applicable: All guaranteed reservations must be cancelled by 5:00pm, October 18, 2015 in order to avoid a cancellation penalty of 1 night’s room and room tax.