The 2023 UKirk National Gathering will be held June 13-16, 2023, at Massanetta Springs in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The cost is $250 a person by April 1st, and $300 April 1st-May 15th. Scholarships are available. Exhibitors are welcome again this year to host booths, share information during a special reception, and fully participate in the gathering. The cost for exhibitors is $600. The cost includes transportation to and from Dulles International Airport for those who are flying.
The theme this year is More Than Enough, and will focus on the questions: What does it mean to BE ENOUGH, to HAVE ENOUGH, and even to HAVE HAD ENOUGH? Look here at a tentative schedule.
Our keynote this year will be the Rev. Dr. Lakisha R. Lockhart, professor of Christian Education at Union Presbyterian Seminary (and recent speaker at the 2023 Montreat College Conference).Through the lens of Jesus feeding the 5000 in the
gospel of Matthew, we will explore what it means to move from a mentality of scarcity to one of abundance. By looking at the various aspects of this scripture, we hope to bring a greater understanding of what “enough” means.
Day 1 – The Crowd – How do we gather? Who is gathered? What is enough? In campus ministry, who we gather is unique and vital to the life of the church. However, we are often evaluated on numbers, and “how many” people we are able to gather. When, campus ministers know that it is never about the numbers. Each ministry is unique in how it gathers, and yet we all gather students all along the faith spectrum and seek to provide welcoming space to all who journey.
Day 2 – The Community – We are enough. When is it enough? Ministry is all consuming and often leads us to burn out. Campus ministry adds the element of isolation and often, lack of support or understanding from colleagues. How can this scripture show us that there is enough for us to be fed as well, and that our boundaries of “enough” are valid and holy.
Day 3 – The Common Table – We have enough, so how do we entrust this gospel to the world? As we go back into the world, how do we leave with a grounding in abundance, and an empowering spirit to share the gospel that has been entrusted to us? How do we remember we are called, and have the gifts, resources, and abundance to pass to our students.
UKirk is also proud to provide a pre-gathering training called Soul Shop, which is an outstanding faith-based suicide prevention training for campus ministers and all who work with young adults. Soul Shop training will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, June 13th, and costs an additional $40 which includes lodging Monday, June 12th, as well as additional meals.
To register for the 2023 UKirk National Gathering, and Soul Shop pre-gathering training, please click the registration button below. If you have any questions, please email co-chairs Rev. Rachel Hebert or Rev. Rachel Penmore. To apply for or find out more information about scholarships for the event, please each out to executive director Rev. Gini Norris-Lane via email at [email protected], or via phone at 210-237-8612.
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