Dates: Friday and Saturday, November 6-7, 2009
Times: Friday 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. (see schedule below)
Site: Highland Oaks Church of Christ, Dallas, TX
View ElderLink Dallas brochure (PDF)
Forum Fee and Registration
The early bird rate is $99 per person or $168 per couple. On November 2, the fee will increase to $125 per person.
The conference fee covers the cost of all sessions, a resource notebook, continental breakfast, lunch, and light refreshments. Payment can be made by clicking the link above, or by filling out and mailing in the registration form in the brochure. Checks should be made out to ACU and mailed to the ElderLink Office at ACU Box 29405, Abilene, TX 79699-9405.
Meeting Site
Highland Oaks Church of Christ
10805 Walnut Hill Ln.
Dallas, TX 75238
214-342-6060
map
Lodging
If you desire overnight accommodations, the following hotels are nearby. Please contact the hotel directly for rates and reservations.
Courtyard Dallas Mesquite
2300 Interstate 30
Mesquite, TX 75150
972-681-3300
www.marriot.com
Fairfield Inn Dallas Mesquite
4020 Towne Crossing Blvd.
Mesquite, TX 75150
972-686-8286
www.marriot.com
La Quinta
12721 I-635
Garland, TX 75041
972-271-7581
www.lq.com
Schedule
View schedule with session descriptions (pdf)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
6:00 p.m. Registration
7:30 p.m. Welcome and Worship
8:00 p.m. Plenary Session I
I Wish They Had Told Me
Presenter – Chris Smith
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:15 a.m. Worship
8:30 a.m. Plenary Session II
What’s Happening between Elders and Ministers?
Presenter – Charles Siburt
9:15 a.m. Break
9:30 a.m. Plenary Session III
Lessons We Have Learned about Leading: Team Panel Discussion
Presenters – Greenville Oaks Church of Christ Leaders
Facilitator – David Wray
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Breakout Session I
Paul, Missions, and Spiritual Formation, Part I
Presenter – James Thompson
Be Still and Know That I Am God: Contemplative Prayer
Presenter – Jackie Halstead
Elders, Deacons, and Administrative Structure
Presenters – Scott Talley and the Crestview Ministry Oversight Committee
How Elders Can Help Families in Trouble, Part I
Presenter – Paul Faulkner
11:30 a.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. Breakout Session II
Paul, Missions, and Spiritual Formation, Part II
Presenter – James Thompson
Spiritual Formation in Community: The Process of Examen
Presenter – Jackie Halstead
Utilizing Church Facilities as Outreach to the Community
Presenters – Scott Talley and the Crestview Ministry Oversight Committee
How Elders Can Help Families in Trouble, Part II
Presenter – Paul Faulkner
1:30 p.m. Break
1:45 p.m. Plenary Session IV
What Do Churches Need More: Strong Elders or Strong Ministers?
Presenter – Charles Siburt
2:30 p.m. Break
2:45 p.m. Q&A Groups
Facilitator – David Wray
3:45 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. Plenary Session V
Leading for the Long Haul
Presenter – Chris Smith
5:00 p.m. Evaluations and Closing
Speaker Information
Paul Faulkner is a minister, professor emeritus at ACU, therapist, and consultant. He entered full-time pulpit ministry over 50 years ago in Kansas. With Carl Brecheen, he started the Marriage Enrichment Seminar, which reached 11 countries and nearly all 50 states in the 32 years it was in existence. Paul founded ACU’s Department of Marriage and Family Therapy and founded Resources for Living, Ltd., and international counseling and consulting company which counsels about 250 clients a day in three languages. He has written several books, including Making Things Right When Things Go Wrong and Achieving Success without Failing Your Family. Paul and his wife Gladys live on Onion Creek near Austin. He and Gladys have four children and eight grandchildren.
Jackie Halstead is the Chair of the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy and an Associate Professor at Abilene Christian University and is director of the Highland Counseling Center for the Highland Church of Christ. She has a certificate in Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats from Shalem Institute of Spiritual Formation and speaks frequently on the topics of contemplative prayer and spiritual formation. She is one of the facilitators of the Zoe Growing Deeper Spiritually Program and the Zoe Spiritual Direction Program (www.zoegroup.org). Jackie and Randy have been married for 28 years and have two daughters, Eryn, a junior in college, and Ashley, a senior in high school.
Charles Siburt is an elder at University Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas, and Vice President for Church Relations and professor of ministry at Abilene Christian University. He also directs ACU’s Doctor of Ministry Program and serves as the Frazer Professor for Church Enrichment and the Director for the Center for Church Enrichment. Charles’s ministry of church consultation takes him across the nation encouraging both church leaders and members to a better understanding of their roles in serving God and others. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ACU and a D.Min. from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Chris Smith is currently the pulpit minister for the Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood, Tennessee, where he has served since 1997. He has also served in pulpit and associate roles at churches in Duncanville, Texas; Louisville, Kentucky; and Memphis, Tennessee. Chris received a M.Th. from Harding Graduate School of Religion, and a D.Min. from ACU. Chris has served as a keynote speaker for Lectureships at Pepperdine and David Lipscomb, and he is a senior consultant with the Carpenter’s Plan, assisting congregations with capital campaigns. Chris was born in Memphis, Tennessee, married his high school sweetheart, Vicki Kobeck, and now has two daughters and a son.
Scott Talley is presently serving as Minister of Administration and Community Outreach at the Crestview Church of Christ in Waco, Texas, where he has ministered for 32 years (24 in youth ministry). Scott served on the Board of Directors of the National Conference on Youth Ministries and in 1995 was Board President. Scott regularly speaks to youth and parents at retreats, camps, conferences, and seminars. Scott conducts parenting seminars throughout the country and is a certified facilitator for the Love & Logic parenting program. Scott has authored two books related to helping parents and concerned adults discuss sexuality with children and teenagers. The first, published in 1990, is titled Talking With Your Kids About The Birds and the Bees. The second book, published in 2001, titled This Can't Wait: Talking with Your Kids About Sex, is a practical guide for parents and youth workers offering honest, timely advice on communicating and modeling godly sexual values. Scott is also a Certified Trainer for Ruby Payne’s “Bridges out of Poverty” program. Scott and his wife Linda have two children—Stephanie, an instructor at Abilene Christian University, and Paul, a youth minister in Midland, Texas.
James Thompson is the Robert R. and Kay Onstead Professor of New Testament at Abilene Christian University and an elder at the University Church of Christ in Abilene. He is the author of many books, including Preaching Like Paul, Pastoral Ministry according to Paul, and Hebrews: A Commentary. He holds degrees from Abilene Christian University (B. A., M. A.), Union Theological Seminary in New York (B. D.), and Vanderbilt University (Ph. D.). He lectures frequently to ministers and church groups on the relevance of the New Testament for preaching and teaching.
David Wray is the Associate Dean of Spiritual Life and Co-Curriculum for the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University. He teaches religious education courses, including Teaching Ministry and Christian Spiritual Formation. He also serves as an elder at Highland Church of Christ in Abilene. David holds bachelor's and master’s degrees from ACU and a Doctor of Religious Education degree from Temple Baptist Seminary. David came to ACU after serving as a minister for several congregations. He has had numerous articles published in various leading Christian journals and has led many professional seminars and lectures across the U.S. and internationally. David is a consultant in church leadership, spiritual formation, Christian education and small groups. David and his wife Jeanne have two grown children, Wendy and David.
