• Sessions to benefit all church leaders including elders, ministers and spouses
• Biblical, practical recommendations for dealing with leadership challenges
• Fellowship and networking with other church leaders
• Register On-line

What Should I Expect?
Beginning with a continental breakfast and a time of worship and prayer, the forum will feature six plenaries and a choice of eight breakout sessions. Experienced church leaders will share their understandings of the challenges elders face and offer practical resources and strategies for responding to them.

Forum Fee and Registration
Until November 5 the fee for participation in the forum is $99 per person or $168 per married couple. After that date the fee will be $124 per person. 

At the link above, online payment of the fee can be made through a secured payment web site at the time of registration or by check mailed to ACU. This fee covers the cost of the resource notebook, continental breakfast, lunch and refreshment breaks. Checks should be written payable to Abilene Christian University.

Meeting Site
The forum will be held in the facilities of Highland Oaks Church of Christ located at 10805 Walnut Hill Rd. , Dallas, TX 75238. Telephone: 214.342.6060.

Lodging
If you desire overnight accommodations, the following nearby hotels are recommended. Please call the hotel directly for rates and reservations.

Courtyard Dallas Mesquite
2300 Interstate 30
Mesquite, TX 75150
(972) 681-3300
http://marriott.com

Fairfield Inn Dallas Mesquite
4020 Towne Crossing Blvd.
Mesquite, TX 75150
(972) 686-8286
http://marriott.com

La Quinta
12721 I-635
Garland, TX 75041
(972) 271-7581
http://www.lq.com

Who Should Attend?

• Past, present or future elders
• Spouses
• Ministers
• Other interested church leaders

ElderLink Dallas 2007 Schedule

8:15 a.m. Worship

8:30 a.m. Plenary Session 1
When Worlds Collide:  Learning to Cope with Clashing Styles of Spirituality, Part I
Presenter-Jeff Childers

9:15 a.m. Break

9:30 a.m. Plenary Session 2
Making Faithful Decisions: How Can We Discern God’s Will?, Part I
 Presenter-Randy Harris

10:15  a.m. Break

10:30  a.m. Breakout Session 1

Practical Suggestions for Effective Shepherding, Part I
Presenters-Roland Orr and David Wray

When God Calls:  Tell Them I’m Not Available
Presenter-Glenn Pemberton

Opening Ourselves to God Through Scripture and Prayer, Part I
Presenter-Jeanene Reese

Heaven Can’t Wait: Helping Members Embrace New Life Now through Spiritual Disciplines
Presenter-Bert Reynolds

11:15  a.m. Break

11:30 a.m. Plenary Session 3
  This Is Why We Sing, Part I
  Presenter-Darryl Tippens

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:15 p.m. Plenary Session 4 
  This Is Why We Sing, Part II
  Presenter-Darryl Tippens

2:00 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m.  Breakout Session 2
 
Practical Suggestions for Effective Shepherding, Part II
Presenters-Roland Orr and David Wray

When God Calls:  Can You Hear Me Now?

Opening Ourselves to God Through Scripture and Prayer, Part II
Presenter-Jeanene Reese

Some Assembly Required: Training and Teaching Spiritual Disciplines
Presenter-Bert Reynolds

3:00 p.m.  Break

3:15 p.m. Plenary Session 5
When Worlds Collide:  Learning to Cope with Clashing Styles of Spirituality, Part II
  Presenter-Jeff Childers

4:00 p.m.  Break

4:15 p.m.  Plenary Session 6
Making Faithful Decisions: How Can We Discern God’s Will?, Part II
Presenter-Randy Harris

5:00 p.m.  Worship

5:15 p.m.  Dismiss

Speaker Information

Jeff Childers is Carmichael Professor of New Testament studies at ACU.  He specializes in technology and integrating faith with learning. Jeff is a member of Highland Church of Christ in Abilene and teaches adult Bible classes.  He obtained a bachelor’s, a master’s degree and a M.Div. degrees from Abilene Christian University.  Jeff completed a M.St. and a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford in England.  He has worked as a pulpit and youth minister in several congregations both in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Jeff and his wife, Linda, have three children: Rebekah, Amara, and Joel.

Randy Harris currently teaches in the Department of Bible, Missions and Ministry at Abilene Christian University.  He specializes in the instruction of ministry, theology and philosophy courses.  He is also actively involved in the Graduate School of Theology mentoring program and serves as faculty advisor for numerous undergraduate student organizations.  Randy graduated from Harding University with a bachelor degree in 1979.  He earned a M.A. degree and a M.Th. degree from Harding Graduate School of Religion in 1983.  He earned a M.Phil. degree at Syracuse University in 1987 and is presently a candidate for the Ph.D. degree there.  Randy was pulpit minister at Donelson Church of Christ in Nashville, TN, for nine years prior to joining the ACU faculty.  Randy is a popular speaker at churches across the nation and spends many weekends each year preaching and teaching in Churches of Christ.

Roland Orr has served as an elder of the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas for 12 serves.  He participated on the initial steering committee for ElderLink.  He is a retired corporate executive and is currently working as a consultant and serving on several corporate boards.  He is also a Certified Public Accountant.  Roland and his wife Jeri have three children.

Glenn Pemberton is Associate Dean in the College of Biblical Studies, and chair of undergraduate Bible at ACU.  He has served as preaching minister for churches in Texas and Colorado.  He came to ACU for Oklahoma Christian University, where he served as associate professor of Old Testament.  Glenn holds a bachelor of arts degree from Abilene Christian University, an Master of Arts in Old Testament from ACU, and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver/Iliff School of Theology.  Glenn and his wife Pam have one daughter, T’auna. 

Jeanene Reese is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bible, Missions, and Ministry at Abilene Christian University where she teaches ministry and text courses. She also directs the Center for Women in Christian Service and conducts workshops, retreats, and seminars for churches around the world. Jeanene and her husband, Jack, attend the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene where they serve on the Missions committee. Jeanene graduated from Abilene Christian University with a bachelor's degree in 1974, her master's degree in 1995 and her D.Min. in 2001. Jeanene and Jack have two married daughters and one grandchild: Jessica, Jonathan, and Simone Goudeau of Austin and Jocelyn and Mark Wiebe of Dallas. Their son, Jay, is a junior at ACU.

Bert Reynolds currently lives in Little Rock, AR where he serves as the minister of the word for the Chenal Valley Church of Christ.  He has also served as a Campus Minister in Abilene, TX at the University Church and Preaching Minister in Lewisville, TX, at the Vista Ridge Church.  He received a B.S., M.A., M.Div., and a D.Min. from ACU.  Bert has long been drawn to the spiritual disciplines, partially because of the transformation that God has graciously granted though these practices in his life and church and partially because of the ongoing transformation that God desires to bring about in his life and church.  He has been honored to preach to a variety groups over the years using the lessons he has learned and practiced in his church to assist spiritual formation of other churches.   His and his wife of 11 years, Paige, have a 3-year-old daughter, Anna. 

David Wray is associate dean of spiritual life and co-curriculum for the College of Biblical Studies at ACU.  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 US 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. 

Darryl Tippens is the provost or chief academic officer of Pepperdine University, where he is also a professor of English. He has served as Pepperdine’s provost for six years. Prior to his service at Pepperdine he taught English at Abilene Christian University and at Oklahoma Christian University. He served as an elder for the Highland congregation in Abilene for eight years. He has also has served churches as a youth and education minister in Oklahoma City, Kansas City and Baton Rouge. Darryl frequently publishes articles and reviews on religion, film, and literature. He serves on the board of the City of Angels Film Festival in Los Angeles. He has co-authored three volumes on adolescent spirituality and an anthology of literature called Shadow and Light: Literature and the Life of Faith. Most recently, he has written Pilgrim Heart: the Way of Jesus in Everyday Life and the booklet That’s Why We Sing. He and his wife, Anne, have two adult sons and one granddaughter.