Persons registered for Gathering 2007 should expect email communications later this month with details (late June). For now, here is the schedule overview:

 Here is an overview of our three day gathering: We will begin our time together Monday afternoon with worship and Sharon Huey preaching. This will be followed by an introduction to the theme of congregational formation by Phil Kenneson. Late that afternoon and evening we will hear some stories from participants in EP's Congregational Formation Initiative and have our traditional pizza party. Tuesday begins with morning prayer and ends with a quiet service of worship and footwashing. In between, Steve Fowl will help us see what the book of Philippians has to teach us about formation, and there will also be workshop opportunities in the morning and the afternoon. Our time together Wednesday begins with morning prayer, moves to a panel discussion of the joys of congregational formation, and closes with a worship service with Kyle Childress preaching.

Click read more for workshop descriptions.

Learning Christ: Congregational Formation for the Long Haul

Congregational formation has been a central concern of the Ekklesia Project since its beginnings. This emphasis stems from a deeply held conviction shared by EP endorsers: the primary crucible of the Spirit’s transformative work is the gathered people of God.  For this reason, in some respect every past summer gathering has been about congregational formation. This summer’s gathering, however, will focus explicitly on congregational formation, giving special attention to both the dynamics of congregational formation and some of the practical ways that formation can be nurtured and sustained within congregations.

Gathering 2007 will be held July 16-18 in Chicago at DePaul University (Lincoln Park campus).  Our theme is "Congregational Formation," and we're pretty close to having a snazzy title.  We'll begin with lunch on Monday, and conclude at noon on Wednesday (so you're on you own for that meal).