WHAT IS 2023 ANNUAL MEETING’S THEME ABOUT?

and HOPE does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:5 NRSV

JOURNEY OF H.O.P.E.

Christian Education is an ongoing process of learning, growing, and even changing. This is true for congregations and communities and especially true of individual disciples. The Department has embarked on a program of H.O.P.E. and this annual meeting is one stop of the journey of this formation process for congregations, ministry components, and individual disciples. The Department has initiated congregational learning labs that are striving to help congregations harvest from their tradition, observe their ministry context and reflect on their gifts and challenges, pivot in order to respond to the ministry call before them, and enliven their witness and service in the world. Christian Education or faith formation in its discipleship-making calls the individual throughout their Christian life to harvest from past experiences and faith practices that have helped to shape them, observe their present state and the state of family and community around them, pivot to make necessary changes, and work and pray for the Holy Spirit to enliven transformation. Throughout the biblical witness and Christian faith, hope has been a central theme. For MCE 2023, hope will be our method, our call, our watchword, and our aim. Come, share, and give an account of the hope which lies within you for Christ is our peace, joy, and HOPE.