Featuring

The Rev. Jon Brown serves you as Director for Mission Interpretation in the offices of the General Assembly Council for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). In that capacity he oversees the publishing of the Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, Special Offering Resources (gotta love those fish banks!), the Presbyterian Planning Calendar, Presbyterians Today magazine and other materials. He has pastored congregations in Hendersonville , NC , and Charleston , SC , as well as working as a conference program director at Montreat Conference Center in NC. A native of Orlando , FL (before Mickey Mouse discovered that quiet citrus town), he and his family now live in a funky old house in a funky old part of town in Louisville . At heart, Jon is just a spiritual nerd boy who still finds life's greatest joy resting in the curve of God's smile.  Join Jon for Worship and in his two workshops: Stewardship and Ways We Worship. 

Dr. Melva Costen is a widely recognized authority on music and worship.  She is the Helmar Emil Nielsen Professor of Music and Worship emeriti at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta and continues to be in demand as a clinician, visiting professor, and consultant throughout the U.S. and abroad.  She was chair of the committee that created the 1990 PCUSA hymnal.  Her book African American Christian Worship is widely used by theological seminaries and her musical arrangements are sought after by publishers of hymns.  Come experience her music first-hand as she leads our choir and music in our closing worship experience.

Gina Yeager-Buckley serves as the Associate for Ministries with Youth for the Presbyterian Church (USA). Gina is a frequent speaker and teacher in both the Presbyterian and ecumenical areas of ministry. Focusing her work on congregational youth ministry practices as well as developmental issues in adolescence Gina is passionate about young people and adults called to serve God as they serve young people. Gina is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Union-PSCE in Richmond , Virginia . She is married to Andrew. They live and work in Louisville , Kentucky . If you work with youth or have a youth, don’t miss Gina’s classes - Cracking the Code and Walk With Me!

Hugh Ballou is founder of SynerVision International, Inc., an international facilitation, consulting and training practice in Blacksburg , Virginia . For many years Hugh has been working with leaders in businesses, schools, churches, non-profit organizations and community groups, leading project teams to find consensus, even with very difficult decisions. Before his full-time work as facilitator, consultant and executive coach, he served as Director of Worship Ministries, staff strategist and facilitator in churches with up to 12,000 members.  Hugh’s passion is to make a difference in people’s lives by teaching relational strategies resulting in a synergy of teamwork and unity of vision.  Join him in his workshops as he focuses on teamwork, retaining volunteers, and in his Monday morning post-conference event especially focused on building collaborative leadership skills.

Dr. Kathy Dawson is Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary.   Her work at Columbia includes teaching courses in faith and human development, spiritual lives of children, models of teaching curriculum and resources and teaching young children. Kathy worked as an editor/consultant on the We Believe Children’s Curriculum for the PCUSA.  Her most recent publication is Confessing Faith:  A Guide to Confirmation for Presbyterians.  If you are a parent or educator don’t miss her Children IN Worship workshop. 

Workshop Leaders Include:

Lori Bellacicco

Rob Bellacicco

Andrew Buckley

Lonna Chang-Ren Lee

Spike Coleman

Sidney Davis

Jan Day

Jim Deavor

Becky Dingle

John Doubles

Bill Duggan

John Dumas

Rachel Epps

Charlie Frost

Cheryl Glenn

Chuck Goodman

Chandler Guess

Rebecca Guzman

Josh Jackson

Jane Jude

Dottie Kelly

Zeta Lamberson

Henry Meeuwsee

Pie Mikell

Gloria Parlor

Henry Rivers

Carrie Simpson

Kenneth Slifer

Eddie Soto

Doug Szubiski

Philip West

Maria Whitehead

Olin Whitener

Donnie Woods

Dee Bee Wright

Dianna Wright