Living God's Future Now is a formation event for clergy and lay leaders of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry partner dioceses (which includes the Diocese of Missouri), with a special invitation to music leaders.
Funded through the generosity of the Diocese of Kansas’ Tocher Fund for Clergy Education and the St. Michael and All Angels Foundation, the Diocese of Kansas is pleased to welcome the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells for the 2024 Tocher Lecture on May 15-16 at St. Michael and All Angels in Mission, Kansas. The Lecture will truly be an event with musicians joining from Vicar Sam’s parish, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Earis.
Focusing on themes of evangelism, community and parish development, and the Church’s role in God’s future, Sam Wells and his musicians will gather participants for seminars and worship. This will be the first formation endeavor for the BKSM dioceses outside the classes and programs offered directly by the School.
More information can be found at episcopal-ks.org/2024-tocher/
Parishes are encouraged and incentivized to bring a team of up to four for the same low fee. Individual registrations apart from a parish team are also possible.
(Registration now closed)
Costs
Parish Team of up to 4: $100
Individual: $50
Student (Youth, Young Adult, BKSM): $30
Full-event registration includes all seminars, tickets to the Wednesday, May 15 Concert “In Ev’ry Corner Sing," and lunch on Thursday.
Individual Tickets to the Wednesday, May 15 Concert “In Ev’ry Corner Sing” will become available after full-event participants have registered.
Event Agenda
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
12:00 pm Check-in Open
1:00 pm Great Sacred Music: Walk Softly
A 35-minute lunchtime sequence of words and music exploring through song and readings the great classical music of our religious heritage. Led by the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells and St. Martin’s Voices Emerging Artists.
2:00 – 5:30 pm Musician Seminar "Expanding Horizons"
Designed for church musicians, the seminar will include lectures, small group, and Q&A time.
An afternoon seminar for all those involved in music ministry, exploring how to find new and creative ways to use music in a church context. The event will focus on two areas – exploring new and innovative ways to use music in church, through different ways of creating musical worship, and sharing a ‘toolkit’ of church music from across the world – congregational, choral, and instrumental – to open up new possibilities for music in services. Also discussed will be how to choose music that can helpfully respond to the issues and challenges in our world today, for justice, peace, and healing.
It is led by the music team from St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, including Andrew Earis (Director of Music), Olivia Tait (Choral Director), Lucy Walker (Composer-in-Residence), and singers from the St Martin’s Voices Emerging Artists program.
2:00 – 5:30 pm Sam Wells Seminars
Designed for clergy and lay leaders, the seminar will include lectures, small group, and Q&A time.
Here I Stand: With God
Sam Wells offers a summary of the theological stance advocated in his book Humbler Faith: Bigger God. Followed by small groups, Q and A, and refreshments.
Artificial Intelligence and Real Relationship
A shorter session investigating the way the theological approach outlined in the first session shapes the church’s response to the most urgent issue of our day.
5:30 pm Dinner on your own
7:00 pm Evening Concert: In Ev’ry Corner Sing
A choral concert of music from across the world, led by St Martin’s Voices Emerging Artists, directed by Olivia Tait and introduced by Rev. Dr. Sam Wells. Including works by Johann Sebastian Bach, John Rutter, and Sally Albrecht.
Thursday, May 16, 2024
8:30 – 12:00 pm Sam Wells Seminars
The seminar will include lectures, small group, and Q&A time.
Beyond Atonement: Reconceiving the Identity of Christ
Sam Wells explores conventional ways of thinking about salvation and demonstrates how his notion of God being with us out-narrates each one of them.
Living God’s Future Now: The Calling of Christians Today
A shorter session considering the shape of discipleship, ministry, and mission for the contemporary church.
12:00 pm Lunch at St. Michael and All Angels
1:00 pm Closing Act of Worship: Eucharist
Music from across the world, including some used in the Musicians' Seminar
2:30 pm BKSM Dioceses’ Panel and Reflection
Panel and small group reflection on learning and next steps