A Passing Conversation - Friday Keynote & Sectionals

Thursday, Sectional - Rebuilding the Family

This sectional will serve as a preview of Friday’s keynote presentation. It will introduce teachers to two new tools for congregations and schools that are aimed at strengthening relationships in the church/school ministry setting. Participants will learn how to use the Foundations, a new program commissioned and designed through our WELS Commission on Lutheran Education. With these new tools you will become better equipped to help parents understand what makes Christian education such a special blessing for them and for their children. Participants will also learn about a new suite of materials that have just been released under the title, “A Heart at Peace: Bible Strategies for Christians in Conflict.” These materials have been developed to help churches, schools, and families deal with personal conflict.

Friday, Keynote Presentation - A Passing Conversation

The keynote presentation for Friday morning will consider character development from a Scriptural perspective. Christian educators will be introduced to research that is beginning to help us better understand how character is formed. We will explore the relationship between character and culture, learn why character formation is a critical aspect of child-rearing. The presentation will also consider important questions about how the church will respond to the challenges of raising god-fearing children in a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to our Christian faith.

Friday, Sectional - Keynote Follow Up

The conversation about character formation and the challenges of raising godly children in a culture that is increasingly hostile to Christianity continues with a Q&A style sectional that will focus on the three-part proposal offered at the end of the keynote presentation. Teachers will be introduced to a new research project currently underway in the Fox River Valley area that will extend and expand on many of the ideas presented earlier in the keynote. Participants will have an opportunity to share their views regarding the current status of the “spiritual family” within the WELS.

About the presenter, Kenneth Kremer - A distinguished career in the WELS/ELS community as an educator, editor, author, and family counselor have given Kenneth Kremer a well-deserved reputation for his innovative approach to leadership in Christian education. Five of Mr. Kremer’s books and more than one hundred articles published in professional journals and parenting periodicals have given voice to the growing concern for the spiritual health of the Christian family. Kremer’s compelling message calls for a church culture that is committed to preparing and equipping parents for the critical role of serving as the primary spiritual nurturers of their children in a culture that is increasingly hostile to our Christian faith.