2017 NATIONAL GATHERING
Wells & Walls: Well-Being in a Thirsty World
Kansas City, Missouri
March 13-15, 2017
LEADERS
Rodger Nishioka
Soong-Chan Rah
Linda Mercadante
Alonzo Johnson
Marci Auld Glass
Paul Roberts
Charlie Scoma
Glenn McCray
Tom Charles
Tamara John
Tom Cramer
THEME
The theme for the 2017 National Gathering was “Wells & Walls: Well-Being in a Thirsty World.” Our guiding scripture was John 4:1-42 – the Samaritan woman at the well.
In John 4 we are told of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, her encounter with her people, and Jesus’ words to the disciples. In the person and story of Jesus Christ we see movement across barriers, new understanding, and life-giving transformation as a consistent pattern.
In thinking about this National Gathering, we wanted to explore how we — as disciples and as the church — participate in Jesus’ pattern of moving across barriers, new understanding, and life-giving transformation. In short, finding and offering well-being.
RECORDINGS
Keynote: Rodger Nishioka
Keynote: Soong-Chan Rah
Keynote: Linda Mercadante
Sermon: Alonzo Johnson
Sermon: Marci Glass
Sermon: Paul Roberts
Worship: Tim Hart-Andersen Reflection
Testimony: Tamara John & Tom Cramer
Testimony: Tom Charles
Testimony: Glenn McCray & Charlie Scoma
Ignite: John Wilkinson
Ignite: Presbyterian College
Ignite: Peace for Peoria
Ignite: Open Table
Ignite: Racial Awareness Festival
Ignite: Ann Hartman
Ignite: Mindful Ministry
Ignite: Lee Hinson Hasty
2017 NEXT Church Update
COVERAGE
Want to learn more about what happened at the 2017 NEXT Church National Gathering? Check out these great articles from the Presbyterian Outlook:
- “NEXT Church conference starts with discussion of walls, wells and the path ahead for the PC(USA)” by Leslie Scanlon
- “‘Nones,’ ‘dones’ and ‘spiritual but not religious’: Linda Mercadante presents her research at NEXT Church conference” by Leslie Scanlon
- “‘Walls & Wells’ redux: NEXT Church conference talks about living water, breaking down barriers and the future of the PC(USA)” by Jana Blazek
We also asked a variety of people to reflect on the National Gathering on our blog. Here’s what some attendees of the 2017 National Gathering had to say: