Western Mission Cluster
Consultation IV
January 18-20, 2002
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, Carefree AZ

UPDATE MEMORANDUM 2 (January 8, 2002)

FROM: WMC Consultation IV Steering Committee

You are registered for Western Mission Cluster Consultation IV 
We look forward to your participation in Conversation and Planning about Lifelong Learning Strategies

CONSULTATION WEB SITE

Check the Consultation Web Site for the latest information, including Proposed Schedule, Current List of Participants, and Information and Travel Map to Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center

http://www.luthersem.edu/wmcluster/activities/consultation4.htm 

PREPARATION FOR THE CONSULTATION:

• Read Professor Patricia Killen's Address from Last Year's Consultation III: "Irony and Promise: Theological Education for Faith Formation and Life-Long Learning in the Twenty-First Century" (Transcript on Web Site at http://www.luthersem.edu/wmcluster/documents/IronyPromise.htm
  
• Review documents and discussion from previous Consultations (See "Consultations" and "Documents")
  
• Be sure to Review/Consider the Draft Proposal on Structure (to be considered at the Consultation)
  
• Review "distance learning manual" mailed to all participants ("Cutting Edge Gospel: A Guide to Understanding and Using New Information Technology in the Church")
  
• Check the Western Mission Cluster Web Site (http://www.luthersem.edu/wmcluster) for background information, especially including reports and documents from the previous Consultations I , II & III. (http://www.luthersem.edu/wmcluster/activities/Consultations.htm )
  If you have not done so, check out the readings suggested for last year's Consultation III;
  See the Presentations by Presidents Timothy Lull and David Tiede, and Prof. Craig Van Gelder on Lifelong Learning and Mission (posted in the "Documents" section of the WMC Web Site):
  "Continuing Education as a Tool for Missional Renewal" (Tim Lull, December, 1998)
  "Fisher's Net" (David Tiede, December, 1998)
  "A Thelogy of  Mission and the Missional Church in the West" Craig Van Gelder, Luther Seminary, Keynote Presentation for WMC Consultation II, Carefree, AZ, December, 1999

FOR YOUR INFORMATION THE FOLLOWING IS A REPEAT FROM UPDATE MEMO 1 FROM NOVEMBER

COST:

We are grateful to the Division for Ministry of the ELCA for a grant that covers the cost of presenter and some seminar expenses. Your institution, however, is responsible for covering your costs of transportation and room and board at the retreat center:
$190.00 for double accommodations (two nights plus seven meals, facility use)
  $90.00        for commuters (seven meals and facility use)
If possible please send a check in advance payable to Western Mission Cluster Consultation IV. 
Address to:  James L. Boyce, Western Mission Cluster Consultation IV, at the address below. Otherwise, be sure to bring a check with you to the Consultation in January for the amount due.

Transportation Arrangements:

You are encouraged to make your own arrangements for transportation including to the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, AZ. The map address of the retreat center is 7415 East Elbow Bend, Carefree, AZ (Check the Consultation Web Site for a map; mailing address and telephone are P.O. Box 3254, Carefree, AZ 85377; 480-488-5218;). 

If you are coming from the Phoenix airport you may make shuttle connections to the retreat center with Super Shuttle (1-800-258-3826) at the airport. No advance reservations are necessary. The cost is $38.00 one way for one person, and $6.00 for each additional person traveling in the same party. We will try to arrange for carpooling for the return to the airport on Sunday afternoon, so do not buy a round-trip shuttle ticket.

Consultation IV Program: 

(See Proposed Schedule on Web Site) 

The Consultation will begin with lunch on Friday, January 18, with opening session at 2:00p.m., and concludes with lunch on Sunday, January 20

This year's consultation will continue to address ways to collaborate around our shared commitment to "life long learning" for the church's mission.

Presenter: Prof. Patricia Killen, Pacific Lutheran University, will help us pick up the conversation from last year's Consultation III, in continuing to explore issues of lifelong learning and its task of connecting faith to daily life.

Time will be given to planning around shared commitments of ways the various partners of the Western Mission Cluster can work together in programs of lifelong learning to support Christian vocations in the world.

We will also revisit current activities in the Cluster along with previous discussions of mission and strategy.

A proposal for a more formal structure for the ongoing collaborative work of the Cluster in areas of lifelong learning will be introduced for consideration from the steering committee. An advance copy of this draft proposal has been sent to all participants and is also posted on this Consultation IV Web Site.

Continue to check this Consultation Web Site for any last minute information.

We are lookiing forward to our time together in a few short weeks.

Should you have questions contact:

James L. Boyce, Convener
Western Mission Cluster Consultation IV
Luther Seminary
2481 Como Av W
St Paul  MN  55108-1445
651-641-3252
FAX 651-641-3354
jboyce@luthersem.edu