2023 Clergy Conference

Guest Speaker Jay Wittmeyer

The guest speaker will be Jay Wittmeyer, the executive director of the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (LMPC), which he joined on January 15, 2020. Wittmeyer had previously served with LMPC from 2004 to 2006. He is an ordained minister through the Illinois-Wisconsin District of the Church of the Brethren. His career focus has been on organizational capacity building and has spent many years in international faith-based contexts. He currently serves on the board of directors of Elgin Academy and has just finished ten years on the board of Heifer International. He has served on the boards of Churches for Middle-East Peace, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, National Farm Workers Ministry, and Foods Resource Bank.

READ MORE ABOUT jay WITTMEYER

Previously, Wittmeyer served for 11 years as the Executive for Global Mission and Service for the Church of the Brethren, which is headquartered in Elgin, IL. During his tenure, Wittmeyer worked to strengthen the organizational capacity of local church denominations to serve their communities. In this position, Wittmeyer traveled extensively to work with organizations in Haiti, Rwanda, Venezuela, South Sudan, Nigeria, and elsewhere. In addition, Wittmeyer served for three years in Bangladesh with the Mennonite Central Committee, seconded to the Partnerships in Agriculture and Extension and in Nepal, seconded to the United Mission to Nepal. Wittmeyer’s career includes two years with Brethren Benefit Trust as director of the Brethren Pension Plan and employee financial services.

Wittmeyer has a Masters in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University and a Masters in English as an International Language from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he did his Bachelors in English Education. He has studied Family Systems through the post-graduate program of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family. (From the LMPC website)

If you have any questions, please contact Canon Sandy at (808) 536-7776, ext. 309, or email him.

SCHEDULE (Tentative)

MONDAY, AUGUST 14
12:00-1:00 PM - Lunch at the Hotel
1:00-3:00 PM - Session 1
*Lopped and Pruned: Fractured relationships, estrangement, and broken communication in American Society
*Things Fall Apart
6:00-7:15 PM - Eucharist at All Saints'
7:30-9:00 PM - Dinner at All Saints'

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15
7:00-8:45 AM - Breakfast
9:00-11:30AM - Session 2
*Vines and Branches
*Family Systems thinking on identity and belonging
*The Center Can Hold
12:00-1:00 PM - Lunch
Afternoon activities offered
7:00 PM - Dinner on own

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16
7:00-8:45 AM - Breakfast
9:00-11:30AM - Session 3
*Splinting the Wound: Healing through Restorative Conversations
*Intentional Gathering
12:00-1:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 PM - Go in Peace

ACCOMMODATIONS AND TRAVEL

The conference will be taking place at the Sheraton Kaua'i Coconut Beach Resort in Kapa'a, where we have secured group room rates. The discounted rates are being offered from August 11 through 19, for those who may wish to extend their trips either before or after the conference. Be sure to select your correct dates in your booking process. These group rates will end on July 27, 2023, so book early.

BOOK MY ROOM NOW

The Diocese will cover air travel expenses for clergy attending the conference. Please click HERE for travel procedures, then contact the Diocesan Travel Coordinator HERE to submit an interisland Air Travel Request.

The hotel provides a free shuttle to and from the Lihue airport. For those considering renting a car, carpool with others and share the cost.

Activities (Coming soon)

We are working on several fun activities that you may wish to take part in during your free time.