What Happened at the 2008 Deacon-Pastor Conference?

“Lord, deal with me in lovingkindness, and teach me,

your servant, to obey; For I am your servant, therefore give

me common sense to apply your rules to everything I do.”

(Psalm 119: 124-125 TLB)

The team that planned the Central Virginia Baptist

Ministries 2008 conference for deacons and pastors asked

everyone who attended to complete an evaluation form. With

the help of CVBM Administrative Assistant Gayle Taylor, we

have compiled the results. The evaluations tell us that more

than 350 people participated in the March 10 conference on

the campus of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.

Appropriately, attendees commented on how much they

learned. They gained useful knowledge in their sessions and

want to keep on learning!

Our presenters included experienced practitioners–

pastors, deacons, and others. In some sessions, leaders teamed

up to help address their topics to a wider range of churches.

Facilitators for the sessions represented Dover, Middle

District, and Richmond Associations, Baptist Theological

Seminary, and the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

Based on the evaluations, the excellent presenters deserve

credit for much of the conference’s success. They brought

practical knowledge and the ability to communicate it

effectively. Comments made by those who attended

confirmed that the topics offered were in touch with relevant

needs and would be useful in their churches.

From the greeters to the reception area to the overflow

crowd in the welcome session to standing-room-only in some

rooms, people felt an enthusiastic atmosphere. Participants

also remarked how they enjoyed the opportunity to dialogue

with others and to learn from one another.

Deacons and pastors came from far and wide! In fact, we

publicized the conference in The Religious Herald, and

deacons and pastors came from nine different associations!

We expected participants from Middle District, Richmond,

Dover, and Hermon Baptist Associations. The list also

included Concord, Norfolk, Rappahannock, Goshen, and

Natural Bridge Baptist Associations. Deacons and pastors

came from north, south, east, and west.

Participants told us they would like to have attended more

than one session and asked that the schedule let them attend

two sessions at next year’s conference. They suggested that

we include many of the same topics at next year’s conference

and suggested some new ones too. Ensuring that all leaders

distribute handouts for their session was also a key request.

Comments also indicated that March was the best time of

year to hold the conference. We have already set Monday,

February 2, 2009–mark your calendar–for next year’s

conference. However, we anticipate scheduling future

conferences in March, very likely on the Monday after we

return to daylight savings time which worked well this year.

“Thank you!” to all who participated in any way in this

year’s conference. As a result, many expressed a new

appreciation for challenges faced by pastors and expressed a

desire to become more involved in their role as servant leaders

in the church.

–Nita May