ABCOPAD Biennial
Leadership Conference
Renewal for the 21st Century Church
October 17-19, 2024
Blair County Convention Center
One Convention Center Blvd. Altoona, PA 16602
Invitation from Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Beck
Five Congregational Personality Types:
An Ancient Pathway for Congregational Renewal in the 21st Century
Can churches in the 21st century stop, reverse, or prevent decline – and even become healthy, thriving congregations? Leading scholar and practitioner of congregational renewal, Michael Adam Beck, says they can.
But the old cookie cutter ways of doing church won’t cut it in today’s world. If churches are going to stop the shocking rates of pastoral burnout and exodus from the pews, they must learn to be the church with new people, in new places, and in new ways.
CEUs: You may earn up to 1.5 CEUs for attending the Biennial Leadership Conference and reading Michael Beck’s book The Five Congregational Personality Types and writing a 2 page reflection paper.
Click to Register Online
| Hymn Suggestions - Biennial Regional Choir The Biennial Leadership Conference Planning Committee and its appointed Music Director, Chris Wells, are hard at work planning the times of worship for our upcoming conference. We are so excited to invite our ABCOPAD family to submit a favorite hymn or song to us and we can’t wait to see what hymns and songs spur your heart into worship! In addition, we’d like to put together a choir of singers from around the Region for the Biennial. If you love to sing, are planning to attend the conference and would like to be part of that, we’d love to have you! No expertise needed; the only requirement is the desire to sing to the Lord! Click to Submit a Hymn and/or Join the Choir |
Biennial Leadership Conference Scholarships...
WIM Female-Pastor First-Time Participants
10 Female-Pastor, First-Time Participant scholarships, for both those who are currently serving a church or those who have retired, are available to any ABCOPAD clergy. Scholarships are available until July 31, 2024
First-Time Participants
60 First-Time Participant scholarships (up to 2 per church) are available to ABCOPAD churches.
Applying for Scholarships
If registering online, simply select the appropriate scholarship option on the registration form.
If registering by hard copy through the mail, please note on the form "BLC scholarship requested" or "WIM Scholarship requested".
Both scholarships will be given on a first-come, first-served basis and cover only the registration fee. Optional events such as the Biennial Breakfast, Mission Lunch or Box Lunch and any hotel expenses are over and above the scholarships and will be at the participant's expense.
| Excellence in Ministry Awards The ABCOPAD Biennial Planning Committee in conjunction with the Minister’s Council will present two Craig W. Martin EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY awards at the Banquet on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the ABCOPAD Biennial Leadership Conference at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, PA. The first award is for those who have been in ministry less than 10 years. The second award is for those who have been in ministry longer than 10 years. We invite you to nominate a pastor, colleague, or other ministerial leader who meets the requirements listed on the accompanying pages. A Nomination Form is enclosed for your convenience. Selection of award winners will be made by the Biennial Planning Committee and the Ministers Council. Deadline for nominations is Monday, September 9, 2024. Excellence in Ministry Nomination Form
Excellence in Ministry Criteria |