‘Reckoning With Power': Discerning God's Power, Navigating Worldly Power in Leadership, Conflict, and Mission
February 10–11, 2025
Amidst the revelations of abuse of power, political division, and church conflicts, we have a moment to carefully consider the question of power—the way God's power in Christ is radically different than worldly power, and how we might discern and make space for God's power in Christ to be at work in the leadership and shaping of church and mission. Fitch comes to lead us through these questions at renew 2025.
"I pray that you might know … the immeasurable greatness of His power for those who believe … God put this power to work in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated him at His right hand in the heavenly places... far above all rule, and authority, and power.” (Ephesians 1:17ff).
Keynote Speaker
Dr. David Fitch, B.R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern SeminaryDr. David Fitch is a long-time pastor in Chicago, and the B. R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary. He teaches on the issues the local church must face in mission, including cultural engagement, leadership, and theology.
Fitch written multiple books, including The End of Evangelism? (2011), Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines that Shape the Church for Mission (2016), The Church of Us vs. Them (2019), and the forthcoming 2024 release, titled Reckoning With Power: Why the Church Fails When it's on the Wrong Side of Power (Brazos, January 2024).
Find Fitch on Facebook, Twitter, and Substack, and missioalliance.org/davidfitch-speaking.
David Fitch's Three Keynote Addresses
- Reckoning with Power – Navigating power as leaders, as churches, and as Christians entering and engaging the world.
- Navigating the Antagonisms of Our Time – Becoming the presence of Christ in the midst of divisions—political and otherwise.
- The Many Gospels: How the Gospel Shapes the Church for Mission – Discerning the gospel, and how we preach, teach, and practice it for mission.
Interactive Workshops
God’s Power at Work: Congregations Responding to Pastoral Misconduct
Carol Penner, Director of Theological Studies, Assistant Professor of Theological Studies at Conrad Grebel College - Waterloo, ON
In this interactive workshop, we will divide into groups with fictional case studies about pastoral sexual misconduct. How is power abused by a leader? What power does the congregation have, and how can it be used redemptively? We will look at the stages congregations go through as they move towards healing. Does it have to be so painful?
Men and Power
Don Neufeld, Social worker/Therapist for over 30 years - Niagara Region, ON
The world has a problem with men and power. The church has a problem with men and power. Men have a problem navigating power in our world. Men grasp for power in a world that feels insecure. Messages to men about power are duplicitous. It’s time for a deep reckoning by men, with and for men…and ultimately for our world, regarding our relationship with power.
The Power of Worship
J Janzen, Pastoral Elder at Highland Community Church - Abbotsford, BC
Drawing on 30 years of ministry experience, and informed by the work of Marshall McLuhan, Paul Hiebert, Andy & Kara Root, and the Technology of Participation, this workshop will explore the following questions: How might healthy power be modeled and experienced in worship? What beliefs, postures and practices regarding worship (and power) do we need to add, subtract, (re)affirm, revise so that worship is a Power-full encounter?
Dealing with Church Councils and Power Families
Jeff Friesen, Co-Director Leadership Ministries at Mennonite Church Manitoba
Congregations are inhabited by people holding varying amounts of power. At times this power discrepancy can lead to conflict within the community of faith. Join us for a casual panel discussion focused on how to work with powerful individuals in the church. Facilitated by Jeff Friesen, this conversation will include pastors sharing about practices they have found helpful in this work.
Presenters
Bible Teaching
- Dan Epp Thiessen, Emeritus Associate Professor of Bible
Pastoral/Church Stories
- Dave Ens, Pastor of One88 Community Church
- Tim Nielsen and Indy, Pastors at City Church
- Kevin Drudge, Pastor of Covenant Mennonite Church
Worship Leaders
- Irma Fast Dueck, Associate Professor of Practical Theology at CMU Emeritus
- Darryl Neustaedter-Barg, Adjunct Professor of Communications at CMU
Schedule
| MONDAY, February 10 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 12:00–1:00 PM | Registration | Outside Chapel |
| 12:00–12:45 PM | Lunch pre-registration | Dining Hall |
| 1:00–2:00 PM | *Welcome, Worship, Bible Study | Chapel |
| 2:00–3:15 PM | *Keynote Address #1 and Discussion | Chapel |
| 3:15–3:45 PM | Coffee and Conversation | Outside Chapel |
| 3:45–5:00 PM | *Stories of the Church and Conversation | Chapel |
| 6:00–8:00 PM | Dinner with Cheryl Pauls, CMU President | Cheryl's Home |
| TUESDAY, February 11 | ||
| 8:30–9:30 AM | *Welcome, Worship, Bible Study | Outside Chapel |
| 9:30–10:00 AM | Coffee and Conversation | Dining Hall |
| 10:00–11:15 AM | *Kenote Address #2 and Discussion | Chapel |
| 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | *CMU Chapel | Chapel |
| 12:00–1:00 PM | Lunch | Dining Hall |
| 1:00–2:00 PM | *Workshops | TBA |
| 2:00–2:30 PM | Coffee and Conversation | Outside Chapel |
| 2:30–3:30 PM | *Workshops | TBA |
| 3:45–5:00 PM | *Keynote Address #3 and Discussion | Chapel |
| 5:00–5:30 PM | *Worship and Farewell | Chapel |
* denotes available online
renew is open to anyone involved in Christian ministry and leadership, regardless of specific congregational or denominational context.
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