McClure Lecture and WMI Conference 2024

Mission in the Margins: Lessons and Practices from the Global Church
W. Don McClure Lecture and WMI Conference 2024

Oct. 11-12, 2024
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

In the emerging landscape of mission, refugees, migrants, and the church in the Global South—traditionally viewed as recipients of mission goods and services—have become a major source of innovation and leadership in the founding of new worshiping communities, the provision of community services, and the work of advocacy for justice around the world.

Our 2024 World Mission Initiative Conference theme is “Mission in the Margins: Lessons and Practices from the Global Church” and will highlight this paradigm shift in God’s mission and how we can learn from our siblings in Christ on the other sides of our world. As we’ve done for the last two conferences, this year we will again combine the conference with the annual W. Don McClure Lecture. This year’s conference will also coincide with one of our fall hybrid gatherings, where all students taking hybrid classes will gather on campus for learning and community building.

Presenter

Harvey Kwiyani is a Malawian theologian currently serving as director of the ACTS 11 Project: Centre for Global Witness and Human Migration at Church Mission Society where he leads academic programs exploring World Christianity, especially in the context of migrations and diasporas. He founded and continues to serve as executive director of Missio Africanus, an intercultural mission training initiative that seeks to equip and empower the global church for mission in Europe. Having served in mission in Europe and North America for a long time, he writes a great deal on issues to do with cross-cultural mission, leadership, migration and diaspora Christianity. He has authored several books including Sent Forth: African Missionary Work in the West and Multicultural Kingdom: Ethnic Diversity, Mission and the Church. He blogs at www.harveykwiyani.substack.com.

Schedule

FRI., OCT. 11
4:00-6:00 p.m.	Registration
	Book Table
6:00-7:00 p.m.	Dinner
7:00-7:20 p.m.	Opening Worship
7:20 p.m.	McClure Lecture with Dr. Harvey Kwiyani

SAT., OCT. 12
8:00-9:00 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast
	Book Table
9:00-10:30 a.m.	Worship and Plenary by Dr. Kwiyani
10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.	Workshop
12:30-1:30 p.m.	Lunch and Plenary Discussion of Dr. Kwiyani and Other Mission Leaders

Workshops

1. Lived Communal Practices of Hope and Healing

Emily Cowser, Master of Divinity student at PTS with an emphasis in Adaptive and Innovative Ministry and a candidate for ordination under the care of the Pittsburgh Presbytery

In our broken and fragmented world, what is the role of the Church in fostering hope and healing? In this workshop, Emily will share about her learnings from a summer of study in South Sudan, South Africa, and the Philippines, during which she explored how communities are finding hope and healing amidst collective trauma. She will discuss the practices in these contexts and how they function in the lives of the communities she visited, as well as what we can learn from our partners in ministry in these places as we seek hope and healing within our own church contexts.

2. Pittsburgh Presbytery and Blantyre Synod: Lessons and Practices Learned from Three Decades of Partnership

The Rev. Dave Carver, Pastor of First United Presbyterian Church of Crafton Heights and Dr. Davies Lanjesi, Chairperson of Church of Centra Africa (CCAP) Blantyre Synod Partnership Steering Committee

In 1991 these two church bodies came into partnership under the banner of Romans 1:12: “That we might be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith”. Since then, they’ve made countless trips, exchanged pastors, joined in ministry relief efforts, and eaten a lot of chicken. This seminar will explore some of the ways that their intentional connections have borne fruit in each church and name some of the “land mines” they’ve discovered along the way. They hope to encourage the formation of similarly healthy relationships!

3. Equipping Unexpected Leaders for Front-line Ministry

The Rev. Cornell Jones, Director of Street Outreach/Group Violence Intervention Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh

This session will be about the importance of preparing yourself for front-line ministry. The group will discuss some of the challenges that urban environments are dealing with. They will discuss the importance of using your gifts and talents for the glory of God. Participants will learn from some of the urban missions that the Rev. Jones has led and been involved with from the streets and the prisons. We will talk about the tools needed to be effective in ministering to the people that many have given up on and learn to be “Hope Dealers” for the community.

4. Faith in the Midst of Crisis: Learning from Palestinian Christians

Shireen Awwad Hillal, Director of Bethlehem Bible College Community & Outreach, Samuel Munayer, Palestinian Theologian, the Rev. Dr. Hunter Farrell, Senior Teaching Fellow WMI; and the Rev. Chad Collins, Pastor at Valley View Presbyterian Church and National Organizer, Sabeel Center for Palestinaina Liberation Theology, Jerusalem

Come hear from evangelical Palestinian Christians how their faith shapes the way they respond to the legacy of 76 years of occupation: land confiscation, home demolition, checkpoints, settler violence, and Gaza. How does faith in Jesus Christ inform these leaders' daily life in the midst of such hardship?

Conference Sponsorship

We are only able to offer this major event at a low cost because we have faith that churches and individuals like you will support this work by becoming a sponsor. Would you be willing to support WMI as Conference Sponsor? If so, please click here to donate online or you can write a check payable to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with WMI Conference on the memo. Also please make sure to email your logo in jpg format to wmi@pts.edu. But if you have any question, please let us know by e-mailing us at hfarrell@pts.edu.

1. Sponsorship up to $500

Your/your church’s name/logo will be displayed on the WMI Conference website and program
Special mention on our Conference social media

2. Sponsorship more than $500

Church’s name/logo on the WMI Conference website and program
Special mention on our Conference social media and from the platform during the Conference