Wednesday, September 28, 2005

RevGals Meeting Idea

Lurking around in some blog comments lately is the idea of having a RevGalBlogPals convention. Well, I don't know about a convention, but here is an idea for getting some of us together.

The Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators (APCE) is having their annual meeting in St. Louis February 1-4. APCE serves the PCUSA, Presbyterian Church in Canada, Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America.

This year for the first time the Lutheran Association of Church Educators and the National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors are participating in the conference.

The one big omission from the RevGalPals would be the Methodists but there is nothing stopping Methodists from attending. Cokesbury is the bookseller for the conference! Here is the APCE website link for more information . And Lorna, last year I met a minister from the Church of Scotland at this meeting--so why not?

A lot of pastors attend this meeting every year--the workshops cover a lot of topics and the bookstore and merchants are usually great. If some of you plan to attend, then we could try to get together for dinner or lunch or evening whatever during the free time. Maybe we could even discuss a future "convention".

What say you, fellow RGBPers? Rach and Mindy--what about a quick trip to St. Louis for dinner?


20 comments:

reverendmother said...

I want to agree with the APCE endorsement. It's a great conference. I've been several times.

Alas (or not), I will be nursing a newborn at that time. But I'm totally up for a group meetup sometime.

Unknown said...

Erm...cough, cough...UCC?

Becky Ardell Downs said...

I went once when I worked at Grace's church! It was awesome. I would love to go, but not sure what the kiddos would do without me at home. I'll have to see if I can make arrangements. Great idea for a meet-up though.

Jody Harrington said...

Songbird--I'm sure you would be welcome to come. I have met pastors, educators and youth advisors over the years from a number of denominations that aren't among those that sponsor APCE. It's not an exclusive conference. Come on down!

Jules said...

I went once to Birmingham--it rocked. I wanted to go to Vancouver so bad I could taste it. But St Louis in the winter??? Not sure about that. lol.

I'll think about it.

Steph Youstra said...

To echo Songbird ....

Erm...cough, cough...RCC?

:-)

Jody Harrington said...

I'm sure Roman Catholics are also welcome if they want to attend--I have seen some books by Catholic authors in the bookstore. All of the presenters are Protestants, but this year's keynoter is an Episcopalian.

I realize the APCE meeting won't appeal to all the members of the webring--but it might serve as a starting point for planning something that will.

And revmom--what's up with St. Louis in the winter (don't know much about that area myself)? I went to Vancouver last year expecting to freeze my fanny, but it was delightful.

jo(e) said...

Well, I thought the gathering was supposed to include skinny dipping. So I'm not so sure about St. Louis in the winter.

Can a non-reverend sort-of-still-Catholic-but-having-her-doubts person who likes to hang out with cool spiritual women just show up at a conference like that?

Because I would love to come to a revgalblogpal meet-up ....

Anonymous said...

oh oh oh oh oh

February won't work. nope.

Whats good to visit - somewhere warmer than Finland - oh everywhere probably is! - in late October or early November - that would be BEST for me by far.

The convention sounds lovely - it's just the timing that's off. I've never been to St Louis mind! lol

thanks for thinking of this. I'm sure it will be wonderful and I'll be sad to miss it.

hugs

Jody Harrington said...

Jo(e)-- you would be more than welcome. As would Rach and Mindy and anyone else who wants to be there.

Maybe if we have a "core" group of RevGalPals already at the conference in St.Louis we could stay an extra night (it ends at noon on Saturday) so those who don't attend the APCE conference could join us for a meet up.

Lorna--sorry that's bad timing for you. I sure hate that.

spookyrach said...

Awww...

Thanks for the invite! I would so be hitch-hiking up there if necessary. And St. Louis is not too far...

But I just found out a course I have to take was cancelled for October and rescheduled right about that time in February. So, Rats! - I'll be in Austin then...?

Jules said...

St. Louis=Famous for ice storms.

And in-laws, but I digress...

Karen Sapio said...

I've heard good things about the APCE conference--though last year everyone who went from Cascades Presbytery seems to have come home with a nasty flu that laid them low for weeks. . . I'm already committed to another con ed event this February, but maybe some other year!

Jody Harrington said...

Ice storms? Yikes! Maybe I'll have to rethink this plan--I've had enough fun with Mother Nature for a while. :-)

Seriously, everyone think about it. If you decide to go or will be in the St Louis area during APCE, email me or leave a comment on the blog and let me know.

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

Rach is going to that class so that she can help teach my class. BUT....we will more than likely be out your way in April. If things are better in Galveston....

opinionated said...

St. Louis too far for me--been there once. I don't travel much. But sounds like a good idea for those who are convenient to St. Louis.

Jody Harrington said...

Mindy and Rach--Galveston should be fine by April. Let me know when you will be there and I'll drive down for lunch or something.

Kathryn said...

Oh dear....it all sounds wonderful but realistically, it just isn't going to happen for me. Even getting to the other side of the UK to see people seems to involve huge feats of organisation, so I'll have to be a virtual presence only.
Enjoy, though.

St. Casserole said...

You are all welcome to come to our home. You could come as a mission trip to see me and the rest of the Gulf Coast.
I mean it.

Jody Harrington said...

St. Cass, that's a great idea. What about it, friends?