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The best map possible is pretty worthless without the resources to undertake the journey, which is why a forthcoming education summit has an important part to play in helping shape Foursquare’s future.
Leadership Formation is the focus of this year’s Foursquare Education Symposium, with a fresh new format, to be held at Life Pacific College (LPC, also known as LIFE Bible College) in San Dimas, Calif., Feb. 29–March 2. The event will bring together those involved in education in Foursquare in all its facets—from church-sponsored training to Christian schools and the ongoing equipping of ministers—for three days of inspiration, reflection, discussion and prayer that will be wide-ranging while at the same time laser-focused.
Participants will be looking at ways to ensure that the lifelong learning considered critical to Foursquare’s successful mission is not only encouraged, but also made possible as the movement’s Reimagine realignment continues.
The emphasis on Leadership Formation acknowledges the first of the three main missional objectives identified during the Reimagine process: leadership development, named a Foursquare priority along with church and congregation multiplication, and church transformation.
Among the topics to be addressed in both the general and breakout sessions at this year’s symposium are how to develop lifelong learners, mentoring leaders in the local church, core ministry competencies, distance learning, bilingual education and what Christian schools need to know about new sexual discrimination laws.
The program will allow time for lay and credentialed ministers, education and training leaders, and academics and scholars to connect in affinity groups, such as the Emerging Leader Network (ELN) and the Hispanic Educators Summit.
“We’re excited to announce a fresh new look to our education symposium this year, including well-known speakers in the world of education, and believe this event will offer something for everyone,” says Tammy Dunahoo, Foursquare’s vice president of U.S. operations and general supervisor. “Most important, our topic of Leadership Formation is critical in this hour for The Foursquare Church.”
Joining Tammy on the speaking team are education leaders from within Foursquare and beyond. One visiting keynote speaker will be Carlos Campo, Ph.D., the 30th president of Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. A former president of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., he was also the 2011 recipient of the Excellence in Leadership Award from the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference/National Hispanic Evangelical Association.
Also speaking will be Amos Yong, Ph.D., professor of theology and mission at Fuller Theological Seminary and director of the Fuller Theological Seminary’s Center for Missiological Research. He is a former president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.
Foursquare contributors will include the education and training team and the Foursquare Church Education Commission (FCEC), who are hosting the symposium. The education team will be presenting the future of education for Foursquare and will introduce the new Foursquare Education website and Learning Management System, which aim to make access to education resources and opportunities easier. Also addressing attendees will be Sam Rockwell, Ph.D., supervisor of Foursquare’s Gateway District and author of the book Leading by Being and Doing: Integrating Person and Practice in Ministry.
The Foursquare Church has three core Missional Objectives to guide our collective missional focus and develop a healthy culture in our churches. These include: (1) leadership development; (2) church and congregation multiplication; and (3) church health and transformation. Learn more about Foursquare’s Missional Objectives.