Transformation Guaranteed ... reflections from Conference:

The key note speaker at the Conference AGM was Dow Edgerton, who had just publised a book entitled: "Speak to me that I may speak: a spirituality of preaching" that arrived the day of Conference and was available for sale ...

Dow presented two theme talks. I missed most of the first one running my son to the Museum to meet his class who were in Winnipeg on thier class trip ... but his second theme presentation was extraordinary. His style is easy, narrative and simply delightful - he entertains, enlightens and educations simultaneously. What follows are some highlights I jotted down of his presentation ... they may not do him justice - but they are the wisdome I gleaned from the moment:

- he spend some time on the streets of Winnipeg and noted the wide variety of ethnic backgrounds he encountered on the streets. He said that such places offer astonishing possibility, and with that comes astonishing responsibility. He went on to reflect about our need to live out and share the Gospel to a broad and diverse world ...

- he shared some reflections that came from his now grown son. He noted that one day his 4 year old son began asking some really tough questions about life and ministry and what it was his dad (a seminary professor) did. The exchange ended with his son making the observation that "if you want to be in ministry you have to know alot about love becasue God is love right?" Dow then noted like the Jewish Rabbis tell us - everything else is commentary.

- he noted that love and justice are just the inward and outward forms of faith lived out in the world - that faith flows forth from the actuality of existence - that in the hidden depths of our souls lies love which issues forth, and the deeds that love embodies are where we find and live justice.

- at the beginning of his talk Dow noted that all of the Scriptures are focused on only one commandment which is simply focused on the Love of God, the love of our Neighbour and nothing else ...

Ultimately Dow's presentation was about living our faith and sharing the love that is found within us with the world around us ... kind of makes you think it isn't a bad thing ...

l'chaim