Telling the Truth '06

Conference Wrapped

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Thanks to everyone who made it out to the conference - please visit www.poasis.blogspot.com to follow/participate in the conversation from here!

Welcome to Telling the Truth

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Welcome to Telling the Truth 2006: A Forum on the Arts and the Worshipping Church - A weekend of speakers, presenters, and opportunies for participation in the worshipping life of the Church for all those interested in the role of the arts in proclaiming/understanding the Gospel.

For a time of growth, reflection and connecting, join as as we explore "The Art of Redemption" October 20-21st at St. David's By the Sea in Victoria BC . Please use the links on the right to find out more about why we're gathering, who's involved, and what we have planned....

You can also help us spread the word by downloading and posting conference posters here.

coming soon

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Stay tuned for more details...

Why we're gathering

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We Want to ask, “How can Christ-following artists in the community of Greater Victoria unite around creative and practical initiatives to impact their local church and communities? What would it look like if we began to pool our talents and seriously impact our communities? The seeds have been planted – where can the vision grow?

The title of this conference expresses the sentiment that art is only as powerful as it is an authentic reflection of the way things really are. As it is with art, so it is with the gospel, and also with the Church.

Artists need to interact honestly with other artists; art needs to interact with art, planners, producers and parishioners need to hear and be heard. What will happen if Christ-following artists and supporters unite to tell the truth together, for all to see?

All truth is transmitted through a mixture of media. In a similar way, the Lord is revealed by all creation.
God is Creator. He has made humanity in His image. This means that to be truly human, we must create.
Human creativity is participation in the life of God. Creative activity is worship
Creating together is worshipping together; it is a work we hold in common, a liturgy. This worship can be held in common between us, across the fault lines of church division.
Telling the Truth exists to bring Christians together in and through the arts, in order to celebrate and further explore this common work

Conference Schedule | Oct 20 & 21

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Friday October 21st | 6:45 pm - registration opens*

1. “SHOW & TELL (the truth)”
Join us for an opportunity to practice the presence of God in an environment created by the offerings of worship of various artist participants.

2. Key Note Address: Reverend Michael Pountney
“Mayhem and Marvel: Untidy Grace in an Un-nice world”

3. Introduction of “Images of Redemption” Project

**Stringed accompaniament by Dan and Nancy Mari

Saturday October 21st | 8:30am - conference opens

1. Morning “UnChapel:” A Creative Contemplative Service
Scripture reading, prayer, song, movement led by Matthew Christopher Davidson.
This service draws from the richness of several Christian traditions and will provide inspiration for the possibilities of more contemplative worship in local church traditions

2. Key Note: Reverend Michael Pountney
On a Clear Day: The Visionary Art of Redemptive Grace

3. Panel Discussion | moderated by Randy Hein
“How Have You Seen the Arts Represent the Gospel?”
A directed question period with opportunity at the end of the panel session for further discussion with presenters of interest.

Panelists include:
Julia Stobbe on “Playful Grace: Kids, art, and the Gospel (Beyond the Flannel Board)
James Kingsley on “Designing Communication”
Jenny Hainsworth on Arts in the Orthodox traditions
Doug Farr on the musical arts: “Lord, Have Mercy”

Lunch at Beklens (*included with registration)
Gulu Walk participants are dismissed with our blessings

Afternoon Sessions:

1. "But is it art?"
A discussion on ways to approach visual media
Led by Jason Nobel, artist and member of The Place Community.

2. Bodies & Souls: Rediscovering the purposeful and physical aspects of corporate worship
(or a worship planner's journey in a non-denominational church)
Led by Christine Neufeld, worship leader at Saanichton Bible Fellowship

3. Looking Ahead/What Now?
We'll close out the conference with a group discussion of local initiatives and opportunities for the upcoming year.

3:15 - Conference wraps

Who's Involved

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Keynote Speaker
Rev. Michael Pountney, Ed.D., D.D.,
Michael is a priest and preacher, teacher and author, and Honorary Associate at St. Matthias Anglican Church, Victoria. Formerly Principal of Wycliffe College, Toronto, Parish Priest in Montreal, and staffworker for IVCF Canada, Michael recently completed four years with IFES Eurasia developing leadership for university ministry in the countries of the former Soviet Union. A lover of liturgy, Michael has a passion for uncovering truth contained in a wide variety of artistic expressions, with particularly strong interest in Film and Literature.

Panel Presenters:
Julia Stobbe is a Masters student at Carey Theological Seminary and Child / Youth Ministries Coordinator for West shore Alliance Church. Julia is a gifted photographer and grass-roots writer. Her thought provoking blog has been quoted in the works of several well known women in the Emerging Church genre.

Jenny Hainsworth is the choir director and resident iconographer at All Saints of Alaska Orthodox church in Victoria, where her husband is parish priest. Her formal education includes a diploma in Classical Studies and a BA (hons) in the History and Structure of the English language (UBC)and ‘one sixth of a PhD’ in the same. Jenny is the mother of two energetic young daughters…and she really likes pie!

James Kingsley is a graduate of the University of Victoria Fine Arts Department. As a fan of modern communication James maintins several blog sites with regard to the Arts, local church, and various theological ponderings. James is currently living/working as an intern for The Place at Lambrick Park Church.

Doug Farr is a multi-instrumentalist, ‘deepthinking’ music instructor with a knack for making the harmonica sound classic, and the flute like an electric guitar...

Other Contributors

Matthew Christopher Davidson
Contemporary Contemplative Service and Conference Development

Randy Hein
Panel Moderator
As pastor of the Place and last year's keynote speaker (download the transcript here), we're happy to have Randy return this year and lead us through a time of presentation and q&a with a number of local artists.

Daniel & Nancy Mari
guitar and cello

Christine Neufeld
Conference Coordinator, workshop facilitator
Christine has been pulling so many strings for this thing that we're just gonna start calling her our resident pupeteer (sp?)

Jason Nobel
Artist, workshop facilitator

Registration

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General Registration - $40

Patron's Registration - $50

*Special discounts available for artist participants, youth groups and early bird registration. Contact us for more details via christine.neufeld {at} gmail {dot} com

Download the registration form.

About the presenters

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The Poasis collective is a made up of artists, thinkers and dreamers who met at last year's first annual "Telling the Truth" conference. Since then they have collaborated on such events as Dust & Light, and, of course, this year's conference. To read more, check out our blog at www.poasis.blogspot.com.

Help us Promote

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Help us spread the word about the conference by downloading a poster (by clicking on it) and stick it on your nearest hydro pole, community bulletin board, fridge door, church flyer, etc.

Jpeg files for web-use are also avalable here (Bottled Jesus) and here (Dust & Light).

Posters courtesy of James Kingsley & the Young Lions of Pop