Theme
Step into a transformative exploration of relationship with God that challenges popular narratives of separation. This conference highlights how God's signal of love has always been accessible - we’re not left spiritually roaming. And Jesus solves the difficulties in our reception, making us more aligned with the Father – as John’s Gospel and Hebrews emphasize. We welcome those seeking to nurture Christ-centered communities grounded in God’s constant connection rather than fear of disconnection. Discover how this understanding, recovered from the early church, shapes pastoral care, parenting, discipleship, outreach, and community formation.
Come, explore, and learn with us. See the conference program, below.
Format and Cost
The conference will be hosted by:
New Covenant Church of Philadelphia
7500 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19119
This conference is in person only. Recordings will be made available to registrants. If you are coming into Philadelphia from out of town, please make your own plans for accommodations and travel. We’re glad to make recommendations — please write us a message, below.
For groups of five or more, per person:
$89 by May 31
$99 by July 31
$119 on August 1 onward
Conference cost for individuals:
$99 by May 31
$109 by July 31
$129 on August 1 onward
Registration
On the left, please register using the form. On the right, please pay via credit card or ACH by clicking on the graphic.
Schedule
Session One (Friday 7pm):
Your Sin Does Not Separate You From God
In Protestant circles, we have probably all heard that our sin has caused a separation from God, so Jesus brings us into union with God. But what if that’s not actually the full story of Scripture? For example, Orthodox Churches have a prayer called O Heavenly King, addressing the Holy Spirit as the One who fills all things. We argue that the biblical and patristic paradigm is not from separation to union. It is from attachment to alignment.
Session Two (Saturday 9am):
The Father’s Signal: Your Emotions
Jesus said our emotions are like and unlike God’s. He compares our emotions with God’s “emotions” or motivations, for instance in Luke 15:1 — 32. So our emotions are an imperfect window into God. Also, Paul says our conscience gives us some moral sense of God’s definition of good and evil, and the condition of our hearts (Romans 2:12 - 16). This is evidence God stays connected to us and always keeps reaching out to us. In ministry, we have to pay attention to our own hurts and hopes, emotions and desires, in light of Jesus, instead of setting those emotions aside and provoking survival emotions (fear and guilt, relief and gratitude) using penal substitutionary atonement.
Session Three (Saturday 10:30am):
Jesus and the Problem of Reception: Atonement without Separation
Jesus came to realign and redeem human nature and human desires with God’s love, He came to receive the Holy Spirit in fullness (Matthew 3:13 - 4:11) and help us receive the Spirit, too. So, Jesus is the source of the best possible version of yourself (Hebrews 5:7 - 10). This means hell, if people choose it, is like an addiction treatment center for people who refuse the Counselor’s treatment and partnership, not like a prison/torture cell where people want to get out but God keeps them in. How does this impact our preaching and the way we motivate people to follow Jesus?
Session Four (Saturday 2:30pm):
Join Jesus’ Family Plan: Parenting
A focus on parenting towards the kingdom. What does parenting look like when we focus on the quality of our connection with our children, and recognize our children’s need for healthy attachment? How do we offer them our partnership and presence when they need to repent and repair? What effect does this have on our experience of the restorative God?
Session Five (Saturday 4pm):
Join Jesus’ Family Plan: Pastoral Care and Spiritual Formation
A focus on spiritual formation and pastoral care, and how this overlaps with therapy and trauma-informed practice. We will spotlight the “how to” and highlight Christians like Julian of Norwich and other monastic writers appreciated in the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality material by Pete and Jeri Scazzero, for example, who wrote about God being connected to us and caring for our emotional health, that we might care for others’ emotional health as well.
Presenters and Respondents
Each Session above will have the following general format, to encourage discussion and connection: presentation by a speaker; response by one or two respondents; participants discuss in small groups; resume large group question and answer.
