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.  We seek to connect modern attachment theory with early Christian atonement theology. Discover how this understanding shapes pastoral care, parenting, discipleship, outreach, and community formation.  See YouTube short video.

Come, explore, and learn with us. See the conference program, below.

Format and Cost

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.

Conference cost for individuals:

• $99 up to and including Oct 4

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

The Father’s Signal: Your Emotions

sESSION TWO — SATURDAY 9AM

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? What if the language of distance only related to the time when God’s glory dwelled in Israel’s sanctuary?

God maintains a constant connection with us, as evidenced by shared wisdom, emotions, desires, moral compass, and even language. To see this, we will glance at the apostles’ speeches in Acts, especially Paul in Athens.

Goal: Weigh the biblical evidence for and against the separation theory. Weigh the biblical evidence for and against the constant connection theory. We argue that the biblical and early church paradigm is not from separation to union. It is from attachment to alignment. For example, the Eastern churches have a prayer called O Heavenly King, addressing the Holy Spirit as the One who fills all things.

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?

Goal: Reorient yourself emotionally on the person of Jesus and all of his human faithfulness, not just his death. Understand how Jesus “paid the price” for our sin by becoming the true hero in the shadow of all the tragic heroes who went before him. Understand how he realigned his own human nature to respond faithfully to the Father’s constant connection.

As background, we are making public God Becomes the Hero: Psalm 22 and How Jesus Retold David’s Story. This is Session Eight from our 2019 conference, Healing Atonement. The 2025 conference will expand on the themes of why God does not separate Himself from us. On the cross, Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsake me?” This “cry of dereliction” has long puzzled Christians. Advocates of penal substitutionary atonement claim that God the Father turned against or away from the Son in some real sense. But not only does this violate various Scriptures and theological convictions about the Father-Son union flowing from the Nicene Creed, there is a much better explanation, rooted in the pattern of Jesus retelling David’s story. Medical substitution stresses the active, not passive, obedience of Jesus, and God’s faithfulness to restore that which was broken, lost, and incomplete.

SESSION FOUR — SATURDAY 2:30PM

Join Jesus’ Family Plan: Pastoral Care and Spiritual Formation

Children learn emotional regulation from being attached to adults who are emotionally regulated. Christ-centered conflict resolution is part of our spiritual formation. Building friendship, reconciliation, and intimacy involves pastoral care and often, therapy and trauma-informed practice. Connie Bahng will spotlight what happens in our bodies and memories, as we apply our emotional connections with Jesus to the work of building friendship in Christ and church communities. Hayley and Rachel will focus on friendship and partnership between men and women, pointing out from our It’s a Man’s World curriculum that hierarchy damages intimacy.

Goal: Explore desires and not just deeds as the focal point of Christian formation — for individuals and communities. Explore a developmental view of yourself and others which takes growth seriously without becoming perfectionistic.

Here’s an encouragement and invitation from our friend Ryan!

SESSION FIVE — SATURDAY 4PM

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?

Goal: Struggle together towards Christian parenting by emotional attunement. Learn to cultivate emotional attunement in your children — to others and especially to Jesus. Hear and share stories, from the perspectives of both parents and children.

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.

After the Conference

We hope you will join us in one or more of the Zoom classes we plan to offer. Continue to deepen your learning and practice. We’d be honored to connect with you as you connect with Jesus.