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DALLAS (SMU) – “New Wine, New Wineskins: Fresh Models for Ministry,” is the theme for the upcoming Ministers Week at Perkins School of Theology, February 2–4, 2015. In keeping with the 2015 theme, presentations will be modeled on the chavruta method of rabbinic study and learning, in which participants engage each other “in partnership” over shared texts and topics.

The 2015 Perkins Ministers Week brings together church leaders seeking new ways of growing and forming the church in the midst of wide-ranging societal shifts. This year’s topics will include worship and Hip Hop culture, mission and discipleship, and spiritual formation. Rev. Alexia Salvatierra will preach for opening worship in Perkins Chapel, February 2, at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Salvatierra, who also will present the Barton Lecture later during Ministers Week, is special assistant to the Bishop for Welcoming Congregations for the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Additionally, she serves as adjunct faculty at New York Theological Seminary and Biola University, and is author (with Peter Heltzel) of the recently published book, Faith-Rooted Organizing (InterVarsity Press, 2014).

Other 2015 Ministers Week speakers are:

• Trey Hall, lead pastor of Urban Village Church, one of the fastest growing inclusive churches in Chicago (Martin Lecture and Jackson Lecture): “Epic Fail: How vulnerability, confession, and testimony help us undergo the Gospel and lead the Church”; and “Inclusive & Evangelical: These two things do go together.”
  
  
• Bob Gardenhire, founder and director of HeartPaths Spirituality Centre, with programs in the Oklahoma and Dallas/Fort Worth areas to prepare clergy and laity for ministries of spiritual leadership and spiritual direction since 1982 (Johannaber Lectures): “The WHO that does the WHAT is as important as the WHAT the WHO does!”; and “How many bushes did God have to burn?”
  
  
• Leicester Longden, associate professor emeritus of Evangelism and Discipleship at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (Fondren Lecture): “The Legacy of Albert Cook Outler: Nostalgia, Challenge, Prospect.” The presentation celebrates completion of the cataloguing of Outler’s expansive papers at Perkins’ Bridwell Library. An exhibition of The Albert Cook Outler Papers will open February 2, in Bridwell’s Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Galleries.
  
  
• Michael W. Waters, founder and Senior Pastor of Joy Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, one of the fastest-growing A.M.E. Churches in Texas, and author of “FREESTYLE: Reflections on Faith, Family, Justice, and Pop Culture” (Peyton Lecture): “No Church in the Wild? Rap’s Sacred Utterances and the Future of the Church.” Dr. Waters’ lecture will be accompanied by DJ artist Suave Burgandy, aka Marcus Dade, and a concluding worship time featuring artists Big Tat, aka Steve Richardson, and TheaTryCal, aka Anton Leftwich, both from ABG Ministries, whose mission is to use music to reach out to the youth and youth groups within the church.

• Philip Wingeier-Rayo, director of the Mexican American and Hispanic-Latino/a Church Ministries Program and the United Methodist Regional Course of Study School for Local Pastors at Perkins, where he also serves as Professor of Christian Mission and Intercultural Studies (Wednesday workshop): “Building Ministry with the Hispanic Community.”

• Bishop Joel Martinez, who previously served the United Methodist Church’s former Nebraska, Rio Grande and Southwest Texas Conferences, will lead Wednesday worship as part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Mexican American Program at Perkins.

Ministers Week 2015 also will include presentation of the Perkins School of Theology Distinguished Alumnus/a Award at a banquet in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall, February 2, 6:30 p.m.

Ministers Week begins with registration at 2:00 p.m., February 2, and adjourns at 2:45 p.m., February 4.

All lectures will be held in Perkins Chapel or Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall, at Perkins School of Theology on the campus of ���ҽ�Methodist University. For a map of the ���ҽ�campus, visit www.smu.edu/maps.

Registration, pricing, event details, and lodging information: www.smu.edu/perkins/mw.

For additional information about the 2015 Perkins School of Theology Ministers Week:
214-768-2251 or AdvanceMinistry@smu.edu.

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Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of . Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry, as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.