This is an update on the upcoming 11th annual International Teachers' Seminar. The plan has now been finalized by Gordon Ferguson, Andy Fleming, and myself. We are very excited about the program, and hope you will better able to mentally prepare yourself for our rendezvous in Greece by reading through this email.
ITS FACTS: 34 participants (28 men, 6 women). Nations: UK (3), China (1), Canada (1), Kuwait (1), Nigeria (1), Turkey (1), Australia (1), Philippines (1), Germany (1), Switzerland (2), US (20). All but 7 will be staying over for the BST (registration = 84 persons). ITS Start time: dinner Weds 2 Nov, approx. 7 pm. End time: 4 pm Fri 4 Nov. Previous International Teaching Seminars: London (1995, 1996, 1997), Herzliya (1998), Jerusalem (1999), Paris (2000), Berlin (2001), Athens (2002), Chicago (2003), Rome (2004).
Proposal for the 2006 ITS: Washington DC, with emphasis on Church History (Restoration Movement).
P R O G R A M
Wednesday 2 November, 7 pm -- Welcome, dinner, program, explanation of discussion groups. ANCIENT ATHENS: GOSSIP & GOSPEL. The significance of the teaching ministry. Lesson by Douglas Jacoby (during coffee). Discussion Group Session 1. Meet in discussion groups in hotel for a half hour or so.
Thursday 3 November -- 8:30-9:30 -- OPEN SHARING: What you hope the ITS will address, effective ministry ideas, sharing about the direction of churches worldwide, and more. To get things out on the table. 9:30-12:00 -- THE LEGAL AND THE LUKEWARM (HERESIES OF COMMITMENT). Lesson and discussion, by Gordon Ferguson 12:00-3:00 -- lunch & NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM. 3:30-4:00 -- Bible Quiz on Acts & 1-2 Corinthians. 4:00-5:00-- Discussion Group Session 2. All ITS participants will be blended into discussion groups of about 6 persons, which will meet 3 times. This is the first meeting. There will be 6 groups in all. 5-5:30 -- Prayer time 6-8 -- Dinner. After dinner: Hearts, for those interested.
Friday 4 November -- 8:30-9 -- Prayer and worship. 9-9:30 -- Special announcements (conferences, publishing, education, etc). 9:30-12 -- LIVING BY FAITH: Real faith & repentance
Baptism: death and beyond (Hades, the last resurrection, the Judgment Day and more), by Andy Fleming. 12--1 -- Discussion Group Session 3. 1-2:30 -- Lunch. 2:30-3:30 -- LEAVING BY FAITH: How to take the seminar back to your ministry. 3:30-4:00 -- 2006 ideas, BST discussion group planning, prayer, dismissal. BST start time: dinner Fri 4 Nov, around 7 pm.
Recommended reading for the The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity, by James S. Jeffers (InterVarsity Press, 1999, ISBN: 0830815899). Recommended reading for the sisters (and brothers!): Goddesses, Whores, Wives and Slaves: Women in classical antiquity, by Sarah B. Pomeroy, 1975.
