In 2018, we were blessed to have some of the greatest theological minds in the world guide our conversation about what it looks like in the Anglican tradition to proclaim Christ to a lost and broken world in need of healing and redemption in the 21st century. Join us in 2020 as we explore what it looks like to confront the present by embracing truth, navigating culture, crisis, and conflict.

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OUR SPEAKERS

Ephraim Radner

Wycliffe College
Toronto, Ontario CA

N.T. Wright

University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews, Scotland UK

James K.A. Smith

Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Michael Curry

Presiding Bishop
Episcopal Church USA

Fleming Rutledge

Episcopal priest, author, & theologian

Wesley Hill

Trinity School for Ministry
Ambridge, Pennsylvania

Hans Boersma

Nashotah House
Nashotah, Wisconsin

Fleming Rutledge

Author, Speaker, Preacher, Teacher

Biography

Fleming Rutledge, having spent twenty-two years in parish ministry, now has an international preaching and teaching vocation. Her most recent book, God Spoke to Abraham: Preaching from the Old Testament (Eerdmans), has received praise from many leading Old Testament scholars as well as preachers. Her previous books have met with wide acclaim across denominational lines and national borders. She is also author of The Battle for Middle-earth: Tolkien’s Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings (also Eerdmans), which has a fan base in Europe as well as the US. She received a grant from the Louisville Institute to write a book-length treatment of the contemporary meaning of the Crucifixion. Having divided this 800-page work into two volumes, she is presently on her way to submitting the first volume to Eerdmans for editing within the next six months.

Mrs. Rutledge served as interim rector of St. John’s, Salisbury, Connecticut (1996-7), and has twice been a resident Fellow at the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton. During the 2008 fall term, she was resident at Wycliffe College in the University of Toronto School of Theology, where she taught preaching. Most recently, she was a Visiting Scholar at the American Academy in Rome (April 2010).

Mrs. Rutledge is widely recognized in the United States, in Canada, and in the UK not only as a preacher and lecturer, but also as one who teaches other preachers. Her particular expertise is the intersection of Biblical theology with contemporary culture, current events and politics, literature, music and art. She has often been invited to preach in prominent pulpits such as the Washington National Cathedral, the Duke University Chapel, Trinity Church in Boston, and the Harvard Memorial Chapel.

Ordained to the diaconate in 1975, Mrs. Rutledge was one of the first women to be ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church (January 1977). She matriculated at General Theological Seminary and received her Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1975.

For fourteen years Mrs. Rutledge was assistant and then Senior Associate at Grace Church in New York City, a parish celebrated at that time for its youthful congregation and evangelistic preaching. She was actively involved in the renewal there. Her previous position was at Christ’s Church, Rye, New York, where she was known for her creation and leadership of an extensive Christian program for high-school youth.

A native of Franklin, Virginia, Mrs. Rutledge graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1959, magna cum laude with highest honors in English. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She has received two honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees, from Virginia Theological Seminary and Wycliffe College in the University of Toronto.

Fleming and her husband, Reginald E. (Dick) Rutledge, celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2019. They have two grown daughters and two grandchildren.

All session by Wesley Hill

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this conference for?

Anyone who is interested in thinking about and celebrating ordained ministry; for any who have a burden for proclaiming Christ to a lost and broken world in need of healing and redemption. This conference was conceived as a place to have a conversation about what this looks like in the Anglican tradition, and to give missional, Gospel-burdened young adults a space in which to reflect on their vocation, i.e. calling. In short, this conference is an opportunity for you to consider whether God is calling you to a life of dynamic ministry in the great tradition of the ancient Church. You do not at all need to be an Anglican to come to this conference. All are strongly encouraged to attend. Seasoned clergy are especially encouraged to come, and to bring along young men and women who may be inspired to think about their own vocation.

What is Anglicanism?

‘Anglicanism’ describes the distinct theological tradition which arose out of the Church of England after the Reformation. Anglicanism is most definitely indebted to the Reformation for its commitment to the Word of God and proclaiming the grace of God given to us in Jesus Christ, but is somewhat unusual among the Reformation churches in retaining many of the characteristics of the ancient church, such as liturgy, sacraments, and the three-fold ministry of bishop, priest, and deacon. The Anglican Communion is the third-largest communion of churches worldwide (behind only the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox) and has a historic commitment to taking the Gospel to the least and to the lost, even to the ends of the earth. To become Anglican is to find oneself in the great tradition of the Church, in communion with the Christians of the first century, and in fellowship with a wonderfully diverse body of Christians across the globe today. To learn more, visit http://www.anglicancommunion.org/

Why would I consider becoming a priest?

The priesthood is undoubtedly a hard life. And it truly is a radical vocation, permanently changing your identity and asking you to give all for the sake of Christ and his Church. But for those who are hearing the call to the ministry of Word and Sacrament, the only way to find peace and gratification is to embrace that calling and be what the Holy Spirit is calling you to be. There’s simply nothing better than sharing in the ministry of Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep, watching his flock flourish and grow in his love and grace. If this resonates with you, you owe it to Christ, his Church, and yourself to spend a season in discernment with the Church. This conference is an unprecedented opportunity to begin to do just that. Join us for what is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience. Who knows, it just may change your life.

What if I am not in seminary?

That’s more than ok. If you want to be used by God to bring the Gospel to those who need it, we want you to join us, regardless of your level of education. Formation comes after discernment. For now, we invite you to listen, to pray, to ponder. This conference is for all ages and stages of life and ministry, whether you’re discerning your own calling, or you’re already in full-time ministry and interested in bringing along and encouraging those at the beginning stages.