image.png

2024
Pastors
Conference

 September 2024 | ONline | In Person

Formation Through Connection

A time for leaders to be inspired, refreshed, and equipped as they build cultures of formation in the local church.

 

Create Transformative Cultures of Formation, Together.

We’re being formed by the communal God. It’s time we explore spiritual formation as a relational process.

Join us online or in Portland, Oregon, to participate in a learning community seeking to move beyond ideas about spiritual formation and into implementation.

 
September 10-11

Gather and Watch Online

Tune in with your church leadership team, learning and reflecting with your community. 

September 9-11

Attend at Bridgetown Church in Portland, OR

Join us in person and learn alongside leaders from a variety of church contexts.

 

Watch Gatherings

A New Way To Gather for the Conference

This year, we’ve designed the conference with your church leadership team in mind! We know how important it is to be unified as a team, so our new Watch Gatherings give you space to reflect, pray, and ideate together, without missing any of the sessions.

Need to share this information with your pastor or team before buying tickets? Download the Watch Gathering Guide below.

 Speakers

Luminaries, Sages, and Practitioners of Spiritual Formation

 

Dr. Todd Hall

Dr. Todd Hall is a Professor of Psychology at Biola University’s Rosemead School of Psychology and serves as a Faculty Affiliate in the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. He teaches in the areas of attachment theory, spiritual formation, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and the integration of psychology and theology.

As a licensed psychologist, he holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology and an M.A. and doctoral specialization in measurement and psychometrics from UCLA. 

Dr. Hall is an award-winning author and researcher whose latest two books, Relational Spirituality and The Connected Life, articulate a comprehensive relational spirituality paradigm for transformation. He is the founder of the Relational Spirituality Academy where he offers training to Christian leaders in the RS model of spiritual formation and coaching. 

He and his wife, Dr. Liz Hall, have two adult sons. They enjoy traveling and hanging out together at Disneyland.

 

Rich Villodas

Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large, multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens.

Rich graduated with a B.A. in pastoral ministry and theology from Nyack College. He went on to complete his Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. His award-winning book, The Deeply Formed Life, was released in September 2020. His latest book, Good and Beautiful and Kind, was released in July 2022.

He and his wife, Rosie, have two beautiful children and reside in Long Island, NY.

 

John Mark Comer

John Mark Comer is a teacher, writer, and the founder of Practicing the Way.

After serving as the pastor for teaching and vision at Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, for nearly two decades, John Mark and his family now reside in Topanga Canyon, California, where he serves as a teacher in residence at Vintage Church LA.

He is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including the international bestseller The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. His podcasts, John Mark Comer Teachings and Rule of Life, have been ranked on top religion and spirituality podcast charts in the U.S. and U.K.

 

And more...

Schedule

 
Sunday 9/8

Bridgetown Sunday Evening Service

(optional in person)

 
 

Prior to the conference, join Bridgetown Church’s evening service to hear from Tyler Staton as he teaches on practicing the Way of Jesus as part of Bridgetown’s annual vision series.

After the service, join us for a casual meet-up at a local brewery. 

Monday 9/9

Meet & Greet

(optional in person)

 

7:00-9:00 p.m.  (Doors open 6:30 p.m.)
Bridgetown Church — Eastside

 
Tuesday 9/10

Conference Day One

(Online or in person at Bridgetown Church — Eastside)

 

7:45-9:00 a.m. Check In

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Morning Sessions with John Mark Comer and Todd Hall

12:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch

 

1:30-3:00 p.m. Breakouts

3:00-6:30 p.m. Dinner

6:30-8:30 p.m. Evening Session with Rich Villodas

Wednesday 9/11

Conference Day Two

(Online or in-person at Bridgetown Church — Eastside)

 

8:15 a.m. Doors Open

9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Morning Sessions

12:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch

 

1:30-4:00 p.m. Afternoon Sessions

4:00 p.m. Conference Concludes

 Tickets

 

Watch Gatherings

$300

Participate with your church leadership team.

  • One ticket allows for an unlimited number of people, at the cost of one in-person ticket.

  • Access to resources specifically made for your team as you gather.

  • Tune in live or delayed, so it works on your schedule and allows flexible space for discussion.

Get Tickets Learn more

Individual

$30

Joining by yourself or with a small team? Curious about Practicing the Way?

  • Tune in live or delayed, so it works on your schedule.

  • Explore the ancient ideas behind spiritual formation.

  • Learn practical next steps from pastors and church leaders like you.

Get Tickets

In Person

$300

Gather with pastors and church leaders from all over the world.

  • Connect with leaders from a variety of church contexts with opportunities to hear how they’re implementing spiritual formation and gather ideas.

  • Enjoy time for worship and prayer ministry in person.

  • Attend in-person events, such as Bridgetown’s evening service on September 8 and the Meet and Greet on September 9.

Get Tickets 
 Pastor’s Story

“The Pastors Conference gave me tools and excitement for what could be and what God can be continuing to do. I love how it focused on our own spiritual lives, not just our responsibility to pastor and shepherd our congregations….I was able to hear all of the stories about how people are [incorporating the Practices].”

— Ali Tsang, Living Hope Community Church in Silicon Valley, CA

You may be wondering...

  • The Pastors Conference is an annual gathering of pastors and church leaders, where you’ll hear from luminaries in spiritual formation and enjoy a refreshing space for vision, camaraderie, and exploration, both online and in person. Watch parties are designed for church leadership teams, while the individual ticket is ideal for someone whose team is not ready to participate this year, or who is new to Practicing the Way. The in person gathering is for leaders and teams who are engaged in cultivating a culture of formation and regularly developing ways to implement resources like Practicing the Way practices and courses.

  • Online | As long as you sign-up before September 11, 2024, you’ll be able to watch the livestream with your team!

    In person | We don’t have a deadline, but in-person registration is limited by available seats.

  • Should your plans change, we’re happy to issue a refund if you cancel by August 5, 2024. The online option will still be available to you even if you can't join in person.

    For any exceptions, please email hello@practicingtheway.org

  • As long as you have access to a computer or mobile phone and good internet connection, you’ll be able to view the livestream on the event’s platform. If you’re hosting a watch gathering, we suggest connecting your computer to a TV or larger screen (using an HDMI cable) for your team to view the sessions comfortably. Consider your environment. If you’re joining individually, you may want a quiet space to reflect and focus. If you’re joining as a team, you may want to sit around a large table in a meeting room, even a living room, where you can foster conversation. Bonus: have paper, pens, and snacks available.

  • If you’re a large group, such as a church leadership team, the Watch Gathering is for you! Watch Party Hosts (ie. ticket holders) will receive curated resources specifically designed for groups like yours, such as an event companion to guide you and your team through the two days conference content.These resources will not be available for individual or in person participants. We believe that growth happens in communities. Watch Parties allow you to participate together with your people and with space to pray and respond as a group.

    An individual online ticket is a great option if you are participating without a group or with a handful of fellow church leaders. If you’re new to Practicing the Way, we also suggest the individual ticket.

    You can also consider your group size. One $30 ticket covers one person. The Watch Gathering ticket is $300 (the cost of one in-person ticket) and gives you the ability to stream the conference for a group of unlimited size.

  • You will access the livestream through our Virtual Platform on September 10-11, 2024. All videos will be accessible through the Agenda page on the platform. As we get closer to the event, we’ll share more about how to download and access the platform’s app. If you can’t join us live, you’ll still be able to watch all videos through the virtual platform for up to 90 days after the conference, although please note they will not be available to download. We’ll also share a suggested delayed viewing schedule closer to the event dates, as well as provide a companion guide to help you walk through the content with your team whenever you choose to view the conference.

  • We’re so excited to gather with you online or in person. Our team will email important next steps and reminders, including any resources and links to access the event’s platform.

If you have any other questions about the conference or if it’s a good fit for you and your team, email use at hello@practicingtheway.org