Name: Discovering Renewal
Start: 2020-04-13
End: 2020-04-16
Location: Montreat Conference Center

Event Leadership

Brian McLaren – Track Leader (Fly Fishing)

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. McLaren is the author of numerous books, including the award-winning A New Kind of Christianity, We Make the Road by Walking and The Great Spiritual Migration. A popular conference speaker and a frequent guest lecturer for denominational and ecumenical leadership gatherings, his public speaking covers a broad range of topics including postmodern thought and culture, Biblical studies, church leadership and spiritual formation, pastoral survival and burnout, inter-religious dialogue, and global crises.

Aram Mitchell – Track Leader (Intentional Hiking)

Aram is a Registered Maine Guide and Wilderness First Responder with an MA in religious studies from Chicago Theological Seminary. He's backpacked across Scotland, walked a pilgrimage in Spain, practiced yoga in Costa Rica, and has guided wilderness trips and urban walks of various durations for people of many ages, genders, and dispositions in 11 different states and a couple of Canadian provinces. Now Aram spends his days as the executive director of Renewal in the Wilderness devising ways to bring the wisdom of wilderness and regular rhythms of renewal into the lives of care providers, justice workers, and faith leaders.

Sign up for one specific activity track. Each day will begin with a devotion led by Brian McLaren and a challenge to use your chosen activity to find peace and renewal and to reflect on how to bring this back to your daily life. Fill in your free time in whatever way you feel led. Come to be renewed and enjoy free time to think, pray, read, sleep, or just relax.

Fly Fishing
Western North Carolina has some of the best fly fishing on the east coast. Participants will spend half days at four rivers, all within an hour of Montreat. Guides and gear are not provided. Led by Brian McLaren

Yoga
Join a local yoga instructor for two hour-long sessions at Montreat. Use the rest of your time for leisure or recharging. Leader TBA

Intentional Hiking
Walking as a spiritual practice is less about using your path for the sake of transportation and more about engaging the trail for ongoing transformation. Each day of this track we will spend time immersed among the elements of wild nature that make themselves known on forest trails. With the wisdom of select poets and naturalists to guide us, we will trek and converse, exploring how to engage as participants in a community of wildness. With our senses in tune with the elements, we will saunter and reflect, exploring what it means to pray with our feet. Led by Aram Mitchell

Program Fee

The program fee covers the cost of the conference plus a $3 community services fee per person for public services provided by the Town and the fire district. This rate DOES NOT include room or meals.

On or before March 2: $118
After March 2: $143

Details on housing, meal, and program packages is forthcoming. Check back for details.

Contact the Registrar

If you have any questions about the registration process, please email the registrar at SusanA@montreat.org or call 828.419.9829.

Refund Policy

Cancellations must be received by March 2 in order to receive a full refund less a $25 service charge. Cancellations received after March 2, but on or before April 6 will receive a 50% refund of the conference fee and payments made toward room and meal charges (if applicable), less $40. No refunds will be issued after April 6. All requests must be made in writing and received via email, fax, or U.S. mail.

Discovering Renewal

Finding Renewal in the Everyday

April 13–16, 2020