Wee Kirk Conference 2026

Tracks

Barnabas Track | Beyond Sunday (begins Sunday after dinner), Led by Rev. Anne Russ

Pew Research shows that even regular church attenders average worship attendance only twice a month—and those are the committed folks. So how do we stay connected the rest of the time? Beyond Sunday explores practical ways to build meaningful connections with your congregation and community both in person and online. We’ll share simple strategies, creative ideas, and easy-to-use tools to help your church stay present, connected and visible all week long.

Creative Worship Track | Exploring Worship that's Welcoming! (begins Monday at 3 pm), Led by Rev. Burns Stanfield

Rev. Burns Stanfield will facilitate an exploration of worship as a way to engage hearts, build community, and practice faithful living. Two of our key tools for the workshop: stories and music.  Drawing on personal and biblical stories, participants will learn about breathing new life into traditional liturgy and return to their congregations with creative ideas for crafting worship that is welcoming for all. We will explore music, liturgy, and testimony. With his unique gift for creating space for “all God’s people in the choir," Burns will help us draw on the God-given talents assembled in our workshop community.

Spiritual Formation Track | Christ's Image in You: A Holy Spirit Understanding of the Enneagram (begins Monday 9 am and a Sunday night arrival is suggested), Led by Rev. Dr. Martha Friz Langer and Sherri Harding

We are often driven and motivated by the powerful forces of anger, shame and fear. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, can transform and re-create us into God's original plan, restoring the image of God. This restoration exchanges previous motivating factors into the fruit of the Spirit. Using the ancient tool of the enneagram, we will explore how each of the nine personality types can mirror the Image of Christ to the world. Come and learn more about yourself, how you were created by God and your unique place in the Kingdom as we explore Christ's Image in You using the enneagram.

Biblical Track | Practical Hermeneutics for Small Church Revitalization (begins Monday 9 am and a Sunday night arrival is suggested), led by Rachael Brooks

Would you like to revitalize your church with some new ideas for preaching and teaching? Are you a small church who would like to increase your congregation’s shared scriptural understanding without breaking the budget or taxing your already busy volunteers? Practical Hermeneutics will give you new tools and ideas to re-energize your multi-generational congregation’s worship, education and mission. This interactive group study will provide you with a systematic method for the shared interpretation of scripture. It will provide you with ideas for creating your own narrative lectionary, developing evangelism, and coordinating children’s programs.

Leadership Track |  Abundance of Wisdom: Celebrating the Legacy of Older Adults (begins Monday 9 am and a Sunday night arrival is suggested), Led by Rev. Dr. George B. Thompson Jr. and Rev. Dr. Beverly A. Thompson 

Age is not a barrier to faith! In a world that is often filled with more struggle than joy, older adults carry an abundance of wisdom that lingers deep in their hearts. In this track, we will look more deeply at ways in which congregations can draw out, claim, and celebrate the faith gifts in our older adults.

Missional Track| Compassion in Action, Led by Dave Henry and Rainey Ratchford

Mission (n.): the compassionate sharing of the grace of God through relationship, evangelism, teaching, construction, medical care, humble listening, and more

In this year’s Missional Track, we will:

• search out the scriptural foundations for why, where, and how we engage in missional living;
•  discover approaches to developing kinship relationships (enabling in the right way);
•  learn why and how to discern the needs of those we seek to help, and to discern how our ministry can fit within their culture;
• strengthen skill sets that lead to missional living;
• identify assets for your congregation’s mission plan;
• foster a community of learning from each other.

Are you ready for an adventure?

Retreat Track

Many people come to Montreat’s Wee Kirk Conference simply to enjoy the fellowship of other believers in the beauty of Montreat. To encourage this, we have created a special “retreat track” that includes all the worship and plenary presentations with abundant time for prayer, recreation, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.

Rates & Registration

Registrations for congregations with fewer than 100 are subsidized through our restricted scholarship funds.

Full or partial scholarships are available. For more information on available scholarships and to fill out an application, please visit this page.

Conference Fees
(includes double occupancy housing at the Assembly Inn for Monday and Tuesday nights and meals Monday supper - Wednesday lunch)

*A maximum of 6 persons, including clergy and spouse, from any one congregation may attend at the reduced rates. Additional persons will pay $380 each.

*The Spiritual Formation track and the Leadership Track are an additional $100 per couple or $50 for an individual if you choose to begin your stay at the Inn on Sunday night. This amount also includes meals for breakfast and lunch on Monday. Dinner on Sunday is not included with this option but may be added for $18. If you plan to arrive at 9 am Monday morning, there is no additional charge, but you will not be able to check into your room until 3 pm on Monday. Note: apply for a scholarship if this presents a financial difficulty for you.

Barnabas Track Additional Fees
All Barnabas Track participants are housed at the William Black Lodge

The Barnabas Track begins on Sunday afternoon, and includes a Sunday night stay, Sunday dinner, and Monday breakfast and lunch.  It an additional fee on top of the main conference registration fee:

The additional charges (for Sunday arrivals) will be added when our registrar processes your registration. Be sure to indicate your arrival date.

Cancellation Policy

Questions?

Questions about registration? Email the registrar, Justin Kyremes-Parks at justinkp@montreat.org.

Schedules

All Schedules are tentative and subject to change.

Schedule for Barnabas Track*

*William Black Lodge (Chapel and dining room except where noted)

Schedules for Biblical, Leadership and Spiritual Formation Tracks

Schedules for the Creative Worship and Missional Tracks

Schedule for Retreat Track

Planning Team Members

• Tracy Taylor Bailey, Montreat, NC
• William Dunfee, Belpre, OH
• Martha Friz‑Langer, Huntingburg, IN
• John Gartrell, Raleigh, NC
• Mary Overstreet, Knoxville, TN
• Rainey Ratchford, Sugar Grove, NC
• Audrey Reese, Westminster, SC