2024 New Geneva Academy Shepherds Conference
UNITY
Fighting Schism for the Good of the Church
Indianapolis, IN
Clearnote Church
Thursday, October 3, 2024
UNITY
Fighting Schism for the Good of the Church
Indianapolis, IN
Clearnote Church
Thursday, October 3, 2024
The annual New Geneva Academy Shepherds Conference exists to strengthen church officers and their wives, NGA's students, as well as other lay leaders, both men and women, with a heart for Christ's sheep.
Unity is God’s work, but He has also made it our work. Christians are called to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). And pastors have a special responsibility here. We guard against those who break unity. We cultivate peace and love within our own congregations. In this year’s conference we’ll talk about how to do this wisely and well. Join us for a restorative time of teaching, fellowship, food, and worship.
In addition to the plenary sessions, we'll have several different breakout sessions, including one for wives on Thursday morning.
October 3 at Clearnote Church, Indianapolis, IN, presented by New Geneva Academy. All attendees are warmly invited to Evangel Presbytery's Fall Stated Meeting on Friday, October 4.
There will also be a time of informal fellowship beginning at 5:30 on Wednesday, October 2 (attendees will receive more information when they register).
Unity is God’s work, but He has also made it our work. Christians are called to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). And pastors have a special responsibility here. We guard against those who break unity. We cultivate peace and love within our own congregations. In this year’s conference we’ll talk about how to do this wisely and well. Join us for a restorative time of teaching, fellowship, food, and worship.
In addition to the plenary sessions, we'll have several different breakout sessions, including one for wives on Thursday morning.
October 3 at Clearnote Church, Indianapolis, IN, presented by New Geneva Academy. All attendees are warmly invited to Evangel Presbytery's Fall Stated Meeting on Friday, October 4.
There will also be a time of informal fellowship beginning at 5:30 on Wednesday, October 2 (attendees will receive more information when they register).
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
PLENARY SESSION 1 | JUDE: DEALING WITH THOSE WHO DIVIDE
Rev. Jeremy Vander Galien
Jude spends more than half his short book warning against those who follow "the way of Cain," sowing discord among brothers. How do pastors guard their congregations against these men? And given our own divisive hearts, how do we keep ourselves from the sin of schism?
BREAKOUT | UNITY AMONG CHURCHES: HOW TO KILL IT AND HOW TO BUILD IT
Rev. Alex McNeilly
It’s a lot of work maintaining and building unity within our own church. Is it really worth the extra effort to strive for unity with other churches too? Yes! Find out how unity can be fostered among churches, and why it’s so important.
BREAKOUT | NON-ESSENTIALS THAT DIVIDE
Rev. Stephen Baker
From the beginning, the Church has been prone to factions that have often formed around secondary doctrinal questions. Issues like baptism, eschatology, church government, worship, and church-state relations have caused unneeded division. How can we hold our personal doctrinal opinions on secondary questions while still seeking to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
BREAKOUT | THE UNITY OF HUMILITY
Rev. Tim Bayly
We pastors are proud. After all, we preach God’s Word and care for immortal souls. No one can say we aren’t very important men. But pride destroys. It sets men against each other. Instead of loving one another, we compete, and this obstructs the pastoral fellowship and co-laboring necessary for fulfilling our calling.
Humility is the antidote, but do we want it? And if so, how do we get it? Do we really have to listen to our wives?
PLENARY SESSION 2 | JUDE: BUILDING UNITY
Rev. Jeremy Vander Galien
Jude teaches us practical ways to build unity while fighting divisiveness. How are pastors called to strengthen their congregations in faith and love? What encouragement does God give us in this difficult work?
WOMEN'S BREAKOUT | FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS: HOW WOMEN CAN SOW SEEDS OF PEACE IN THE CHURCH
Mrs. Annie Curell
Women are uniquely equipped to either foster or destroy unity in a church. They should use their relational superpowers for good, but the temptations to be divisive are many. This session will encourage women to be on guard against divisiveness and use their relationships to strengthen the peace of the church.
PLENARY SESSION 1 | JUDE: DEALING WITH THOSE WHO DIVIDE
Rev. Jeremy Vander Galien
Jude spends more than half his short book warning against those who follow "the way of Cain," sowing discord among brothers. How do pastors guard their congregations against these men? And given our own divisive hearts, how do we keep ourselves from the sin of schism?
BREAKOUT | UNITY AMONG CHURCHES: HOW TO KILL IT AND HOW TO BUILD IT
Rev. Alex McNeilly
It’s a lot of work maintaining and building unity within our own church. Is it really worth the extra effort to strive for unity with other churches too? Yes! Find out how unity can be fostered among churches, and why it’s so important.
BREAKOUT | NON-ESSENTIALS THAT DIVIDE
Rev. Stephen Baker
From the beginning, the Church has been prone to factions that have often formed around secondary doctrinal questions. Issues like baptism, eschatology, church government, worship, and church-state relations have caused unneeded division. How can we hold our personal doctrinal opinions on secondary questions while still seeking to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
BREAKOUT | THE UNITY OF HUMILITY
Rev. Tim Bayly
We pastors are proud. After all, we preach God’s Word and care for immortal souls. No one can say we aren’t very important men. But pride destroys. It sets men against each other. Instead of loving one another, we compete, and this obstructs the pastoral fellowship and co-laboring necessary for fulfilling our calling.
Humility is the antidote, but do we want it? And if so, how do we get it? Do we really have to listen to our wives?
PLENARY SESSION 2 | JUDE: BUILDING UNITY
Rev. Jeremy Vander Galien
Jude teaches us practical ways to build unity while fighting divisiveness. How are pastors called to strengthen their congregations in faith and love? What encouragement does God give us in this difficult work?
WOMEN'S BREAKOUT | FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS: HOW WOMEN CAN SOW SEEDS OF PEACE IN THE CHURCH
Mrs. Annie Curell
Women are uniquely equipped to either foster or destroy unity in a church. They should use their relational superpowers for good, but the temptations to be divisive are many. This session will encourage women to be on guard against divisiveness and use their relationships to strengthen the peace of the church.
SPEAKER BIOS
Rev. Jeremy Vander Galien
Jeremy has been the senior pastor at Pine Grove Community Church in Rhinelander, WI, since 2015. He co-founded Armis Dei Academy, a Christian classical school, in 2021. He’s been married to Mandi since 2000, and they have eight children and four grandchildren.
Jeremy has been the senior pastor at Pine Grove Community Church in Rhinelander, WI, since 2015. He co-founded Armis Dei Academy, a Christian classical school, in 2021. He’s been married to Mandi since 2000, and they have eight children and four grandchildren.
Rev. Stephen Baker
Stephen Baker has served as the dean and lead instructor of New Geneva Academy since 2005. He has been an associate pastor of Trinity Reformed Church since 2003. Stephen is married to Sebra, and they have six sons and nine grandchildren.
Stephen Baker has served as the dean and lead instructor of New Geneva Academy since 2005. He has been an associate pastor of Trinity Reformed Church since 2003. Stephen is married to Sebra, and they have six sons and nine grandchildren.
Rev. Tim Bayly
Tim is a member of Evangel Presbytery and formerly served as the senior pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, IN. He is the vice president of New Geneva Academy and the author of Daddy Tried, The Grace of Shame, Church Reformed, Elders Reformed, and The Helpful Marriage Book. Tim is married to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lee; they have five children, many grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Tim is a member of Evangel Presbytery and formerly served as the senior pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington, IN. He is the vice president of New Geneva Academy and the author of Daddy Tried, The Grace of Shame, Church Reformed, Elders Reformed, and The Helpful Marriage Book. Tim is married to his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lee; they have five children, many grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Rev. Alex McNeilly
Alex is an assistant pastor at Christ Church Cincinnati. Before that he was the pastor of Clearnote Campus Fellowship at Indiana University–Bloomington. He is married to Dani, with whom he is working to sustain a healthy population of redheads in southwestern Ohio.
Alex is an assistant pastor at Christ Church Cincinnati. Before that he was the pastor of Clearnote Campus Fellowship at Indiana University–Bloomington. He is married to Dani, with whom he is working to sustain a healthy population of redheads in southwestern Ohio.
Mrs. Annie Curell
Annie is married to Max, who has been an associate pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington since 2002. When she's not hosting or helping Max counsel members of the church, she enjoys listening to history or news podcasts and tending the goats, chickens, flowers, and vegetables on their small family farm. Max and Annie have three children and thirteen grandchildren.
Annie is married to Max, who has been an associate pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Bloomington since 2002. When she's not hosting or helping Max counsel members of the church, she enjoys listening to history or news podcasts and tending the goats, chickens, flowers, and vegetables on their small family farm. Max and Annie have three children and thirteen grandchildren.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, October 2
530 PM Informal time of fellowship (location and other details upon registration)
Thursday, October 3
800 AM Continental Breakfast
900 AM Plenary Session 1
1030 AM Breakout Session 1 & Women's Breakout Session
1200 PM Lunch
130 PM Breakout Session 2
300 PM Prayer
330 PM Free time; grab dinner on your own
700 PM Plenary Session 2
[Friday, October 4 | Evangel Presbytery Meeting]
830 AM Coffee & Light Breakfast
900 AM Evangel Presbytery Meeting
1200 PM Lunch
100 PM Presbytery Resumes
500 PM Presbytery Adjourns
Wednesday, October 2
530 PM Informal time of fellowship (location and other details upon registration)
Thursday, October 3
800 AM Continental Breakfast
900 AM Plenary Session 1
1030 AM Breakout Session 1 & Women's Breakout Session
1200 PM Lunch
130 PM Breakout Session 2
300 PM Prayer
330 PM Free time; grab dinner on your own
700 PM Plenary Session 2
[Friday, October 4 | Evangel Presbytery Meeting]
830 AM Coffee & Light Breakfast
900 AM Evangel Presbytery Meeting
1200 PM Lunch
100 PM Presbytery Resumes
500 PM Presbytery Adjourns
