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2025 Convocation of the Cross Annual Conference
"Pastoral Care: Battling Doubt, Despair, and Desperation"

February 3-4, 2025

More than 1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness and 1 in 25 adults live with a serious mental health condition. While mental health is discussed more often today, that doesn’t mean the problem is new. Martin Luther’s Letters of Spiritual Consolation cover many issues like anxiety and depression with his family and friends, as well as addressing the spiritual aspects of these struggles. What is the role of the church in the mental health concerns of the people we care for? How does our own mental health as pastors and leaders fit into the equation. Join us for Augustana District’s annual Convocation of the Cross entitled Pastoral Care: Battling Doubt, Despair and Desperation as Dr. John Pless and Pastor Randy Freund present on these topics.

Guest Speakers

Rev. John T. Pless, M.Div. D. Litt
He is an assistant professor of pastoral ministry and missions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, where he serves as field education director and editor of For the Life of the World.

Pastor Randy FreundPastor Randy Freund
Current LCMC Board of Trustee, past Augustana District Coordinator, and pastor. He has been a leader in navigating church conflict and creative ministry.

With additional panel participation from Pastor Nathan Hanson, Bob Bogue, and Gretchen Nassen.

Agenda

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

As you arrive you are invited to gather in the atrium for a free happy hour and then move to the in-house restaurant for a group dinner (not included in the registration fee) at 6:30 PM.

Please let us know at registration if you plan to attend the group dinner on Sunday and/or Monday evening so we can give the restaurant a head count.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3
9:00 AM – Welcome and Opening Worship
10:00 AM – AD Update
10:30 AM – Break
11:00 AM – Session 1: Pr. John Pless
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:30 PM – Session 2: Pr. John Pless
2:30 PM – Q & A
2:45 PM – Break
3:00 PM – Panel Discussion
4:00 PM – Closing

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4
9:00 AM  – Opening Prayer and Announcements
9:15 AM – Session 3 Pr. Randy Freund
10:15 AM – Q & A
10:30 AM – Closing Worship and Sending

Registration Details

Registration Fee's

Accommodations

You are welcome to stay at any hotel you would like. If you wish to stay onsite at the Embassy Suites the AD has reserved a block of rooms for $144 per night that will be held until midnight January 12, 2025.

You can make your reservation online at
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/augustanadistrictconference25/

Or call 800-317-8143 and state that you are with the Augustana District conference room block and give them the group code 90Z.

Hotel Address:
Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport
7901 34th Ave. S.
Bloomington, MN 55425

Get Registered

To partake in the Monday luncheon,
please register on or
before
January 20, 2025.

Registration Opening Soon

Event Registration
Refund Policy

Before January 7th = 100%
January 7th - 21st = 50%
After January21st= 0%

Questions?
Phone: 320.234.8403 -or-
Email: [email protected]

Click to access the login or register cheese

Contact The Augustana District Office

Or call us at 320.234.8403 or email us at [email protected]

Vendor Policy

The Augustana District is pleased to partner with you in bringing awareness of your organization or cause to attendees at this event. Out of respect for today’s organizers, your fellow vendors, and all those who will be in attendance, please be aware of the following:

  1. In order to register a vendor booth at this event, you are required to be in agreement with both the LCMC and Augustana District Statements of Faith. Further, you must also have a working relationship with a current LCMC pastor or congregation.
    • Vendor booths at the annual Theological Conference or the Annual Meeting shall be limited to individuals and organizations with a theological aim or purpose, including, but not limited to seminaries and publishing houses.
  2. Each individual who will be working at your booth must also be fully registered for the event itself.
  3. Vendors understand that tables and chairs will be provided for your booth, but the use of nails or thumb tacks in securing promotional materials will not be allowed. Please respect the spaces we are using by leaving your area in the same state you found it in.
  4. There will be no time given during this event for a vendor to address (either formally or informally) the assembly as a whole.
  5. The Augustana District (or any employee of) is NOT responsible for vendor merchandise (including merchandise that is shipped to the venue for use at the event) or liable for any loss by damage or theft sustained during the event.

Please note: the Augustana District staff reserves the right to limit vendor registrations at each event based on space restrictions or incongruity of sharing the Augustana District mission.

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