Rural Ministry Conference

Leaders and Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gil Waldkoenig has been professor of Church in Society and Director of the Town and Country Church Institute (TCCI) at United Lutheran Seminary and its predecessor school in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, since 1995. His book Symbiotic Community featured the work of Wartburg Seminary graduate Rev. Elwin W. Mueller who was Secretary of Town and Country Ministry for the National Lutheran Council in the mid-20th Century. Gil co-authored a book on multiple-church ministries and wrote many articles on topics ranging from rural and Appalachian ministries to ecological theology. Gil and spouse Amy have two adult children and belong to St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. In 2017-2019, Gil served as Director for Evangelical Mission in the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to complement his teaching in rural and Appalachian ministries.

Soundscapes of Grace in Creation and Ministry

The gospel we speak and enact in ministry echoes in God’s good creation. By means of grace given by Christ, we join God’s creative song, harmonizing with ecological communities of God’s making. But noise mars perception, inhibits listening, and confuses us. Noise is a huge problem for Lutherans and other Christians who believe that “faith comes from what is heard” (Romans 10:17).

Naturalists have recently been listening intently and recording soundscapes, racing before species depletion and habitat loss silence many voices. Soundscapes can teach us about sorting sound life from noise. Traditions of music and story also belong to soundscapes. Traditional music and storytelling foster listening and harmony in place. Some ecologists now recognize traditional music and story to be cultural environmentalism.

Our presenter aims to encourage those who preach, teach and sing the good news of Jesus Christ that the means of grace resonate in soundscapes of God’s creation. Despite noise and harm to God’s creation, God’s grace resounds with God’s good intent in all creation. There are biblical auditions of God’s persistent grace in place, and Lutheran theology of Christ’s presence in creation invites joyful listening. Our presenter will share his roots in Appalachian music and soundscapes, hoping to inspire you to sing and tell the gospel, and to listen for its resonance, in the places God has called you.

The presenter on SUNDAY NIGHT will describe soundscapes of grace and how ministry is embedded in creation. The presentation on MONDAY MORNING will describe resonance of gospel and soundscape in Appalachia as an example. In BREAKOUT SESSIONS, Gil will share Appalachian music to further illustrate what he introduced in the keynote talks, and to welcome conversation about listening, singing and telling the gospel in your own context.

Keynote Speaker: Dr Heather Major,

Lecturer in Hebrew Language at Highland Theological College, University of Highlands and Islands, Scotland, and Vice-chair of the International Rural Churches Association. 

More information on Dr. Major’s presentation will be forthcoming.