Soon it will be a month since the ICOC Teachers Service Team held their landmark international teaching ministry conference, entitled Conversations. Since then, the entire world as changed, and we've lurched into varying levels of quarantines and lockdowns as the reality of the Coronavirus pandemic has sunk in. Against this backdrop, it's refreshing to read Katy Fisk's reflections on that Teaching Conference. There will be new beginnings. Our hope is right, worth everything it costs, and unwavering. You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.... (Psalm 65:5)

This conference was the best I have experienced in my discipleship. Please forgive me for the following dramatic statements. I felt like I was able to witness almost a “new beginning.” This was the first time I walked away with a real hope for our movement. Over the last 8 years, I have become more and more afraid of what kind of church my children will be born into - and theirs afterwards. But in this conference, I felt us wrestling together to address the pervasive concerns that surfaced long before the “the letter,” and new ones that have since emerged. I was so impressed by the humility that was mirrored across the board, as we sought to learn from our COC predecessors, and other denominations along side us. I feel that our generation has been crying out for something like this. We’ve been asking to re-examine our approach, and we have been asking to be listened to. I didn't realize until this conference that the real question we have been begging is - "Can we please re-examine our theology?!" I heard the voice of our generation spoken, respected, and listened to. I heard the voices of every generation coming together to seek unity in our mission.

What gave me the most hope for our movement was the willingness to engage in controversial topics and the willingness to wrestle with uncomfortable opposition. I feel that we began exploring our own theological pitfalls, and the need to dig deeper. Our theological framework was challenged, and rightly so. And our response was humbly inviting and engaged. I appreciated the desire to be completely honest and authentic about both our movement, and ourselves. The teachers exemplified a thirst to learn, no matter the source. I was deeply moved by the exemplary gentleness, love, and respect of our leaders and invitees. It was nothing short of Christ-like. 

In the end, I think we all walked away more consumed with Christ than about who is right. -- Katy Fisk