Missouri District

Pastors' Conference

"The Church in a Virtual Age"

Oct 23–25, 2022
Margaritaville Lake Resort, Osage Beach

Speakers:

Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Concordia Seminary
Rev. Dr. Richard Serina, Commission on Theology and Church Relations

Drs. Biermann and Serina will discuss Lutheran ecclesiology in light of the challenges of online religion. 

The Church in a Virtual Age

The 2022 Missouri District Pastors Conference will be a time of encouragement and refreshment from the Word of God and the mutual consolation and conversation of the brethren.  This year’s conference theme is Lutheran ecclesiology in light of the challenges of online religion.

Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann, Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Rev. Dr. Richard Serina, Associate Executive Director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, discuss Lutheran ecclesiology in the light of the challenges of online religion.

We hope you are able to join us for this time together!

The Divine Service will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lake Ozark on Sunday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m.  No evening program has been planned.

The conference will begin on Monday morning, October 24 and conclude shortly after noon on Tuesday, October 25.

General Information

• The Pastors’ Conference begins on Sunday, October 23 with Divine Service at Christ the King – Lake Ozark. An Ice Cream Social sponsored by Lutheran Church Extension Fund will follow worship at Christ the King.
• Registration will be open in the hotel lobby on Sunday afternoon from 4:00-6:00 p.m., Sunday evening from 8:00-9:30 p.m., and Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.
• Exhibits will be open from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 24 and 8:00-10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25.

Registration

The registration fee covers program, Monday lunch and break refreshments.

• All participants: $ 110.00
• Emeritus, Vicars, and Guests: $55

The deadline to register for the conference is Monday, October 10, 2022.  If paying by check, all fees must be paid in full prior to the conference.

Housing is not included in the conference registration fee.  Rooms at a discounted price are available below – see “Lodging Information”.

Cancellations

A full refund of the registration will be given if cancelled prior to October 10, 2022.  After October 10, 2022, no refunds will be given, as final numbers will have been given to the hotel.

LCEF Gift Card Giveaway 

 All conference registrants are eligible to register for a $100 Gift Card.  2 Cards will be given away at the conference!

Lodging Information

Housing is not included in the conference registration.  A block of rooms has been reserved at Margaritaville Lake Resort (formerly Tan-Tar-A) in Osage Beach at a discounted rate starting at $129.00 per night (plus tax).

Hotel reservation deadline:  Sunday, September 25, 2022.

Reservations can also be made by phone: 800-826-8272, with group code: LCMS.

When checking in at the hotel, remember to bring your tax exempt letter and pay either with a church credit card or church check, to avoid the state sales tax.   Personal credit cards will not receive this exemption.  Local taxes still apply. Reservations are from 4:00 p.m. the day of arrival until 11:00 a.m. the day of departure.

Excused Absences

Participation is strongly encouraged at this conference.  If you cannot attend, please submit a request for an excused absence.  Excused Absences may be emailed to: events@mo.lcms.org, or by mail:

Missouri District Pastors’ Conference
Attn.: Sue Thompson
660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, Suite 100
St. Louis, MO  63141-8557

Exhibit Space

Interested in tabling/exhibiting? Email Sue Thompson at events@mo.lcms.org .

Speakers Featured

Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann

Joel Biermann is the Waldemar A. and June Schuette Professor of Systematic Theology.

A Concordia Seminary, St. Louis faculty member since 2002, Biermann teaches doctrinal theology with a special interest and emphasis centered on ethics and the correct role of the Law in the life of the believer.  Outside of his Seminary responsibilities, Biermann serves as a frequent speaker at various gatherings of the church at many levels and has helped produce material for congregational small group Bible studies.  He has authored three books: Courageous Fathers of the Bible; A Case for Character; and Wholly Citizens.  Biermann and his wife, Jeannalee, have three adult children; Jasmine, Justine, and Jess, and ten grandchildren.

Rev. Dr. Richard Serina

Rev. Dr. Richard J. Serina, Jr., is associate executive director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. Serina came to the CTCR in 2020 from Ringwood, N.J., where he had served since February 2015 as pastor of Christ the King Lutheran Church (New Jersey District).

Prior to New Jersey, Serina completed his doctorate in Reformation Studies at Concordia Seminary-St. Louis, with a dissertation on ecclesiology and church reform in the sermons of Nicholas of Cusa. While at Concordia, he was guest professor of Historical Theology and fellow of the Center for Reformation Research (2013–2015). Additionally, he edits book reviews for the journal LOGIA, has edited two books (one on the 1519 Leipzig Debate, the other on Lutheran ecclesiology), and has published numerous articles and given various papers on the late Middle Ages and the Reformation. A native of Tampa, FL, Serina colloquized into the ministerium of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in 2004, and subsequently served congregations in urban Dallas (Zion-Dallas, 2004–2006) and rural West Texas (Trinity-Albany, 2006–2010).

Serina is married to his wife of 16 years, Christina née Cavanaugh of Houston, Texas. Christina is a registered nurse who now homeschools their five young children, ages 13 to 2: Richard John, Emma Jane, Brendan Nikolas, Cosette Marie and James Cavanaugh. The Serinas reside in Green Park and worship at Hope Lutheran.