Life in the Spirit Conference: Communion with the Saints
October 1 - 4
Thursday 7 PM - Opening Evensong. Events and sessions run all day Friday and Satuday.
Cost for Adults: $85.00, Early Bird Price
The Cloud of Witnesses
When the Lord Jesus was transfigure on the mountaintop, Peter, James, and John beheld two members within the cloud of witnesses. Moses and Elijah appeared, illumined from the light our Lord's face. They conversed with him, giving him information about his impending exodus from the world (Luke 9:28-36). The author of Hebrews, in recounting the many heroes of the faith, concludes that litany of saints by say, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight... looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," (Heb. 12:1-2). Anglican theologians have long held to the "advocation of the saints." Make plans this year to attend the Life in the Spirit Conference: Communion with the Saints to learn more.
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Dr. Gerald McDermott is the keynote speaker who will be addressing the conference in the various plenary sessions. Topics will cover the Church's teaching about the Communion of the Saints. He will also be speaking on the panel during the Sunday morning Q/A, and preaching during the Sunday morning Eucharist.
Dr. McDermott is an Anglican priest (REC) and theologian who teaches at Jerusalem Seminary and Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia. He is the author, co-author, or editor of 25 books and hundreds of articles. His books on Anglicanism are The Future of Orthodox Anglicanism (Crossway, 2020) and Deep Anglicanism (Nashotah House Press, 2024). His magnum opus appeared in 2024 as A New History of Redemption (Baker Academic). He and his wife Jean live in Charlottesville and have three sons and fourteen grandchildren.
Dr. Isaacs holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Berkeley, California, a Master of Divinity Degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, with further training in Anglican Studies at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. He is trained in providing individual Spiritual Direction as well as in leading both individual and group Ignatian Spiritual Retreats.
He maintains a private psychotherapy practice while also directing the Anam Cara Apostolate. He was rector of St. David's Anglican Church in San Rafael, California from 1995 to 2024. He has taught courses on exorcism and evil at Golden Gate Theological Seminary, San Francisco Theological Seminary, and lectured at Biola University. Dr. Issacs is one of the professors with the Society of St. Michael.
He is the author of numerous books and articles, including: A Study in Dream Interpretation, The Seeker's Guide to Psychotherapy and Spiritual Formation, and Wolves Among the Sheep: Protecting Your Church From Violence.
The Venerable Michael J. McKinnon was born and raised in New England. He holds degrees and certificates from Central Connecticut State University, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Yale University, Nashotah House Seminary in 1997, and Trinity School for Ministry.Fr. Michael was ordained a Deacon in 1995, Priest in 1996 by the same. His podcast, Anglican Studies Institute, continues to garner listeners.
He describes himself as an “evangelical Catholic” fully committed to “The Anglican Way”—restoring the Church to the Faith and Order of the ancient Catholic Church under the authority and primacy of Holy Scripture. His ministry emphasizes sacramental and biblical worship, evangelism, discipleship, outreach, mission, and church planting.
He is the current Rector and founder of The Church of the Advent in Southern Pines, NC. Church of the Advent is in the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word.
The Rev. Dean Schultz is an Anglican priest. He was raised in the Lutheran Church, and later he experienced a life-transforming personal conversion to Jesus Christ in 1976 which led him to transition from his career as a business entrepreneur into vocational Christian ministry. He was ordained as a priest in 2003.
Since 1980 his ministry has included serving on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ, conference speaker, psalmist at churches, and on pastoral staff for churches. He currently leadsWorship Equippers for Christ, a missions ministry he founded in 1996, and serves as priest-in-charge for Christ the Redeemer, and as Minister of Music for Cathedral Church of the Ascension.
Mother Miriam is the Mother Superior for the Community of St. Mary, Eastern Province. The Community of St. Mary is the first Anglican religious Order in the United States, founded in 1865.
Benedictine in ethos, the Sisters of the Community seek to live a traditional, contemplative expression of the monastic life, giving Evangelical witness to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through Catholic faith and practice, empowered by the Holy Spirit in sanctified daily life.
The Province is comprised by two houses -- in Greenwich, NY, and Luwinga, Malawi, Africa.
Dr. Robert Willis is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. He has served as an evangelist and as a pastor for almost 30 years. He has his Doctor of Ministry in spiritual formation with a specific focus on helping Pastors differentiate between mental illness and demonization.
Among his regular pastoral responsibilities, he currently serves on staff at the Link Church in Arkansas, produces the podcast "The Deliverance Dialogues," and teaches as an adjunct professor for the Assemblies of God Theological Seminar.
Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy; for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, 2019, Pg. 640)