The next retreat for diakonia program participants is Friday evening, May 30 and Saturday, May 31, 2008. The retreat leader is The Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Bouman, former bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod, current Executive Director of the Unit for Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Ministry of the ELCA, and Founder of the diakonia Program.

The theme of this year’s retreat is “Called to the World: Diaconal Discipleship”. Former Bishop Bouman’s premise is that discipleship is the daily encounter of the Christian with Jesus. To that premise he adds that this daily walk of the disciple with Jesus is an encounter with and through the church: baptism initiates the life of the disciple; the company of saints gathered around Word and Sacraments sustains it; the prayer of the community sustains it. Dr. Bouman will lead us on a journey of examining God’s incarnational call to people through a number of biblical narratives and show how these stories etch some marks of the daily discipleship encounter we all have with Jesus. Pr. Bouman is an engaging speaker who always brings his message with passion, love, warmth, and humor.

The closing worship service at 3:30 p.m. Saturday will include a graduation Eucharist for second-year students completing the program. The students’ pastors and instructors are invited to this service. Pastors are invited to vest. The color will be red.

Registration materials are being mailed to students the first week of April and include information on fees, schedule and hotels as well as graduation information for second-year students. Questions should be directed to the site managers.