Registration opens for campus-ministry conference

Registration is open now through Nov. 1 for “TABOO,” the 2015 National LCMS Campus Ministry conference, which is set for Jan. 5-7 at Saint Louis University in midtown St. Louis.

“TABOO has to do with things that are forbidden, prohibited or ‘off-limits’ for discussion,” said the Rev. Marcus Zill, director of LCMS Campus Ministry and LCMS U and organizer of the event.

He said the theme comes from the “tough” issues facing college students today, such as gay marriage, polyamory and pornography, which are becoming increasingly accepted by society. Webster defines polyamory as “the philosophy or state of being in love or romantically involved with more than one person at the same time.”

“The only thing, it seems, that is taboo anymore is whether or not we as the Church believe we have anything to say about this,” Zill continued. “But we do! We have been given God’s incredible gift of marriage. It is a gift to be cherished, promoted and defended. Even more, our college students and young adults need to be strengthened as they seek a godly spouse and struggle with these issues on a personal level and with those around them.

“We at our nation’s campuses are on the front lines in a cultural battle in which the world is seeking to redefine marriage and sexuality.”

The conference is geared toward college students, but is open to anyone interested in campus ministry in the Synod, particularly those involved in campus ministries.

The three-day conference will include plenary presentations, sectionals on a wide variety of topics of interest to college students, worship and time for fellowship. Scheduled plenary speakers are:

the Rev. Tom Eckstein, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown, N.D., and author of Bearing Their Burden: Speaking the Truth in Love to People Burdened by Homosexuality;

the Rev. Dr. Peter Scaer, associate professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and

the Rev. Roger Sonnenberg, pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arcadia, Calif., and first vice-president of the LCMS Pacific Southwest District.

All three men serve on the LCMS God’s Gift of Sexuality Task Force.

The conference registration fee is $190 per person. This includes everything related to the conference program and activities, lunch Jan. 5–6 and three nights at the conference hotel Jan. 4–6 (based on quad occupancy). Rates for those who would prefer other occupancy arrangements are provided on the registration page.

TABOO follows ‘UNWRAPPED,’ the LCMS campus-ministry conference in January 2013, which drew more than 400 college students and campus-ministry workers from around the country.

Click here lcms.org/events/taboo for more information or to register for TABOO.

Posted Sept. 19, 2014