2026 Conference
September 14-15, 2026
Zion Lutheran Church
121 2nd St. S.
Ellendale, ND 58436
The Response of the Church in a Time of Disease
When faced with plague and pestilence, how should the Church respond? Is it right to stay, or do we have an obligation to flee? How have Christians acted in the past? Do we have anything to learn from our recent experiences? Do we need to do something different in the future?
2026 Conference
September 14-15, 2026
Monday, September 14
1:00 Arrival and Check In
1:30 Keynote #1: Rev. Dr. John Stephenson – The Response of the Church in a Time of Disease
2:20 Questions
2:30 Break
2:45 Paper #1: Rev. Dr. James May – Disease and Pestilence in African Churches
3:30 Questions
3:40 Break
3:55 Keynote #2: Rev. Dr. John Stephenson – The Response of the Church in a Time of Disease
4:45 Questions
4:55 Transition to Sanctuary
5:00 Vespers
5:45 Supper
6:45 Gemütlichkeit
Tuesday, September 15
8:30 Matins
9:15 Keynote #3: Rev. Dr. John Stephenson – The Response of the Church in a Time of Disease
10:05 Questions
10:15 Break
10:30 Paper #2: Rev. Karl Hess – The Church, the State, and Public Worship in Times of Emergency: Twenty-Five Theses
11:15 Questions
11:25 Lunch
12:25 Paper #3: Rev. Zelwyn Heide – God and Germs: A Brief Historical Survey of Christian Reactions to Disease
1:10 Questions
1:20 Break
1:30 Keynote #4: Rev. Dr. John Stephenson – The Response of the Church in a Time of Disease
2:20 Questions
2:30 Break
2:45 Paper #4: Rev. John Koopman – Touched by an Angel of Pestilence: God’s Clarion Call
3:30 Questions
3:40 Break
3:50 Roundtable Discussion
4:50 Itinerarium