{"id":7649,"date":"2025-01-14T14:45:10","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T21:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.johannite.org\/learn\/?p=7649"},"modified":"2025-01-14T14:45:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T21:45:15","slug":"conclave-2025-divine-union-mysticism-and-theurgy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.johannite.org\/learn\/news\/conclave-2025-divine-union-mysticism-and-theurgy\/","title":{"rendered":"Conclave 2025: Divine Union, Mysticism and Theurgy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Apostolic Johannite Church is proud to present the twenty-fifth annual AJC Conclave \u2013 May 8th \u2013 13th, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming out of the pandemic, and in a first for the Apostolic Johannite Church, we\u2019ve elected to make Conclave 2025 a hybrid event<\/strong>. Conclave will be both online and in-person, giving folks in a variety of circumstances and situations the ability to participate in whichever way is most accessible and enjoyable for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All Conclave speakers, talks and workshops will take place from Friday, May 9th to Sunday, May 11th, 2025<\/strong> \u2013 with additional activities and in-person liturgy scheduled for those who are able to attend in-person. Our speakers will be a blend of in-person and online- with in-person speakers being broadcast to our online attendees live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year our theme is Divine Union, Mysticism and Theurgy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each year the people of the AJC, friends and family gather together to socialize, learn, build our skills and deepen our community. It is an amazing opportunity for spiritual growth and insight to modern Gnostic practice. Conclave is a rich opportunity to deepen your practice, education and experience of Gnosticism and the Apostolic Johannite Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclave offers lectures, workshops and panel discussions selected to develop ministry skills, support the work of church leaders both lay and ordained and deepen and enrich the spiritual lives of attendees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, we welcome you, no matter who you are or what your spiritual path, to join us for this unique weekend. You can come for all or part and participate as much or as little as you\u2019d like. However you choose, we welcome you into our household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Guest Speakers<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Keynote<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Carl McColman \u2013 Theosis and Theurgy: Mystical Christianity as Magical Narrative <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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The Apostolic Johannite Church is thrilled to announce Carl McColman<\/strong> as our Keynote speaker, speaking on Theosis and Theurgy: Mystical Christianity as Magical Narrative.<\/strong>

Carl McColman<\/strong> is the author of numerous books exploring mystical spirituality and contemplative living, including The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism, Eternal Heart<\/em>, Answering the Contemplative Call<\/em>, An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom<\/em> and Unteachable Lessons. <\/em>His most recent book, Read the Bible Like a Mystic<\/em>, is scheduled for publication in the summer of 2025. His work is informed by a variety of spiritual perspectives, from Christian mysticism and Zen Buddhism, to Celtic wisdom, earth-centered and pagan spirituality, and Wicca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carl\u2019s formation in the spiritual life includes training with the Shalem Institute in Washington, DC; the Institute for Pastoral Studies in Atlanta (under the direction of the late John Westerhoff); and the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA; where Carl is a Life-Professed Lay Cistercian: a layperson under formal spiritual guidance with the Trappist monks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carl is a commissioned Centering Prayer presenter with Contemplative Outreach of North Georgia, and a spiritual director serving individuals both in metro Atlanta and online. He blogs at www.anamchara.com<\/a> and maintains a Substack email newsletter at www.anamchara.net<\/a>. He co-hosts the Encountering Silence<\/em> podcast with filmmaker Cassidy Hall and theologian Kevin Johnson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Carl lives with his wife, several pampered cats, and not quite enough books, near Atlanta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Dr. Juliana Eimer Memorial Lecture<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

 Dr. Shirley Paulson \u2013 The Thought of Norea: Christ\u2019s Sister Saviour <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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The Apostolic Johannite Church is excited to welcome and present Dr. Shirley Paulson<\/strong> as our Dr. Juliana Eimer Memorial Lecture presenter.She will be presenting on The Thought of Norea: Christ’s Sister Saviour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shirley Paulson, PhD is the principal producer of Early Christian Texts: The Bible and Beyond. This website includes her online teaching, blog, and podcasts highlighting the work of other scholars. Shirley\u2019s academic work focuses on early Christian texts, especially those relating to healing practices and theology. She contributed a chapter in Westar\u2019s forthcoming First Two Hundred Years After Jesus, and she is currently working on a book on The Secret Revelation of John. She currently serves on the Westar Board of Directors. Prior to this work, Shirley served as the first Head of Ecumenical Affairs for the global headquarters of the Christian Science Church and served on the Board of the North American Academy of Ecumenists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For several years, the Rev. Subdeacon Juliana Eimer, Ph.D<\/strong> was an active presenter and participant at our Conclaves- speaking on a variety of topics, from female Saints to the nature of Divinity. Her passing a mere months after Conclave 2016 was difficult for our community, and the Apostolic Johannite Church has chosen to remember her work here with us through a lecture series in her name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program of Conclave Lectures and Workshops<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In addition to our featured talks, we are also excited to bring you an engaging list of speakers and activities throughout the Conclave program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without further preamble- here are the talks and workshops we have at the time of this announcement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n