2027 CLASS OFFERINGS
ARW has a way of reimagining what a church conference can be. From creative worship and meaningful music to joyful recreation and rich community, every part of the week invites fresh energy and discovery. Our exceptional classes, led by talented faculty, are a big part of that experience. Whether you choose arts, recreation, or worship, each track offers the chance to learn something new, deepen your gifts, and return home inspired.
You are invited to register for one four-day morning class and one four-day afternoon class.
You are invited to register for one four-day morning class and one four-day afternoon class.
Morning Classes
Earth, Wind & Fire: A Pentecost Pottery Experience
$55.00
What might the Spirit be shaping in you?
Explore the themes of Pentecost through clay in this hands-on, all-levels studio experience. This “all-clay buffet” invites you to try both hand-building and wheel-throwing as you create pieces that reflect movement, breath, and transformation. Along the way, we’ll pay attention to the ways the Spirit stirs through creativity, community, and the simple act of making.
Expect a week of experimentation, play, and connection in the studio, where things don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. The experience culminates in a Friday raku firing, a fast, fire-driven process that is as unpredictable as it is beautiful, leaving each piece with a one-of-a-kind finish.
You’ll be guided by Ann Laird Jones, a retired Presbyterian minister and former Arts Ministry Director at Montreat, whose work lives at the intersection of art and theology, and Carl Horton, a lifelong PC(USA) leader whose current work focuses on affordable housing and social impact, and who somehow also finds time to farm, bake sourdough, make pottery, and wrangle dogs. Together, they bring wisdom, curiosity, and a deep love of both the church and the creative process.
No experience needed. Just come ready to get your hands dirty, try something new, and see what emerges.
Hope Unbound: Fabric, Voice, and the Holy Imagination
$25.00
What if hope isn’t something we wait for, but something we make?
In this interactive, hands-on workshop, participants will explore how fabric and voice become vessels for worship, expression, and transformation. Through natural dyeing, simple textile design, poetry, and dramatic expression, we’ll engage practices that invite the body, the imagination, and the Spirit into the work of creating worship.
Together, we’ll experiment with color drawn from the earth, words shaped by lived experience, and movement that brings prayer to life. Participants will have the opportunity to begin crafting paraments or stoles while also giving voice to their own stories through spoken word and performance. This is not about perfection or expertise. It’s about making space for wild, embodied hope to emerge through our hands, our breath, and our shared creativity.
You’ll be guided by James Potts, Associate Pastor, DEdMin candidate, and quilter, who sees creativity as a sacred practice and delights in helping people encounter God through making, storytelling, and shared experience. Alongside him is Jess Foy, Program Coordinator for Faith Formation with Children, Youth, and Young Adults in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, who brings a deep love of community-building, creativity, and faith formation shaped by her work with young people and leaders across the church.
Together, they create a space where theology, fabric, story, and imagination are woven together, grounded in the belief that the Spirit often shows up at tables covered in thread, color, and curiosity.
Come ready to create, to play, and to discover how hope can be seen, heard, and even worn.
Don’t Panic, Play! Recreation Basics for the Rest of Us
$0.00
Have you ever been asked to lead recreation and immediately broken into a nervous sweat? You’re not alone, and you’re in the right place.
This high-energy, low-pressure class is all about helping you feel confident, capable, and maybe even excited to lead games in your church, camp, or community. Together, we’ll learn and practice a wide variety of go-to activities including icebreakers, mixers, large group games, active play, and quieter options that still bring people together.
You won’t just watch, you’ll play, laugh, and lead in a supportive environment where it’s okay to try, tweak, and try again. By the end of the week, you’ll have a toolkit full of ideas and the confidence to actually use them. Dare we say… you might even start looking forward to leading recreation.
You’ll be guided by Byron Wade, a longtime ARW favorite who is thrilled to be back singing, playing, and recreating with God’s people. In his day job, he serves as General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, and in his free time, he clearly hasn’t lost his love for a good game. He’s joined by Kris “Bubba” Brammer, bringing his own energy, experience, and playful spirit to the mix.
Come ready to move, laugh, and discover that leading recreation doesn’t have to be stressful, it can actually be a whole lot of fun.
Wild Journaling for Wild Hope
$0.00
What might happen if you gave your thoughts, your prayers, and your questions a place to land?
In this creative and reflective workshop, we’ll explore the practice of wild journaling, a way of writing, praying, and creating that invites honesty, imagination, and deep listening. Starting with blank pages, we’ll fill our journals with words, prayers, questions, and images that reflect where we are and where we’re being led.
Through simple writing prompts, collage using magazines, and gentle spiritual reflection, you’ll discover how journaling can become a meaningful, sustainable spiritual practice. Each session will include a bit of teaching, plenty of creative time, and space to pause, notice, and reflect.
You’ll be guided by Gail Henderson-Belsito, a Free Range Pastor who brings her gifts in preaching, teaching, and storytelling to communities far and wide. Rooted in her identity as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, traveler, and dreamer, Gail creates space for people to connect deeply with God, themselves, and one another.
By the end of the week, you won’t just have a journal, you’ll have pages already filled with meaning and a practice you can carry with you long after ARW ends.
Bring a blank journal or sketchbook, something to write with, a few old magazines, scissors, and an open heart.
From Planner to Participant: Youth Group for Adults
$0.00
What if wild hope is found not in doing more, but in experiencing differently?
Youth ministry is a fun, wild, hard, and sometimes just plain weird world to live in and work in. So what happens when we step out from behind the clipboard and into the experience ourselves?
In this class, we’ll move to the other side of the programming we spend so much time coordinating, cultivating, and stressing about. Together, we’ll step into the role of participant, exploring what it feels like to engage games, worship, Bible study, and community from the perspective of the young people we serve.
This will be a space to play, pray, discern, connect, and rediscover the spark that drew us to this work in the first place. Along the way, we’ll pay attention to where energy, joy, and connection show up, and how those moments can shape more meaningful ministry. Sometimes, wild hope looks like letting go of control, trying something new, and trusting what emerges.
Bring your best ideas, your favorite games, your tried-and-true programs, and your willingness to see them with fresh eyes.
You’ll be led by Tristan Wall, Director of Youth Ministry at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, NC. A lifelong Montreat person who grew up in Asheville, Tristan brings both deep experience and a contagious love for youth ministry. When he’s not working with youth, you can find him playing disc golf, reading fantasy or sci-fi, cheering on the Chicago Cubs, or talking jam bands.
Come ready to jump in, shift perspective, and rediscover a sense of wild hope in the work you love.
Stained Glass: Light, Color, and Creativity
$60.00
Step into the beauty and meaning of stained glass as a creative and spiritual practice. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the art of stained glass through both traditional and fused techniques, learning how light, color, and design come together to tell stories of faith and hope.
Whether you are brand new or have some experience, this class offers a welcoming space to experiment, create, and grow. Participants will be guided through the process of designing and assembling their own piece, while also reflecting on how stained glass has been used throughout the church to inspire, teach, and illuminate sacred stories.
This class blends creativity, craftsmanship, and conversation, inviting you to engage your hands and imagination while discovering new ways to express faith through art.
Materials fee $60 Class limit 14
Roger Maness may be officially “retired” from church ministry, but he is far from slowing down. He now serves in a large nonprofit youth sports ministry, where he continues to pour his energy into meaningful and life-giving work. In his spare time, Roger teaches the art of stained glass, sharing both his creativity and his passion for hands-on ministry.
Brian Maness has spent over 20 years working in sports, recreation, and as a stained glass artisan. He is widely known for his creativity and expertise in both fused and traditional glass, bringing a depth of skill and artistry to his teaching.
Nurturing the Spirituality of the Child
$0.00
Why is it important for us to understand the spirituality of the child?
This question shapes not only our work as caregivers and ministry leaders serving children and youth, but also our identity as Christ-followers. Jesus calls us to become like children, yet rarely do we pause to consider what that truly means or how we might rediscover that way of being.
In this class, we will explore the spirituality of the child as a vital and often overlooked dimension of faith formation. Together, we will reconnect with the gift of childlike wonder through the practice of Godly Play, a Montessori-based storytelling approach designed to nurture curiosity, reflection, and deep engagement with sacred stories.
Participants will experience Godly Play firsthand and explore how this practice invites people of all ages into meaningful encounters with God. We will also discuss practical tools, best practices, and adaptable strategies for incorporating these approaches into a variety of ministry contexts.
Whether you are working with children, youth, or intergenerational communities, this class will equip you to cultivate spaces where wonder, imagination, and wild hope can flourish.
Lisa Kaufer serves as the Director of Faith Formation at the Presbyterian Church of Wyoming in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is deeply passionate about cultivating relationships and creating spaces where people are invited to play, share stories, listen, learn, and grow together.
Through her creative studio, The Muddy Fork, Lisa explores the intersection of faith and creativity by designing handmade ceramic gifts and devotional resources. She also serves as a Licensed Godly Play Trainer, equipping others to use storytelling as a powerful tool for spiritual formation.
Lisa brings a unique blend of creativity, theological insight, and practical experience, helping communities of all ages engage faith with curiosity, imagination, and joy.
Social Media Videos for Ministry
$0.00
Hope can travel far when we tell the story well. This class will help you create engaging, meaningful video content that connects your ministry to the wider world.
You’ll learn practical skills for filming, editing, and sharing videos that reflect authenticity and purpose. You’ll leave with tools, ideas, and confidence to communicate your message in ways that invite connection and inspire hope.
Anne Russ is a communications leader with experience helping ministries tell their stories through creative and effective digital media.
Mahjong for Ministry: Building Community One Tile at a Time
$0.00
Curious about the growing excitement around Mahjong? Come learn the basics of this engaging and community-centered game while exploring how it can become a meaningful ministry and fellowship opportunity in your own church or gathering space. Mahjong creates connection across generations, encourages conversation, and offers an accessible way for people to gather, play, and belong.
Participants will learn gameplay fundamentals, tips for teaching beginners, and ideas for developing a welcoming Mahjong program in churches and community spaces. Bring your own tile set and your new 2027 card if you have them. A limited number of sets will be available for participants who need one.
Bridging the Gap Through Hip Hop: The Music of Reformation
$0.00
What do the Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Funk have in common? They all show up in Hip Hop. Join Bill on a journey through a century of music as we explore how these genres continue to shape culture, community, resistance, and hope. Together, we’ll consider what each tradition can teach us about ministry in today’s world and how Hip Hop, in particular, speaks powerfully to church leaders in the Reformed tradition. Through music, storytelling, conversation, and reflection, participants will discover how rhythm, improvisation, truth-telling, and creativity can help bridge gaps and inspire faithful leadership today.
Led by Bill Buchanan, Executive Director of the nonprofit ministry Youth Mission Co, ordained PC(USA) pastor, and music enthusiast known behind the turntables as DJ5. Bill lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he loves discovering live music and exploring the stories music tells across generations.
Afternoon Classes
The Practice of Hope: Walking the Sacred Path
$25.00
Where do you notice hope taking root?
In this gently paced, deeply reflective class, we’ll attune ourselves to the Spirit’s quiet, steady movement—in labyrinth walks, trail hikes, and even the wild landscape within. Through prayer and embodied practice, we will walk with intention, becoming more attentive, more grounded, and more open to the presence of God in the world around us.
Together, we’ll explore sacred paths and natural spaces in and around Montreat, allowing the rhythm of walking to guide reflection, connection, and renewal. Along the way, we’ll consider what it means to live with hope not as something distant, but as a daily practice - one that forms us to love a hurting world with courage and compassion.
You’ll be guided by Lynn Turnage, a retired educator and clergy leader who delights in this season of life through hiking, community, justice work, and moments of wonder in the outdoors. She is joined by Sally Campbell-Evans, an ordained pastor of over three decades whose ministry has spanned global mission, disaster response, young adult formation, and congregational care. Together, they bring deep wisdom, gentle presence, and a shared love for walking alongside others in faith.
Come ready to slow down, step outside, and discover how hope can be practiced one step at a time.
A Place for Everyone: Intergenerational Retreats
$0.00
What if wild hope looks like a community where everyone truly belongs?
What happens when children and octogenarians worship, play, and learn side by side? In this thoughtful and practical workshop, we’ll explore the theological vision behind intergenerational ministry and why it matters now more than ever. Together, we’ll imagine communities where every generation is not just included, but essential.
You’ll dive into the building blocks of meaningful intergenerational retreats, with concrete tools and ideas you can take back to your church or community. We’ll explore how to design experiences that engage every age in ways that are accessible, joyful, and deeply meaningful, from worship and play to learning and connection.
Along the way, we’ll consider how creating space across generations can be an act of wild hope, forming communities rooted in belonging, shared wisdom, and mutual care.
You’ll be guided by Nancy Myer, Associate Pastor for Family Ministry at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, NC. With a deep love for building community across generations, Nancy brings creativity, practical wisdom, and a joyful spirit shaped by her love of reading, walking, baking, cheering on Michigan State, and just about any craft you can imagine.
Come ready to dream, design, and discover what becomes possible when there is truly a place for everyone.
Call of the Wild
$0.00
What if wild hope is waiting for us just outside the door?
Our lives are crowded with so many things that pull us away from noticing God and delighting in creation. It can feel overwhelming, even disheartening. But the wilderness is still calling, inviting us to return, to listen, and to be renewed.
In this class, we’ll take time to reconnect with the mystery, timelessness, hopefulness, and playfulness woven into God’s creation. Together, we’ll explore how the Church, youth, families, and communities can open themselves to these gifts, making space for deeper connection with God, one another, and the natural world.
Through reflection, conversation, and shared experience (field trips may be involved), we’ll consider what it means to be grounded again, to rediscover joy in the outdoors, and to participate in the healing of both the earth and our own spirits.
You'll be guided by, Beth Gunn, a seasoned recreation leader from western North Carolina with over 20 years of youth ministry experience in the Presbytery of Western North Carolina. Recently retired, she is now exploring new ways to share her gifts for community building and her deep love of the outdoors.
Beth lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband, Bruce, where they enjoy camping, hiking, and soaking up the beauty of creation. These days, her favorite role is being “GG” alongside “Grumps” to their three granddaughters. A lifelong believer in the power of play, Beth values time with family as a cornerstone for building strong, lasting connections.
Rooted in Strengths, Growing in Possibility: Cultivating Wild Hope for Neurodiverse Communities
$0.00
What if wild hope looks like a community where every mind is not just welcomed, but able to flourish?
In this thoughtful and practical workshop, participants will explore how to cultivate inclusive, life-giving environments where neurodiverse youth, young adults, and congregational members can take root, grow, and thrive. Grounded in best practices, this class will equip you to better support and include individuals with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and learning disabilities in ways that are meaningful, respectful, and sustainable.
Together, we’ll consider how to prepare the “soil” of our communities by fostering empathy, flexibility, and understanding. Through simulations and shared experiences, you’ll gain insight into how neurodiverse individuals navigate the world, opening the door to deeper awareness and more responsive ministry.
Using a strengths-based approach, we’ll explore how to plant seeds of belonging, tend to diverse communication styles, and gently remove barriers that limit participation. You’ll leave with practical strategies and a renewed vision for creating spaces where every person’s gifts are recognized, nurtured, and celebrated in worship, learning, and community life.
You’ll be guided by Whitleigh Wilhelmi, Assistant Director of the Jones Learning Center at the University of the Ozarks and Coordinator of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services. With over 16 years of experience in education, including six in higher education, Whitleigh brings deep expertise and a genuine passion for helping individuals feel supported, understood, and empowered. Her work with both college students and congregations is rooted in a commitment to connection, inclusion, and helping every person reach their full potential.
Come ready to learn, reflect, and grow a vision of church where all truly belong.
Embodied Prayer Through Dance and Creative Movement
$0.00
What if prayer didn’t need words?
In this creative and welcoming class, participants will explore dance as a form of embodied prayer—an invitation to connect with God through movement, creativity, and presence. Rooted in the belief that we are created in the image of God with bodies capable of expression and knowing, this workshop offers a meaningful and accessible way to deepen spiritual life.
Together, we will reflect on the theological foundations of embodied prayer while also engaging in guided movement, creative exploration, and shared experience. Participants will discover how dance can be integrated into personal spiritual practices as well as communal worship and ministry settings.
No dance experience is needed. All movement is designed to be accessible for a wide range of abilities, with options and adaptations offered throughout. Whether you are an artist, a ministry leader, or simply curious, this class offers a joyful and renewing way to experience faith with your whole self.
Melody Dillon is the Director of Children, Youth, and Families at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. A native Virginian, she brings together her passion for ministry and the arts in creative and meaningful ways.
Melody holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Belhaven University and a Master of Arts in Christian Formation from Virginia Theological Seminary, where she received the Master’s Thesis Award for her work exploring dance as a practice of prayer. She has served with an arts ministry in Berlin, Germany, and has spent the past decade dancing and teaching in a variety of settings.
She is passionate about helping people of all ages connect with their spirituality through creativity, movement, and embodied practices. In addition to dance, Melody enjoys music and plays piano, hammer dulcimer, and handbells.
Harnessing Hope and Holy Listening
$0.00
Through guided reflection, theological framing, group spiritual direction practices, and practical tools, participants will explore four repeatable practices for sustainable ministry: pausing, attending, discerning, and responding. Together, we will consider how holy listening can help leaders engage ministry with more clarity, less reactivity, and renewed hope for the journey ahead.
Led by Rev. Brady Radford, founder of The Lovewell Collective, a counseling practice devoted to couples therapy and the mental and spiritual health of clergy and their families. With more than two decades of experience, Brady brings together pastoral wisdom, clinical insight, and practical tools for sustainable ministry leadership.
In the daily rhythm of ministry, leaders are constantly navigating competing needs, unexpected challenges, and the quiet demands of caring for both others and themselves.
This workshop invites pastors and ministry leaders into practices that cultivate deeper spiritual rootedness, greater discernment, and healthier leadership habits.
Tactics for Hope: Faithful Resistance and Community
$0.00
In a world shaped by uncertainty, division, and rapid change, how do people of faith become agents of hope? This class invites participants to explore the intersections of faith, justice, peacemaking, and social change through practical and grounded approaches to ministry in today’s world.
Moving beyond abstract ideals, we’ll examine concrete strategies for engaging communities, building relationships, and cultivating hopeful action within the city and beyond. Through conversation, reflection, and shared learning, participants will consider how faith communities can embody courage, creativity, and compassion while navigating the wilderness of our current moment.
Led by Bill Buchanan, Executive Director of the nonprofit ministry Youth Mission Co and an ordained pastor in the PC(USA). Bill lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he loves discovering live music and exploring the ways faith takes shape in communities.
All About the Ears: Basic Jewelry Metalsmithing
$0.00
A fun, hands-on class where you’ll learn the basics of jewelry metalsmithing while creating a variety of earrings. Work with torches, wire, patinas, and sheet metal as you design, construct, and finish your own pieces—including making your own ear wires. You’ll leave with several unique pieces of wearable art.
Deb Guess lives in Asheville, NC, with her hubby Deck and poorly behaved pup, Gypsy. She enjoys trying her hand at anything creative and spends lots of her days creating in her studio - jewelry and quilts and art journaling and more. She also loves traveling, gardening, and cooking (and eating).
Hopeful Arts: Working Together
$0.00
Explore hope in a wild and changing world through art, conversation, and shared creativity. Participants will experiment with a variety of materials and found objects while creating a canvas piece that reflects personal hopes and dreams. Along the way, we’ll make space for connection, encouragement, and a little playful exploration.
Leslie McCarthy is a creative spirit with a love for adventure and play. A retired business owner, she now spends her time creating, volunteering, and collaborating with like-hearted friends. Primarily a textile and fiber artist, Leslie also works with wood and paint, designing everything from jewelry and journals to totes, handbags, and her signature funky furniture.
Sophie Maness is a Certified Christian Educator at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. She has served congregations across the Presbyterian Church, bringing together joy, faith, and service for people of all ages. She loves chocolate, hiking, and spending time with her family.
We Grow Together: Community Gardening Intensive
$0.00
A practical course for anyone looking to start, support, or sustain a community garden. We’ll explore what helps gardens thrive beyond the growing - purpose, shared leadership, site planning, neighborhood buy-in, partnerships, funding, policy, and long-term care. Expect stories, conversation, a collaborative workshop, and time to bring your own questions.
Nathan Ballentine, also known as Man in Overalls, started growing his own food at age eight and quickly discovered the power of gardening to build connection. He has visited community gardens across the country and on four continents, supported garden initiatives in the South for over 20 years, and co-authored community garden and urban agriculture policies for two North Florida municipalities.
Register Today!
Sign me up for 2027 Arts, Recreation, and Worship Conference!
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Montreat Conference Center is a pleasant, scenic, 20 minute drive east from Asheville, North Carolina. A national conference center serving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), it offers guests a time-honored tradition of friendly, gracious hospitality in a warm and casual setting. Annually, approximately 50,000 people of all ages and from all walks of life come to Montreat for rest, renewal, and recreation.
Sponsored and planned by re:create and Montreat™ Conference Center. |
