An Interview with Darrell Johnson
Regent College has generally placed greater emphasis on the role of laity than the role of those in ordained ministry. Why do we have a “Pastors’ Conference” at Regent?
D: If we are going to equip a strong laity we need to be equipping pastors who can be part of that process, and we want to equip pastors who have a vision for the ministry of the laity. There are many pastors’ conferences that people can attend, but we felt we want to have a conference where we are nurturing, strengthening and encouraging pastors who have a vision for the ministry of the whole people of God.
Would you say the conference is geared towards just pastors or the laity as well?
D: Because of our vision of the pastor, a lay person can benefit from it very easily. Because we don’t view the pastor as some kind of special human being, but rather having a unique function, a lot of what we say to the pastor as person is relative to every disciple as a person.
In past years, the Pastors’ Conference has dealt with topics such as evangelism, grace, worship, and Jesus’ prophetic ministry. Why the topic of prayer this year and what is the significance of the conference’s title: “Pastor as Pray-er”?
D: I’ve tried to have a sequence going over the last years of a different aspect of pastoral ministry to focus on each time. What I realized, is that the most fundamental role the pastor plays we had not yet addressed. We’ve got to back up and nurture again the pastor as a person of prayer. Why the title ‘Pray-er?’ I wanted to avoid ‘the prayer life of the pastor’ because that phrase does two things: one, it seems to say that that is only what pastors do, and the other is that the phrase itself nurtures guilt in pastors. I wanted to avoid all those issues and instead get at the question of identity. As a human being and a disciple I am a pray-er and therefore as a pastor I am fundamentally a pray-er.
You were a pastor yourself for many years before teaching at Regent. What has prayer meant in your life personally and how will that affect your contribution to this conference?
D: I would not have made it as a pastor unless I was first a pray-er. Every sermon I preach comes out of much prayer and every counseling appointment is immersed in prayer. As I’m listening to someone share her life I am praying, “Lord, what are you saying to this person?” So it’s a constant conversation with the Triune God. What I will then be teaching [at the conference] is John 17, Jesus as the Son opening His heart to His Father. This is the articulation on Jesus’ part of the conversation that has been going on in everything that He has been doing.
Could you describe the format of this year’s conference and how that contributes to the overall feel of the weekend?
D: There will be three major sessions a day: one with Marva Dawn, one with Bruce Hindmarsh, and one with me. Each of the presentations is relative to prayer and during each we will take time to pray. So I am hoping that the entire time is one in which everyone is really attending to this ongoing conversation with the Triune God. I think one of the evenings we are going to have a prayer meeting. Pastors seldom get to just go to a prayer meeting; they often have to lead it, and it is hard to enter in as the leader. We will have some pray-ers available for any pastors who have specific needs.
Both Bruce Hindmarsh and Marva Dawn have been involved in previous Pastors’ Conferences. Could you talk about your experiences with each of them and what they might bring to this year’s topic?
D: Marva Dawn brings a unique energy, passion and depth born of constant suffering, and she is going to be talking about praying the lament Psalms. I think she is uniquely equipped both by experience and by gifting to lead us in the cry, “How long?” “Why?” and “Where are You in this, God?” I can’t think of anyone who could do this better both because of her brilliance and her pain. Bruce Hindmarsh brings a gentle scholarly depth. He is such a thoughtful person, and he will uniquely bring the perspective of an historian. The temptation right now is to feel that because life is so busy in the 21st century, pastors are the first to struggle with time to pray. Bruce will help us realize that is not the case. This has been the struggle all along, and he will help us see how other leaders before us learned to live into this way of being.
Is there anything else you wanted to add about the conference that you would like readers to know?
D: Over the past years we have been trying to build a community. One of our hopes is that people will simply put this conference in their calendar each May and then ask themselves “By the way, who are the speakers?”...that they will want to be part of this particular mix of pastors with this particular vision of pastoring. I think it is happening; the majority of people come just because that’s the thing to do the second week of May, to be a part of this fellowship of like-minded, warm hearted pastors.
Vancouver Area Accommodation Information
Updated: December 21, 2007
SELF-ARRANGED ACCOMMODATION
Accommodations are self-arranged for all Regent College Conferences. Accommodations fill-up quickly because of the Vancouver summer tourism season. We suggest you book early!
As there are hundreds of hotels, bed and breakfasts and other types of accommodation in the Vancouver area this is by no means an exhaustive list. Regent College has no residential facilities of its own.
Conferences and Accommodation at UBC
(8-minute walk from Regent)
Vancouver's Affordable and Most Accommodating Alternative with 3000 rooms available May through August, from full suites to single or shared apartments to dormitory or hostel-style rooms; the 47 unit West Coast Suites is open year-round.
Phone: 604-822-1000
E-mail: reservations@housing.ubc.ca
Website: www.ubcconferences.com
St. Andrew’s Hall
(10 min. walk from Regent)
A residence for full-time students on the campus of UBC. During the summer months (May 1 to August 26 only, we process summer applications and requests from mid January, 2007) their empty rooms and apartments are open as a temporary housing option. The apartments all have kitchens. These have major appliances (fridge, stove, microwave), but no cooking or eating utensils. For all room types, we provide bedding, but not towels. No linen or housekeeping services are provided, and no toiletries are in the rooms.
Phone: 604.822.9720
E-mail: summer@standrews.edu
Website: www.standrews.edu/residence/summer.html
St. John’s College
(20-minute walk from Regent)
St. John's College offers quiet, comfortable and well-appointed guest rooms to academic visitors to UBC. Guest rooms are furnished with a double or queen bed, private washroom, telephone, television, coffee maker, bar fridge and data port. Dining with College residents in our spacious Dining Hall is an integral part of the life of the College, and participation in the meal plan is mandatory for all guests. Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday.
Phone: 604-822-6522
E-mail: sjc.reception@ubc.ca
Website: www.stjohns.ubc.ca/GuestRooms.stm
Vancouver School of Theology
(15-minute walk from Regent)
Vancouver School of Theology has 13 studio-suites, 3 one-bedroom suites, and 1 two-bedroom suite in its guest wing. All suites are furnished with double beds and ensuite bathrooms. Amenities include a telephone for free local calls, cable tv and high-speed internet. The School is located in the historic Iona building, recently renovated and fully updated, at the northeast corner of the UBC campus.
Phone: 604.822.6398 or toll-free 1-866-822-9031 option '4'
E-mail: vstconf@vst.edu
Website: www.vst.edu
Green College Guest House
(10 min. walk from Regent)
Green College is first and foremost a graduate residence and is home to a community of 100 scholars who blend social and intellectual life through living in residence together, academic programming, dining and cultural events. Resident members include graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and visiting faculty. Although we do not offer the amenities of a hotel, we do offer a peaceful yet vibrant environment, away from the centre of campus. We are surrounded by nature, on the edge of Pacific Spirit Park, and close to a vast expanse of beaches and forest trails. The College has five Guest House rooms (three Standard and two Premium). Each room has a private washroom, telephone, mini-fridge, and alarm clock. Standard rooms have one double bed. Premium rooms have a queen bed and cable television.
Phone: 604.822.8660
E-mail: greencol@interchange.ubc.ca
Website: www.greencollege.ubc.ca
A Harbourview Retreat B&B and Garden Suite (need an agreement)
(2 minute drive, 30 minute walk, 10 minute bus ride to Regent)
A Harbourview Retreat combines the comfort and care of a B&B with the amenities of a boutique hotel. We are located minutes from Regent and UBC, beaches and nature trails. Guests can unwind in our outdoor hot tub, relax in the quiet lush garden or on their private balcony. B&B guests are treated to a full gourmet breakfast, while our 1-bedroom Garden Suite provides a kitchen for self-catering. Parking, wireless internet, phone, and TV are available for all guests for no additional charge.
Phone: (866) 221.7273 or (604) 221.7273
Email: penny@ahvr.com
Website: www.ahvr.com
Point Grey Guest House
(5-minute drive from Regent)
Enjoy our “home away from home” tucked away in beautiful Vancouver. Within walking distance of The University of British Columbia and conveniently located near beaches and downtown Vancouver. Ideal for short-term business/holiday or long-term study/sabbatical accommodation. Fully licensed and inspected by the City of Vancouver.
Phone: 604-222-4104
E-mail: info@pointgreyguesthouse.com
Website: www.pointgreyguesthouse.com
