Northwest Nazarene University's 2016 Wesley Center Conference drew roughly 200 pastors, laypersons, students, and educators to campus and nearly 1,000 online attendees through the free, live webcasting. "Dialogue Despite Difference,” explored what it means to bridge relational gaps through loving dialogue in an often uncivil world. Dan Boone, Richard Mouw, and Curt Bechler headlined this year's event February 18 and 19. T. Scott Daniels, whose church adjacent to NNU’s campus hosted the conference, also spoke in the opening plenary session.

"Our Wesley Center Conferences have a long history of helping the Church engage deeply in NNU's mission of seeing God transform our world," said Jay Akkerman, 2016 conference director. "We've always tried to be a place where the Church comes to think and explore faithfully. This year is no exception."

Boone is president of Trevecca Nazarene University and author of A Charitable Discourse: Talking About the Things That Divide Us, among other titles. Mouw is president emeritus of Fuller Theological Seminary and author of numerous publications, including Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World. Curt Bechler is managing partner of Venture International, a consulting firm that specializes in assisting leaders and organizations with team building, listening and leadership skills, and strategic communications.

“The Wesley Conference gives me healthy, holistic tips to better love and better respect people," said Steve Wingate, pastor of Portland Church of the Nazarene. "We won’t have a chance to make a difference if we don’t have a platform to talk—love and respect is this platform.”

Sonya Miller, administrative pastor of Spokane Bethel Church of the Nazarene, believes the conference topic is important.

“Dialogue despite differences of opinion is vital to representing Christ in our political climate,” she said.

Participants from nearly every continent logged in to view the free webcasts of the event.

MP3 links to all the conference workshops will soon be available online at nnu.edu/wesleyconf. Site visitors should also take note of information now available on next year’s Wesley Conference, titled “Worship, Work, Church,” February 2 and 3, 2017. 

--Northwest Nazarene University