Even so, come! An Invitation to Dialogos

A Southeastern Estuary Conference

OCTOBER 17-18 | NORTH CAROLINA

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GUEST SPEAKERS

Leading the Dialogos 

Paul VanderKlay

Pastor Paul is the founder of the Estuary™ movement and Pastor of Living Stones Church. Gathering in-person and online, Paul facilitates a wide range of conversations with people interested in and struggling with the deeper aspects of life. He is well known for both his wide-ranging discussions on the modern world and his deeply personal conversations with all kinds of people on his YouTube channel.
Paul's YouTube channel

Esther Meek

Esther Lightcap Meek is an American philosopher and a Professor of Philosophy emeritus at Geneva College in Western Pennsylvania. She is a Fellow Scholar of the Fujimura Institute with artist Makoto Fujimura, an Associate Fellow with the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology, and a member of the Polanyi Society.
Esther Meek's website

Jordan Wood

Jordan holds an M.A. from Saint Louis University and a Ph.D. from Boston College, both in Historical Theology. His interests range from Greek patristic theology to modern philosophy, especially Idealism. He is an assistant professor of Theology at Belmont University. He is married to Alexis, a registered nurse, with whom he has four wonderful daughters.
Jordan Wood's substack

Michael Martin

Dr. Michael Martin is a teacher, philosopher, poet, musician, songwriter, editor, and biodynamic farmer. Whew! He spent sixteen years educating many young people as a Waldorf teacher and Master Teacher, and has taught at the university level for over seventeen years. His poetry and scholarship have appeared in many journals.
The Center for Sophiological Studies - website

Jordan Hall

Jordan Hall is an entrepreneur and angel investor with a focus on the internet and digital media space. Having received his law degree from Harvard and practicing for all of 93 days, he sought greener pastures, becoming an advocate for “efficient, collaborative, open” models of information dispersal. Jordan's work Game B theory and exploration of what makes for a healthy community ended up leading him into the Christian Faith.
Jordan on Twitter

JD Lyonhart

JD Lyonhart (PhD, Cambridge) is a British-Canadian theologian, philosopher, author, and ordained minister. He is an Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the University of Jamestown, a Fellow at the Cambridge Center for the Study of Platonism at Cambridge University, and a co-host of the Spiritually Incorrect Podcast.
JD Lyonhart's website

Nate Hile

Nate is an autodidact with a deep interest in theology and philosophy who is fortunate to have very smart and wise friends who are willing to come and talk with him on his Grail Country YouTube channel. Nate believes that structure of the real is dialogical and that entering into dialogue helps us connect to the real, and that is why he does what he does.
Grail County YouTube channel

Shari Suter

Shari is the shepherdess of the lower Grail Country, tending to flocks with wisdom and grandmotherly love. She knits a good yarn, sitting by the fire, spreading the warmth of coffee and G-d's love in the cool Canadian Rockies.”
Shari on Grail Country

Yosef Razin

A lover of G-d, devoted to his growing family, and never far from a good book or a lively Discord thread, Yosef weaves together intellect, kindness, and a dash of nerdiness. His days are filled with the pursuit of curious knowledge—whether it’s a deep dive into obscure Jewish lore, a lively debate on exegesis, or the nature of trust. A man of great heart and a poetic soul, he works tirelessly to gather the Divine Sparks and brings much love to the communities of this little corner.
Grail County YouTube channel

John Vandonk

John Vandonk is a former CRC pastor, dairyman, and pool- and spa equipment technician; also a one-time truckdriver, construction worker, ice cream maker, furniture upholsterer, horse trainer, and coal peddler. Today, retired, he still does what he always loved: connect people with each other in real life, on-the-ground, for meaningful conversation and sacred meals.

What is Estuary?

The Estuary movement was started by Paul VanderKlay and John Vandonk with the goal of creating a welcoming place for serious conversation and personal growth. These groups meet regularly to practice a structured form of dialogue with a focus on meaningful topics to help give people a space and community to talk about the things in life that are most important for people who have no such place in their lives.
This conference will use the estuary protocol for its Group Dialogos sessions, in which both conference attendees and speakers will form smaller groups together to have structured conversations inspired by the speakers’ themes. Participants are encouraged to speak if they wish, but if they do not, they are welcome to observe and listen within a group.
Learn more at 
estuaryhub.com

EVENT LOCATION

For general questions about the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, and to reserve lodging or meals directly from the Center: (828) 454-6730

SCHEDULE

Thursday, Oct 16

2-PM-5PM: BBQ at Allen Creek Park, Waynesville, NC
(Hosted by Nate Hile)
+
Will Call Registration

RSVP for BBQ by Oct 15: southeastuary@gmail.com


For onsite lodgers (Mountainview Lodge, Lambuth Inn, & campsites), check-in anytime after 4PM at:
The Bethea Welcome Center
91 North Lakeshore Drive
Lake Junaluska, NC 28745
(828) 452-2881
A valid photo ID and credit card matching the ID is required to check-in.



Friday, Oct 17

6:00AM-6:45AM:  Will Call Registration for Attendees not at BBQ
7:00AM-8:30AM:  Breakfast (free for V.I.P. guests/ for attendees who purchased the breakfast package by Oct 1st).

CONFERENCE DAY ONE
(KERN AUDITORIUM)

Morning

9:00AM-9:15 AM:  An Introduction to            the Concept of Estuary/ Dialogos              from Nate Hile
9:25AM-10:25AM:  Estuary Group                  Leaders/ Group Members                          Introductions
10:35AM-11:50AM:  Stage Dialogos #1:         Jess Purviance, Yosef Razin, and               Shari Suter: “Job as Mediator”

LUNCH BREAK
Lunch is free for V.I.P. guests and attendees who purchase event tickets by Oct 3rd, 12PM EST.

Afternoon
1:15PM-2:40PM:  Estuary Groups                    Session #1
2:50PM-3:50PM: Esther Meek Keynote            Address
3:55PM-4:25PM: Michael Martin: "A Dialogos with the Otherworld, or How Meaning Inheres the Cosmos"
4:35PM-6:00PM: Estuary Groups                      Session #2


EVENING
7PM:  Dinner and libations at The            Scotsman Pub in Waynesville, NC            (all attendees welcome; attendees          must buy their own meals &                      drinks)

8PM: Murphy Campbell Live Music          Event at The Scotsman (free; seats          first come, first serve)

Saturday, Oct 18

7:00AM-8:30AM: Breakfast (free for V.I.P. guests/ attendees who purchased the breakfast package by Oct 1st).




CONFERENCE DAY TWO
(KERN AUDITORIUM)

Morning

9:00AM-10:15AM:  Stage Dialogos #3:          Jordan Hall & Guests
10:25AM-11:50AM:  Estuary Groups             Session #3


LUNCH BREAK
Lunch is free for V.I.P. guests and attendees who purchase event tickets by Oct 3rd, 12PM EST.



Afternoon
1:15PM-2:25PM:  Stage Dialogos #4: JD        Lyonhart and Jordan Daniel Wood:          "The Paradox of Being and                        Becoming”
2:35PM-3:50PM:  Stage Dialogos #4:              Paul Vander Klay and Karen Wong
4:00PM-5:25PM:  Estuary Groups                  Session #4
5:30PM-6:00PM:  John Vandonk and            Paul Vander Klay: “The Future of              Estuary”

EVENING
8PM:  Havdala with Yosef Razin
... followed by " Singalong around the campfire" with Michael Martin (all instruments/ voices welcome)


Please note that parking will be limited at the singalong. In the event of inclement weather, the singalong may be moved or cancelled.

Even so, come! An Invitation to Dialogos 

Have you ever experienced a conversation in which both agreement and disagreement expanded not only your mind, but your heart also? The practice of ‘dialogos’ is something like ‘seeing each other through our words.’ It is not just a conversation, but a conversational dance that embraces both ourselves and others as persons rather than as ideas, and as such, regards each of us as worthy of being seen, and therefore worthy of being heard. No matter who you are, or where you are in your life’s journey, even so, come!

TICKETS



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Ticketing Details

Onsite lodging at Mountain View Lodge and breakfast package options available separately through ticketing, subject to availability

 Main Event Ticket $250

October 17 & 18
For all event sessions on Friday and Saturday
Attendees of the conference must be 18 years of age or older, though children and adolescents are welcome at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center as long as they are properly supervised by a parent or adult guardian on the premises at all times.

LODGING OPTIONS

Where to stay while attending the conference.

Mountainview Lodge

$460 per room

at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center
Including tax for 3 nights: Oct 16, 17 & 18.
Available through main event ticketing, subject to availability.
On-site, bunk-style rooms, with up to 4 people per room.
Private bath and linens changed daily.
Booking deadline is September 11th at 6am EST.
Perfect for family or a group of friends who want to share a room!
Check-in after 4pm on the 16th. 
Check-out by 11am on the 19th.

On-site Camping

$100 per site

Including tax for 3 nights: Oct 16, 17 & 18.
Available through main event ticketing, subject to availability.
Tent camping at lakeside campground with bath and shower facilities.
Contact Lake Junaluska Conference Center and Retreat Center directly for reservation,
(828) 454-6730.

On-site Lodging

at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.
Contact for additional lodging options.
(828) 454-6730

Additional Lodging Options

Lake Junaluska

Independent lodging around Lake Junaluska.
Lake Junaluska Rentals

Waynesville, NC

The closest town to the event venue is Wayneville, NC.
There are many lodging options in and around Waynesville, within driving distance of the venue
It's best to book early because October is the most popular tourist month in Western North Carolina due to the brilliant Fall colors in the Smoky Mountains.

MEAL OPTIONS

If you would like to plan your meals in advance.

Breakfast Meal Package

$60 per person

Order by October 1.
Hot buffet-style breakfast at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.
Includes breakfast on October 17, 18 & 19.
Available through main ticketing for the event.
Please keep in mind that offsite meals at private restaurants are available, but that you may miss part of the morning’s conference schedule if you drive too far offsite for breakfast.
Lunch is free for attendees who purchase event tickets prior to October 1st. If you have any food allergies/ intolerances, please let us know at the email address below, and we will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs.
Please keep in mind that offsite meals at private restaurants are available, but that you might miss part of the afternoon’s conference schedule if you drive too far offsite for lunch. Please also keep in mind that many attendees will be going offsite in the evening for meals together and you may wish to go with them. If you are planning to go offsite and are not bringing a car to Lake Junaluska, you will need to arrange a carpool either before or during the conference.
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