Your Board is listening! And busily working on the 2020 conference – Save the date August 14^th -16^th!

Thanks to all who responded to our survey following this year’s Conference. We had a terrific response from first timers and a fantastic response from men who have attended countless conferences in our past.

Your Board has taken much time to review all the feedback. We’ve taken note of what is important to the TN Episcopal Churchmen, what you want most out of the conference, and ways we can tweak the conference to make it even better.

One thing you reminded us is the number one reason for attending the conference IS the promise of spiritual enrichment.  We come to the mountain each August with our bishops, our speakers, old friends and new friends, for spiritual enrichment.  We gather, sharing our meals, sessions, afternoon activities and it all culminates with a magnificent worship experience at All Saints Chapel on Sunday morning.     

Suggestions to enhance the conference experience this year include informal break-out discussions, more time with the bishops, and a little less pork.

Your board has taken your input to heart and is planning an outstanding conference for 2020:

• An exciting panel of speakers focused on a spiritual message of faith and service.
• A more relaxed arrival with the tailgate event on Friday afternoon, concluding with an old-fashioned fish-fry dinner with hush-puppies and all the standard sides.
• Informal campfire discussions after evening Compline, with bishops and evening speakers invited to lead discussions on topics as they evolve.
• And more

Stay tuned for more on this year’s conference and mark the dates – August 14^th – 16^th now!  

And join us for spiritual enrichment, time with old and new friends, new experiences, and more intimate discussions with our bishops. Our ECT website, tnchurchmen.org, is being updated with current information, including our speakers, and links to registration.

Don’t forget – August 14^th  – 16^th 2020.   See you there!

Eric Haralson
President – 2020 ECT Conference

——————–   Letter from Stephen Davis ————————————
“Good evening Eric,

I would like to share a few words about why I attend the men’s conference.

In 2012 I picked up a pamphlet about the men’s conference with the interest that this may be something that I had been looking for. As a new Episcopalian I didn’t know what to expect and I decided to give it a go. When I arrived at Dubose Conference Center I was greeted at the gate by a good friend of my wife Tammy, one of our past presidents Gary McGee.  I did not expect his friendship nor had I had ever experienced this acceptance from a stranger. The guys from Fort Oglethorpe, GA had saved a room for me in what is now the DuBose directors house. After spending time talking and getting to know the fellowship portion of our belief I was hooked. If anyone had said to me that weekend that I would be nominated and elected V.P. of the East TN diocese I would have told them that they were crazy. But here I am seven years later feeling the grace that I have been given.

Every year I look forward to the conference bringing inspiration and a new direction to exercise God’s call to service.  In 2017 I ask my son Stephen if he would like to attend and he accepted. Now we look forward to our weekend in August with like-minded men of the church.

This year when your key man asks you if you know about our conference or if you would like to attend, check out our website and social media sites. Please don’t  just say “I’ll check my schedule”, we know that you are interested and we want to see you there.

Peace to you and your family.

Stephen A. Davis
V.P. East TN Diocese
davisstephena.sad@gmail.com”