Summit will begin on Wednesday, October 7 at 7:00 p.m., with check-in opening up at 6:00 p.m., and will continue until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9.

We will gather in person in Abilene on the ACU campus. We will meet at the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building (BSB) for the Summit gatherings on Wednesday evening, Thursday morning and afternoon, and Friday morning. And we’ll host Thursday’s dinner and plenary session with Heather Gorman in downtown Abilene at 201 Mesquite Event Center.

In the past, Summit offered classes on an array of topics. Through an intentional discernment process, we decided to focus each Summit gathering more narrowly in order to meet participants’ needs. To mix a few metaphors, rather than try to be all things to all people, we’re seeking to pick a lane and knock it out of the ballpark! Learn more about our vision.

As always, Summit will provide opportunities for fellowship, study, worship, and spiritual renewal for all who wish to participate. This year, we will focus more intentionally on the areas of adult formation, emerging adults, Hispanic ministry, preaching, and rural and small-town churches. We will also offer two general interest communities—an Old Testament and a New Testament—for those hoping to dive deeply into the text. A new addition to Summit this year will be a community that offers continuing education for those who serve as spiritual directors. Read more about our Summit communities.

Not necessarily. The groups will likely vary at each Summit, though some communities may occur at Summit on a regular basis. We will continue to discern and respond to emerging needs from our networks of congregational leaders and other Christ-followers. 

Generally speaking, the sessions for the specific ministry communities will not be recorded. As we prioritize the relational, face-to-face aspects of the Summit experience, sessions will become more interactive, more conversational. On a practical level, discussions are far more difficult to record than lectures, and frankly, rarely provide a good listening experience later, even if the recording quality is good. More importantly, we want participants to feel comfortable speaking candidly without the concern that their thoughts will be preserved for all time. Thus, we have decided not to record Summit sessions as a whole. However, we have made plans to record the general interest sessions as well as the keynote speakers and morning devotional speakers. And we also invite you to access past Summit recordings at any time.

Yes, if you are not able to participate in Summit as a whole but would still like to attend the plenary session and dinner, click on the registration link, and select the ticket option for “Thursday Anchor Point Dinner Only.” Please note that this registration does not include a copy of Heather Gorman’s book, Lunchroom Theology: Pushing Tables Together in a Fractured World. This registration option will become available on September 8.

Yes! Summit registration is now required. Why? For a few reasons. It will help group facilitators craft their community gathering times appropriately for the size of their group – several hours of interactive engagement looks very different with a group of 30 compared to a group of 100! It will also help our team with practical matters like selecting classrooms and ordering the right amount of food for Thursday’s dinner. 

Additionally, due to our venue capacity and our intentionally smaller program, Summit registration is limited to only 350 people. Early registration ($35) is open through August 24, with regular registration ($55) open through September 22. See table below.

We have a special half-price rate for undergraduate or graduate students who would like to attend Summit. Early student registration ($17.50) is open through August 24, with regular student registration ($27.50) open through September 22. Please email us for a student discount code.

• All sessions with your Summit community plus any related materials, if applicable.

• Keynote sessions with Sara Barton, Josh Graves, and Mitch Wilburn alongside intentional times of worship led by Nic Dunbar.

• A wonderful catered dinner and plenary session, called Anchor Point, with noted scholar, author, and speaker Heather Gorman, and communal worship.

• A copy of Heather Gorman’s book, Lunchroom Theology: Pushing Tables Together in a Fractured World. 

• A hospitality gathering with light refreshments on Wednesday evening and snacks throughout the event.

We don’t want the cost to keep anyone from participating in Summit; therefore, we have scholarships available. If you find the registration price prohibitive, please email us for a discount code.

On a related note, if you would like to chip in a bit extra to help defray the cost of someone else’s attending, you’ll have the opportunity to do that via the registration form. Simply select the “Donation” ticket type and enter your desired donation amount.

See table below. Registration now!

If you are an ACU employee and want to pay by FOAP, please use this registration form.

Click here for a listing of several hotels near campus. Please check with hotels directly for details and rates, including discounts for ACU-affiliated guests. Additionally, Abilene offers an array of AirBNBs at a variety of price points. 

Thursday’s dinner will be in downtown Abilene at 201 Mesquite Event Center.