November 1, 2002

Dear Brothers,

We rejoice to announce our Fifth Annual Auburn Avenue Pastors Conference to be held January 6-8, 2003. The purpose of the conference is to provide encouragement and instruction to pastors and church officers but we encourage all interested laymen to attend as well since the issues to be covered will be of wide interest to all who are concerned for the well being of Christ's Church. Our purpose this year will be to examine the teaching offered at last year's conference. As you know, the conference last year provoked quite a bit of discussion in the Reformed community. We have no desire to foment division or to promote theological novelties and thus, when respected men raised numerous questions and concerns about the content of the lectures last year, it seemed both appropriate and profitable to have the lectures examined by some of our brothers who respectfully disagree.

Thus, this year our topic will be "The Federal Vision: Examined." We will welcome back our speakers from last year's conference and have them joined by four "respondents" who will raise questions and challenges to the perspectives and teachings set forth last year. Our four respondents will include Dr. Joseph Pipa. President of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary; Dr. Morton Smith, professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Seminary and former stated clerk and moderator of the PCA, and Pastor Carl Robbins of Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. We will add one more "respondent" to our roster in the next few days. These brothers will respond to the Reverend Steve Schlissel, pastor of Messiah's Congregation, Brooklyn, NY, ("What Does the Lord Require of Us?") Pastor Douglas Wilson, Christ Church, Moscow, ID ("The Church Visible and Invisible"), Pastor John Barach, Grand Prairie URC ("Covenant and Election"), and Steve Wilkins, AAPC ("Baptism and the Covenant'').

We pray that this conference will assist in clarifying those matters that were unclear from last year's conference as well as correcting any errors and/or misconceptions. It is in fact our prayer that our conference might be used to bring unity among us on these important matters. It is essential that we discuss these matters in a Christian and charitable way as brothers, yet with great zeal to preserve the truth that has been once for all delivered to the saints.

The conference will begin Monday evening, January 6, at 7:00 and conclude at noon on Wednesday, January 8. We have scheduled the conference so that you can come and still be back home conveniently for the ministry of the Lord's Day. As usual, there will be times for discussion, questions and answers, and plenty of free time for informal fellowship.

We believe that this will be a blessed time of refreshment and encouragement for you and urge you to come.

Registration is $100 per person but only $75 if you register by December 20, 2002 (non-refundable)

If you have questions about the conference, please feel free to write or call. We have enclosed a tentative schedule of the conference along with a list of hotels and motels in the area for your convenience. We look forward to seeing you this January!

May God bless your labors,

The Session of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church

NOTE: Space for this conference will be limited by the size of our facilities. Once capacity is reached, registrations will be returned.

Monday, January 6
7:00 - 7:45 p.m. - Session #1, Steve Schlissel
7:45 - 8:15 p.m. - Break
8:15 - 9:00 p.m. - Session #2, "Respondent"
9:00 - 9:30 p.m. - Discussion

Tuesday, January 7
8:30 - 9:15 a.m. - Session #3, Doug Wilson
9:15 - 9:45 a.m. - Break
9.45 - 10:30 a.m. - Session #4, "Respondent"
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. - Discussion
11:00 - 11:15 a.m. - Break
11:15 - 11:45 a.m. - Questions and Answers
11:45 - 1:55 p.m. - Dinner
2:00 - 2:45 p.m. - Session 45, John Barach
2:-15 -3,15 p.m. - Break
3:15 - 4:00 p.m. - Session #6, "Respondent"
4:00 - 4:30 p.m. - Discussion
4:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Supper
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. - Session #7. Steve Wilkins
7:15 - 7:45 p.m. - Break
7:45 - 8:30 p.m. - Session #8, "Respondent"
8:30 - 9:00 p.m. - Discussion

Wednesday, January 8
8:30 - 9:15 a. m. - Discussion between all participants
9:15 - 9:45 a.m. - Break
9:45 - 10:30 a.m. - Questions and Answers
10:30 - 11:00 p.m. - Break
11:00 - 12:00 p. m. - Discussion and conclusions

Hotels, Motels, and Inns in the Monroe/West Monroe Area

MONROE

* Atrium - 318/325-0641
Best Western Airport Inn - 318/345-4000
Comfort Suites - 318/410-1005
Days Inn - 318/345-2220
Guesthouse Inn - 800-214-8378 or 318/323-4451
Hampton Inn - 318/361-9944
*Marriott Courtyard - 318/388-0034
Motel 6 - 318/322-5430
LaQuinta Inn - 800-531-5900 or 318/322-3900
Ramada Ltd- 800-272-6232 or 318/323-1600
*Residence Inn - 800-331-3131 or 318/387-0210
Travel Lodge - 800-578-7878 or 318/325-5851
Stratford House Inn - 800-338-9593 or 318/388-8868
Super 8 Motel - 318/325-6361

WEST MONROE
*Baymont Inn - 318/387-2711
Best Western West Monroe - 318/322-9922
Holiday Inn Express - 800-465-4329 or 318/388-3810
Red Roof Inn - 800-843-7663 or 318/388-2420
Shoney's Inn - 800-222-2222 or 318/325-5780
Super 8 Motel - 800-800-8000 or 318/325-6361

(Please note! The * indicates accommodations we highly recommend Comfort Suites offers suites for $65. Atrium offers rooms for $55; suites for $99. Residence Inn offers 1 bedroom suite for $89, 2 bedroom $109. Call early since there are limited numbers available.)