East Coast Ministers’ Conference

What Is Man?

May 28 – May 30, 2024

Elizabethtown, PA, USA

$170–$465

What is Man?

What Is Man? Responding to Contemporary Challenges

From its very first chapter, the Bible makes it clear that human beings are unique within the created order. More than this, it defines our uniqueness by saying that we – both male and female – are made in the image and likeness of God himself (Genesis 1:26–27). The implications for this in terms of understanding our identity and recognising our responsibilities in life, are traced upwards to God and our relationship with him.

The post-Enlightenment era, in which we live, has reshaped and redefined our self-understanding as a race; and, despite its claim to usher in new freedoms, it has created a level of confusion, angst and social disintegration not witnessed before. Many Christians have been left floundering as to how we should respond.

Hence the theme for this year’s Ministers’ Conference. We as pastors have a unique responsibility, not only to lead our congregations towards a deeper knowledge of God; but, as Calvin so astutely points out, to a deeper knowledge of ourselves as well. This is the very essence of ‘wisdom’ in its purest form.

Our prayer for the conference is that as we are reminded of this great reality, we will be better equipped and emboldened to instruct our people more effectively.

Speakers

Burk Parsons

Burk Parsons serves as Senior Pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel, and he is editor of Tabletalk, the monthly magazine of Ligonier Ministries where he has served since 1999. He is a Ligonier Ministries Teaching Fellow, and he is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. Dr. Parsons holds his master’s and doctoral degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary. He is the author, co-author, and editor of several books and serves as an associate editor of the Reformation Study Bible. He speaks regularly at churches, conferences, and institutions throughout the United States and abroad.

Carl Trueman

Carl R. Trueman is professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He holds Masters and doctoral degrees from Cambridge and Aberdeen Universities. He is a contributing editor at First Things, an esteemed church historian, and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Trueman has authored or edited more than a dozen books, including Crisis of Confidence, Strange New World, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, The Creedal Imperative, and Histories and Fallacies. He is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

Craig Troxel

A. Craig Troxel is the Robert G. den Dulk Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary California. Dr. Troxel previously served as a pastor in Illinois and Pennsylvania and has taught systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary and ministerial studies at Mid-America Theological Seminary. He now serves as a faculty member for the Ministerial Training Institute of the OPC, on the OPC’s Committee on Christian Education, and the Ecclesiology Study Group of the Evangelical Theological Society. Dr. Troxel has published numerous articles in theological journals and is an author with P&R Publishing and Crossway.

Mark Johnston

Mark Johnston, originally from Northern Ireland, studied in Queen’s University, Belfast and Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia and spent ten years involved in Church planting work with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ireland. In 1994 he was called to the pastorate of Grove Chapel, Camberwell, an historic Calvinistic Chapel in Central London, where he served for 16 years. He has since served congregations in the USA and Wales but has now returned to Northern Ireland to serve at Groomsport Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He is a Trustee of the Banner of Truth Trust and the author of several books and commentaries.

Andy Young

Andrew J. Young is originally from Cardiff and studied at Cambridge University. He has advanced degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary in the US. Andy is a Banner Trustee and Chairman of the Westminster Conference for Theological & Historical Study – a UK conference that celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025. In 2018, after serving as the minister of Cheltenham Presbyterian Church for ten years, Andy became the minister of Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church, a new church planted in the centre of Oxford, England. He is a frequent speaker at conferences in the UK.

David Garner

David B. Garner is Chief Academic Officer, Vice President of Global Ministries, and Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. David holds Masters and doctoral degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary. He has lived and taught in various parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Since 2007, he has taught systematic theology and missiology at Westminster Theological Seminary, and continues to teach around the world, most frequently in Asia. A regular conference speaker, Dr. Garner also serves as the Systematic Theology Book Review Editor for Themelios Journal.

Conference Schedule

Tuesday, May 28

11:00am–3:15pm: Registration (Leffler Chapel Lobby)

3.30pm: Session 1
Andy Young, Opening Address

5:00pm-6:30pm: Dinner

7:00pm: Session 2
Carl Trueman,The Desecration of Man

8:15pm: Refreshments (Leffler Chapel)

Wednesday, May 29

7:00am–8:00am: Breakfast

8:15am–8:45am: Corporate Prayer

9:00 am: Session 3
Burk Parsons, The Suppression of Truth

10:15am: Refreshments (Leffler Chapel)

10:45am: Session 4
David Garner,Creation and Human Dignity

12:00pm–1:30pm: Lunch

1:00pm–3:00pm:Free Time
(Gym, racquetball & pool open)

3:15pm: Session 5
TBA, Short Address

3:30pm: Session 6
Craig Troxel, A Heart Set on Heaven

5:00pm–6:30pm: Dinner

7:00pm:Session 7
Carl Trueman, The Consecration of Man

Thursday, May 30

7:00am–8:00am: Breakfast

8:15am–8:45am: Corporate Prayer

9:00am: Session 8
Burk Parsons, The Purpose of Humanity

10:15am: Refreshments (Leffler Chapel)

10:45am: Session 9
Craig Troxel, A Heart Set on Wisdom

12:00pm–1:00pm: Lunch

1:30pm: Session 10
David Garner, Resurrection and Human Identity

2:45pm: Session 11
Mark Johnston, Closing Address

FAQs

Who attends?

The East Coast Ministers’ Conference is arranged for:

Ordained ministers (including retirees)
Missionaries and Chaplains (including retirees)
Those being trained for church ministry in a seminary or those who teach in a seminary
Those being set aside for pastoral ministry in-church
Church officers involved in preaching, teaching, or pastoral care at a particular church

We ask that only men attend to maximize opportunities for fellowship, accountability, and prayer. We understand the difficulty of being away from family for a couple of nights, but one of the goals of this conference is to encourage men to forge strong friendships with like-minded brothers and fellow gospel ministers.

Where is it located?

Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown PA. Some might ask, “Why host a conference at a college campus?” A college campus allows us to keep everyone together. The vast majority of the attendees will stay in the campus dorms, share meals together at the campus food court, and enjoy fellowship together in the campus recreation centers.

What does it cost?

The Elizabethtown College campus allows us to keep the conference rates low. This is an important feature of Banner of Truth conferences, for we want to reach out to as many pastors as possible, not all of whom are serving in large and prosperous congregations. Our conference fee, which ranges from $200 to $405 is great value for money when you consider it covers room and full board, conference registration, bookstore gift certificates, and the use of all campus facilities. There are absolutely no hidden costs!

Rooms and Registration

Registration Rates	Early Bird	Advance Saver	Standard	Late
	Before November 30, 2023	December 1, 2023 to February 29, 2024	March 1, 2024 to April 30, 2024	After April 30, 2024
¹Standard Plan	~~$335~~	~~$355~~	$385	$425
²Standard+ Plan	~~$375~~	~~$395~~	$425	$465
³Apartment Accommodations	~~$355~~	~~$375~~	$405	$445
⁴Seminary Student	~~$240~~	~~$260~~	$290	$330
⁵Registration Only	~~$170~~	~~$190~~	$220	$230

Standard Plan: 2 person bedroom in dorm accommodation with shared (4-8 people) bathroom facilities. 2 nights accommodation and a 6-meal plan (Tuesday supper to Thursday lunch).
Standard+ Plan: Single bedroom in dorm accommodation with shared (4-8 people) bathroom facilities. 2 nights accommodation and a 6-meal plan (Tuesday supper to Thursday lunch). Limited availability.
Apartment Accommodations: 4 person apartment with two twin bedrooms and shared bathroom facilities. Must be booked as a group of four at time of booking. Price is per person and includes 2 nights accommodation and a 6-meal plan (Tuesday supper to Thursday lunch). Limited availability.
Seminary Student: Based on the standard plan.
Registration Only: You arrange your own accommodations and meals (meal tickets available on campus).