Conferences

[It was] valuable to have combination of retired and active bishops together. Hearing the stories of retired bishops and their search for vitality and vocation in retirement helps active bishops (me) get a vision of how I can make that healthy transition when I retire.

CREDO 165 participant

Participation in a CREDO conference is by invitation only. Using age, vocation, and work status as a criteria, invitations are sent to randomly selected members from the Church Pension Fund’s database. Invitees can be deferred to the following year, but participation is always on a first-come, first-served basis.

There are three basic conference types: CREDO I, CREDO II, and CREDO for Retired Clergy. The eight-day conference design and structure is the same for all CREDO conferences types. There are differences in the component curriculum in the various conferences according to needs determined by age, vocation and work status.

CREDO conferences include a carefully designed blend of learning opportunities and activities. The schedule and design support an experiential learning model and the holistic ideal of CREDO. The design seeks to honor differences in people and recognizes that participants have different needs and different learning styles.

Elements of the conference design include:

  • Plenary Presentations
  • Workshops
  • Individual Consultations
  • Small Groups
  • Large Group Activities
  • Worship
  • Reflection Time
  • Personal Time

CREDO I

  1. Lay Employees
  2. Active Clergy – Age 39 and under
  3. Active Clergy – Age 40–54
  4. Active Clergy – Age 55–72
  5. Active Clergy – All ages
  6. Spanish-speaking clergy
  7. Active and Retired Bishops

CREDO II

  1. Active Clergy – Age 54 and under
  2. Active Clergy – Age 55–72
  3. Active and Retired Bishops

CREDO Retired

  1. Retired Clergy – Age 55–67
  2. Retired Clergy – Age 68 and over

Click here to view a list of Past CREDO Lay Participants.

Click here to view a list of Past CREDO Ordained Participants.