What is a Weekender?
Three times a year, 9Marks and Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC host around one hundred pastors, seminarians, and church leaders from Thursday night to Monday morning for a full-on immersion in the life and inner workings of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, a church committed to living and ministering biblically.
You’ll have box seats for a new members’ class. You’ll be front and center for lectures from Mark Dever on expositional preaching and implementing change. You’ll even go behind closed doors to observe an elders’ meeting. And all that’s just the first half of the weekend.
From leadership to worship to body life and more, it’s all on the table. So bring your questions, and don’t forget to stash some cash for the CHBC bookstall.
See a sample Weekender itinerary
Thursday
12-5pm Arrive in Washington
1:00pm Registration Opens
5:00pm Dinner provided
5:30pm Registration Ends
5:45pm Welcome & Orientation
7:00pm Elders Meeting (can go as late as midnight)
Friday
9:15am Elders Meeting Review
10:00am History of CHBC with Staff
12:45pm Lunch (provided)
2:00pm Church Membership & Discipline talk
3:00pm Afternoon Seminar
5:30pm Dinner (provided)
7:00pm Membership Matters Part I
Saturday
9:00am Discipling and Counseling
10:00am Leadership in the Church
11:00am Congregationalism
12:15pm Lunch on your own or with CHBC staff (optional); Free Time
5:30pm Dinner (provided)
6:30pm Church Discipline Case Studies
7:30pm Mark Dever on Sermon Preparation/Preaching
Sunday
9:30am Core Seminars
10:30am Morning Worship Service
1:00pm Lunch with an Elder (provided)
4:00pm Brief Elders’ Meeting
5:00pm Sunday Evening Service
7:00pm CHBC Members Meeting
9:00pm Sunday Services Review/Dinner (provided)
Monday
7:45am Raising up Leaders with Mark Dever
8:30am Evaluation of Weekender
9:30am Depart for Airports
Why attend a Weekender?
We encourage pastors and church leaders to attend because, just as every Timothy needs a Paul, so every church needs a model. “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 3:17; 4:9).
You may not implement or even agree with every last thing you see during your visit, but having this biblical model can help develop a more directed movement in the way you serve and lead in your local body.
Then again, maybe you know where to go, but feel clueless about how to get there: “I know I want elders, but what do they do when they meet? I know I need to preach, but how do I go about preparing sermons week in and week out? I know the budget needs work, but I’m no accountant.” The goal of The 9Marks Weekender is to provide an environment in which leaders can observe and discuss the biblical and practical dynamics of nurturing love and holiness in a local church.
Where do Weekenders occur?
Weekenders take place at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, which is located just five blocks behind the capitol building in the heart of Washington DC. From the 1950s to the 1990s, this inner city church experienced a forty-year decline in every sense imaginable. But the faithful, evangelical preaching of God’s Word, coupled with ministry methods driven by biblical principles, has breathed new life and renewed holiness into the local congregation. You’ll hear about the history of the transformation over the course of the weekend, as well as some of the lessons learned by the pastors God graciously used to lead the change.
When do Weekenders occur?
Weekenders generally occur three times a year, in March, May and September. Registrants are expected to participate in the entire schedule beginning from 6:00 p.m. on Thursday through 9:30 a.m. on Monday. We ask that you apply only if you are able to attend the whole Weekender. If your application is accepted, please note that it is conditional upon your full participation in the schedule. Due to the limited space at each Weekender, we ask that each church send no more than three men to any Weekender. This allows more churches to participate in each Weekender. Priority is given to applicants who have not attended a Weekender in the past.
What are the logistics?
Housing
Weekenders can seek accommodations at any of the near-by hotels (Hotels closest to CHBC).
Food
We provide lunches and dinners on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (lunch with staff on Saturday is optional).
Travel
Travel plans are left to you. Please plan to arrive at the church no later than 5:30 p.m. Thursday evening. If you are flying to DC, it is advisable to to arrive by 3 p.m. at one of three Washington, DC area airports: Reagan National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD) or Baltimore/Washington International (BWI). Please do not book your return flight for any earlier than 11 a.m. Monday morning. As you’re making travel plans, we strongly encourage you to arrive early or at least on time Thursday evening, and to refrain from leaving early on Monday.
Cost (and Scholarships)
The cost to register for the Weekenders is $450. A student/seminary rate of $225 for students enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours is available for up to ten students per Weekender. The registration fee includes the meals listed above as well as many resources. We understand some individuals won’t be able to afford the full amount, though we do ask each attendee to contribute a minimum of $200. If you need a portion of the registration cost covered by 9Marks, please email weekender@9marks.org.
Refunds and Cancellation
If you cancel, full refunds are not available. A refund of $175 will be considered depending on the reason and timing of cancellation. Space is available for fifty people per Weekender, and they fill up quickly. So if you know you’re interested, go ahead and sign up early.
Who Should Attend a Weekender?
The Weekender is designed for men who are, or aspire to be, church leaders. This includes pastors, elders, deacons, lay leaders, seminarians, and more.
“May I Bring My Wife?”
Men often ask if they can or should bring their wives to the Weekender. We generally discourage it because the schedule is extremely full and the sessions are only open to the registered participants. If wives do come, they are welcome to attend the church’s public meetings (Membership Matters, Core Seminars, Sunday AM and Sunday PM services).
For information on CHBC’s children’s ministry and Praise Factory orientations, please visit http://praisefactory.org/.
Leave Room in Your Suitcase!
Those who attend the Weekender should expect to receive about 15 free books from 9Marks. So make sure to leave some extra room in your suitcase!
CHBC Praise Factory
For information on CHBC’s children’s ministry and Praise Factory orientations, please visit http://praisefactory.org/.
