Strategic Consideration: Connecting Churches With Their Communities

Sacred Spaces Of The Black Church

With Rev. Derrill Blue & Dr. Dara Delgado The workshop will explore the legacy of the Black Church in the United States, focusing on the importance of community and its contributions to Black Americans' health, survival, and well-being. Together, the facilitators will use social-historical and practical approaches to examine the history of the community in the Black Church through the lens of civic and social engagement, leadership development, and digital discipleship in a post-pandemic/COVID age. The concept of community broadly will serve as a means for engaging where the Black Church has been, where it is, and where it is going.

Strategic Consideration: Connecting Churches With Their Communities

With Fredrick Johnson and Marie Moy They will share about church partnering with the community in their contexts. Embedded in Christian Community Development, Fredrick and Marie will provide tools for engagement that are easily transferable to urban, suburban, or rural settings to connect churches with their surrounding neighbors.

Women & Men Together Creating Safe Spaces in Our Churches

With Elizabeth Gerhardt and Scott Sittig This workshop will present ideas to understand the role patriarchy has played historically, and presently, that undermine, devalue, or otherwise marginalize the voice and role of women in leadership in the church. How to recognize overt, and less obvious patterns, and offer some ideas for developing a plan to change it.

Resourcing World Problems with Impactful Mission

With Melvin Cross and Ashley Cross The Church’s engagement in the community should be a part of its missional value system. A church that’s present gives Christ-centered language to the community it’s called to serve and love. Melvin and Ashley will be discussing ways to engage the various spheres of society while providing resources and equipping the church to be Christ-centered solutionist.

The Ministry of Creative Writing- Pt 2

With non-fiction author and seminary faculty member Marlena Graves This workshop provides an inside look on the power of both fiction and non-fiction to positively impact lives. Whether you feel called to write for the church or see yourself in genre-specific storytelling, you'll come away inspired to pursue your next project.