An upcoming conference is inviting people to prophetically reimagine the church in a time of great challenges.
Through skill-building, deep reflection, and collaborative organizing, the “Prophetically Reimagining the Church Conference” aims to “strengthen the capacity to protect the lives and well-being of targeted communities — within congregations, across faith traditions, and in solidarity with broader movements for justice – in a time of rising fascism, white supremacy, and Christian Nationalism.”
The conference, taking place on Sept. 19-20 both online and in Denver, Colorado, is sponsored by the United Church of Christ’s Faith Education, Innovation and Formation (Faith INFO) team and the UCC Rocky Mountain Conference, with several Faith INFO staff presenting workshops. It’s hosted by the Juniper Formation, a faith community of the United Church of Christ that aims to center the margins of the church. The community is in its fourth year as part of the UCC CASA (Church Assessment, Support and Advancement) program.
“I feel more now than ever that our Faith INFO team is ready to resource the local church and help them also in these times of change and such flux of stability or instability,” said the Rev. ellie hutchison, who serves as the UCC minister for congregational and community engagement.
The Faith INFO team members have been intentional about engaging widely and ecumenically to resource faith communities amidst great challenges and concerns.
“Faith INFO leaders are out trying to resource churches in multiple ways whether it be holding conferences like this, or meeting with Conference and Association leaders, or meeting with individual pastors of churches – we’re trying to resource the local church in multiple ways,” hutchison said.
At the Prophetically Reimagining the Church Conference, the Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey, UCC minster for congregational leadership, will address transgender inclusion in faith spaces; Rev. Cheryl A. Lindsay, UCC minister for worship and theology, will discuss how preaching can navigating red, purple, and blue politics; and hutchison will join Rev. Zaria Davis of New Direction Coaching and Consulting to invite consideration of the physical and spiritual impact of carceral buildings in communities, from prisons to probation offices.
Biblical scholar and Episcopal priest Rev. Wil Gafney will serve as the conference’s keynote speaker, addressing the topic of building capacity for teaching and preaching.
Registration to attend the conference online is available now.
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