Attendees at this summer’s General Synod 35 will have plenty of learning opportunities to choose from through a slate of 35 workshops.

Workshops are a hallmark of General Synod, giving attendees from across the denomination the platform to share and learn together their various knowledge, resources, and skill sets with the wider church, and for visitors to learn more about the various resources, and opportunities available to them in the church.

One year ago, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, UCC General Minister and President/CEO, introduced six programmatic priorities for the national ministries of the United Church of Christ. During the planning for General Synod, these priorities were identified as themes for the workshops. They are: Strengthening the Church, Leadership Development, Spiritual Formation, Reshaping the Narrative, Decolonization, and Climate Action. Submissions were received from local church authors and entrepreneurs, pastors, conference staff, national staff and covenantal partner organizations.

“General Synod workshops are always a beautiful and robust collection of offerings from across the denomination,” said the Rev. Tracy Howe, team lead for the Faith Education, Innovation, and Formation (Faith INFO) team, and coordinator of Synod workshops. “We have really practical and timely offerings for all our local churches are dealing with at this time — from immigration to worship design and more.”

Attendees can choose between 17 different one-hour presentations and panels for each of the two sessions, which will occur Sunday, July 13 — the first batch set at 10:30 a.m., and the second batch at 12:00 p.m. Specific times and room assignments for each workshop will be announced in the coming weeks.
Workshops are open to all attendees, no sign up is required, with capacity only limited by the seats which are available.

Below, find a list of scheduled workshops. A full description of each workshop is available on the General Synod website.

Spiritual Formation

• Deep Calling to Deep: The Power of Poetry in Worship and Personal Devotion
• Dipping Our Nets into Music that Makes Community: Deeply Accessible Singing for Every Body
• The Spirituality of Generosity: Learning with the Philanthropy Team of the National Ministries
• Dig Deep into Your Call
• Purveyors of Awe: Experience, Ritual, and Innovation for a Weary World

Climate Action

• Climate Hope: Creating the Political Will to Address Climate and Inequality
• Environmental Stewardship through Responsible Investments
• Refuge from the Storm: Preparing Churches to Respond to Climate-Related Disasters

Leadership Development

• Blessed Minds and Blessed Bodies
• Insurance Board Presents: Effective Ministry Policies to Prevent Abuse and Maintain Proper Boundaries
• Faithful Finances: How Money Choices Affect Human Rights
• Building A Legacy
• Speak Truth to Power: Influencing Sacred Change on Capitol Hill
• Church Buildings: Blessing or Burden?
• Deepening Networks of Mutuality: Connecting, Discovering, and Building a New World of Solidarity and Hope
• Communities of Practice for Church Leaders

Decolonization

• Organizing for Repair and Embodied Solidarity with Indigenous Communities
• Blanket Exercise led by the Council for American Indian Ministry
• Immigrants Welcome Here: Extravagant welcome in a time of exclusion
• The Church’s Call in Contexts of Conflict
• Decolonizing Practices in the midst of Palestinian Nakba
• For Such a Time as This: Palestine, Solidarity, and Bearing Bold Witness Together
• Equip Your Congregation to Build a Torture-Free Future: Ending Solitary Confinement with NRCAT

Reshaping the Narrative

• Aging is a Justice Issue: how we think and talk and preach about it matters
• Media Madness: How to Spot and Stop Disruption of Peace and Justice in the Media
• Faith at the United Nations (F.U.N): Advocating for Justice
• Snapshot of a Church’s Vitality & Tools for the Future

Strengthening the Church

• Building a Shining STAR (Small Town and Rural Church)
• Digital Evangelism: Creating Community with Social Media
• Covenant of Mission and Money: How to Invest in and Build Community
• Do2025!: Digital Access, Digital Resources and Digital Literacy for Today’s Church
• Creating a Secure Church: Harnessing The Power of Hello, focuses on de-escalation
• Energizing Faith Formation in the Church
• Engaging People of Call to Service – A New Evangelism
• Do you want to build a Prayground?

Workshops can be attended by any visitor or delegate that is registered for General Synod. Not registered? CLICK HERE to register, as online registration closes on Friday, June 13 at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

-By Charles Jefferson, Jr.

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