Available online and in person in Ville Court

Dr. Marcia McFee will share fascinating research into the benefits of experiencing awe for our well-being and offer many ideas for easy-to-curate events filled with delight and meaning such as street-wisdom walks, candlelight concerts, offline clubs, longest table dinners, and more. Scientists are affirming what mystics and biblical poets knew all along – awe is good for us. In a time of heightened anxiety, we have the opportunity to curate awe-filled experiences in our churches and for the greater community that can help us not just stay alive be alive.

Available online and in person in Room 114.

Presented by Dr. Greg Carey. Christian Nationalism comes in diverse flavors, all of which collaborate on a common political program. This workshop helps us identify those flavors, names how the movement shapes people’s attitudes, offers substantive Christian critique, and offers strategies for responding.

In person in Club Deville.

Presented by Cheryl A. Leanza and Rev. Freeman Palmer. In this time when so many communities are under attack, from immigrants to trans people, women to voters, media has become more critical to those safeguarding justice and those trying to thwart it. Learn more about social and traditional media and how you can be part of the solution – as an individual or a congregation. The UCC’s 60+ year-old ministry, UCC Media Justice, invites you to join our KnowPeace.Online campaign to stop mis- and dis-information online and learn about our new fellowship program.

Available online and in person in Room 118

Presented by Caryn Long Earl. This workshop will provide participants with insight into the prevalence of food insecurity in Pennsylvania and will help to dispel some of the myths about those who need food assistance. It will also provide participants with a toolkit of ways in which they can take action to help.

In person in Room 10

Presented by Rev. Dr. Steve Ohnsman. This workshop is for ONA churches within the Keystone Conference and those seeking more information about the ONA process. Panelists from churches in the Keystone Conference will share their church’s reason for joining the ONA movement, their process, and ways they continue to live out their Covenant.

In person in Room 202.

Presented by Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson.

In person in Club Deville.

Presented by Chad Cunningham of the Insurance Board. This is a course designed to help church leaders recognize the real-world risks their ministries face. Through guided discussion and scenario-based questions, participants will explore common vulnerabilities and learn practical, proactive strategies to reduce them. By the end, you’ll walk away with clear steps to better protect your people, property, and mission.

In person in Campus Life.

With Rev. Julie Holm. Participate in a drum circle! Play a variety of percussion instruments together with a group. No previous experience in percussion needed – just a lot of fun.

In person in Room 149 Gordinier Dining Hall.

Presented by Tami Marinella of Cornerstone Fund. Learn about the Cornerstone funds mission of “Joining together in faith to invest in and build Community”. Learn about our investment program and how your investments support church vitality. Also learn how Cornerstone lends money to churches to use their property to support their good works. Be inspired by stories of creative use of church property.

In person in the Commuter Lounge.

Presented by Rev. Beth Eustis. After a brief introduction, participants will practice listening for God and then will have the opportunity to reflect on their experience and share in discussion with the facilitator.

In person in Room 24

Presented by Shane Sanders and Edward Achetermann. Creation justice begins with recognizing who and what is already at the table. In this participatory workshop, congregations will reflect on existing ministries, explore the first three steps toward becoming a Creation Justice Church, and discover how current practices already contribute to the Four Dimensions of Creation Justice. Participants will leave with encouragement, shared wisdom, and concrete next steps for deepening care for God’s creation.

In person in 149 Gordinier Dining Hall

Presented by Rev. Matt Gorkos. This workshop will be an opportunity to meet members of the Keystone Conference’s Cultivating Congregational Ministry Team and hear about the team’s vision for assisting in the vitality of our local churches. Additionally, it will be an opportunity to have dialogue about what vital congregational ministry does or might look like today.

In person in Room 204

Presented by Rev. Dwight Hein. This workshop would be an introduction to the Convergence Music Project (CMP) which was begun by UCC pastor/singer/composer Bryan Sirchio with support from the Convergence network with Cameron Trimble. CMP is bringing together music writers like Ken Medema, Lea Morris, and Brian McClaren, and congregations from across progressive Christianity to create new “music for a just and generous Christianity.” We will sing some CMP songs, show how to use the CMP website, and explain how to get involved in CMP through submitting new music or purchasing music/printed music for their worship services in a fair-trade manner. Share the excitement about this “new soundtrack” being composed for our era of faith!

Available online and in person in Ville Court.

Presented by Rev. Dr. Mary Luti. We love Communion for the inclusive welcomes Jesus extends; the intimacy, unity, and equality that eating together creates; and the soul-nourishment, pardon, and peace, the sacrament conveys. It’s comforting and uplifting – but maybe not always challenging. We forget that Communion is also an ethical act, with inherent justice demands. In this workshop, we’ll examine one of these justice imperatives – food and feeding. We’ll also brainstorm some ways to enhance the “mealness of the meal” so that we may grasp this imperative more clearly and be shaped as a Body for witness in the world.

Available online and in person in Room 18.

Presented by Eric Dundore of the UCC Musicians Association. The United Church of Christ Musicians Association (UCCMA) is a national organization whose mission is to serve the church musicians and worship planners for ALL the congregations in the UCC. We will use this time to give you as many resources for music as we can and spend some time discussing the overall musical needs of your congregations.

Available online and in person in Room 114

Presented by Rev. Amelia Price. We will discuss and share about the STAR Coalition, its work with and for churches that self-identify as STAR Congregations; we will briefly discuss current statistics regarding the preponderance of STAR churches in the UCC and explore the future as we are now a self-created group in the UCC.

Available online and in person in Room 118.

Presented by Stacey Pettice of United Church Funds. Explore how everyday financial decisions impact human rights globally. This session will explore how investments and banking choices intersect with Indigenous rights, conflict zones and labor rights, and how responsible investors, such as UCF, advocate for justice.

In person in the Gallery.

Presented by Rev. Dr. Patrick G. Duggen and Jill White of the Church Building and Loan Fund. Congregations often treat their buildings as static monuments to the past rather than dynamic tools for the future. This topic addresses the psychological and spiritual shift required to leverage property for mission.

In person in Room 10.

Presented by Rev. Brad Haws and Rev. Ken Evitts. Following an informative and fruitful General Synod special lunch gathering around the topics of “Conservatives in the UCC,” this workshop will seek to continue the positive momentum of that discussion by addressing and generating conversation around our perceived left/progressive – right/conservative gap. Being a “purple” state and Conference, ongoing conversations allow us the opportunity to emulate civil, spiritually fruit-led dialogue with and to one another, hopefully resourcing participants with the ideas to take back to our churches and communities.

In person in the Gallery.

Presented by Katie Howe and Rev. Gary Barraco. This workshop is designed to provide a space for collaborative problem-solving for participants to understand the framework of United Church of Christ disaster ministries through the life cycle of a disaster (preparedness, response and long-term recovery). By creating strong community connections, and staying true to our faith, our faith-communities are well positioned to provide resources in times of trouble. The skills gained in this workshop can be tailored to meet the needs of the local community when disasters occur.

In person in Room 24.

Presented by Rev. Dr. Paul Ramsey, Rev. Liddy Barlow, Rev. Cean James and Janezee Bond of the Pension Board. This Workshop hosted by the Pension Boards-United Church of Christ invites ministry professionals and lay workers to re-imagine wellbeing as a sacred practice this uplifting workshop will explore simple, sustainable, and practical ways for living with balance, managing financial stress with confidence, and embracing stewardship of the whole self to find renewed strength through Ministerial Resources, Health and Retirement, and Legacy and Stewardship offerings.

In person in Club DeVille.

Presented by Rev. Dr. Christopher Rodkey. This workshop for clergy will introduce ChatGPT, how to use and leverage its limitations, and general issues of Ethics related to A.I. and its history. Did you know that the idea of artificial intelligence traces its history back to 16th century theology?

In person in Commuter Lounge.

Presented by Rev. Tim Dugan, Matt Deal, Rev. Chris Rankin and Anne Thayer of the Mercersburg Society. God comes to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Proclaiming this is foundational not only at Christmas, but throughout the year. Come and discuss how we can do that with integrity and passion and learn how the Mercersburg tradition sees the Incarnation as the beginning in essence of the Good News.

In person in Campus Life.

Presented by Rev. Dr. Matthew Lennahan and Amanda Frankeny. What if every harvest could go further? This workshop explores how farms and food access programs can come together to ensure fresh, nourishing food reaches neighbors who need it most. featuring both a farmer actively harvesting surplus crops and a program leader working to grow this model through funding and partnerships, this session will share real stories, lessons learned, and the power of collaboration. Participants will leave inspired – and equipped – with ideas to build or strengthen farm-to-pantry connections in their own communities.

In person in Room 204

Presented by Rev. Dr. Rick Luciotti. The discernment and timing of when a pastor decided to retire from ministry is an important and life-changing process. Reverend Dr Rick Luciotti has been through the process himself as a local church pastor. Rick has also informally guided and advised pastors and local churches and specialized ministry settings through the retirement discernment process, including when to contact the Pension Boards, when to let church or organizational leaders know, and how to weave everything together as smoothly as possible. The goal is being able to navigate the time that honors both the ministry setting and the minister in the transition to new eras in their faith journeys. Authorized ministers and all settings and ages may find this workshop helpful no matter how far along they are in the retirement or retirement discernment process.

In person in Room 202.

Presented by Jenna Duranko and Greg Carey. An overview of the newly formed Moravian University School of theology. This is a great opportunity to learn about the programs that are offered including Master’s, DMin, Non-degree and Lifelong Learning courses. Open to anyone who is interested in theological education, ministry leadership, and exploring their call to ministry.

In person in Gordinier Dining Hall.

Presented by Dr. Micheal Gibbs. Working with members of the cultivating Current Congregational Ministry Team, workshop participants will gain an understanding of the services available to their individual congregations through this team’s mission and ministry. Through interaction with other participants, they will experience the initial steps of an “Appreciative Inquiry” approach to discerning congregational health and a vision for the future.