What a joy it was to host the most recent Gathering at Philadelphia. This was our first in-person Gathering since last October, and GOL's first time enjoying the serenity at Pendle Hill retreat center. We also welcomed 15 new Participants to the Gathering of Leaders' network.

Our conversations centered around Racial Reconciliation and Discipleship in the Missionary Church, a crucial topic for anyone in ministry today. Jemonde Taylor shared the theology of Endarkenment, Joe Thompson offered insight into the reparations program at VTS, Jackee Martinez offered her thoughts on the role deacons play in vibrant community, and many others spoke honestly about moments in their lives and ministries shaped by the racial disparity in our country and in our world.

As resources and methods were shared, GOL staff gathering the links, books, videos, and quotes, and later this summer they will be shared with everyone using our new digital community tool. Be on the lookout for sneak peeks and videos for the new tool. You're going to love it! If you want to know more, please contact our Community Curator Alicia with questions.

Looking ahead we are holding our first Bivo/Part-Time Gathering and our first Lay Leader Gathering this fall, plus our Oregon Gathering for clergy is sold out! Clergy registrations are open for 2023 and we'll be releasing the dates for the next specialized Gatherings later this fall.

To help support the new networks coming on board, we are grateful to the Bishop Quin Foundation in the Diocese of Texas for a gift of $20,000 to support the Lay and Bivo networks, and to the Diocese of Oklahoma for a gift of $5,000 to support the Bivo network. You too can support Gathering of Leaders by contributing to our 2022 Annual Fund: donate here.

Blessings,

Haley Bankey
Executive Director, Gathering of Leaders
haley@thegatheringofleaders.org

The Missionary Church After Christendom

The era when “everyone” knew the Christian story, the church held a position of public respect, and Sunday mornings were reserved for worship is ending. The church is losing influence, power, and the social expectations that maintained our institutions and budgets. How will we, as leaders, respond to this transition out of hope and courage rather than fear? What can we learn for this new reality from voices in the church who have modeled perseverance, maturity, faithfulness, and innovation from a place of cultural marginalization? What do we need to retain at our core; what do we need to cast off; and what do we need to adapt in order to proclaim the gospel and form disciples in this new reality?

Racial Reconcilation and Discipleship in the Missionary Church

Our Presiding Bishop has called us into a deeper understanding of the relationship between evangelism and racial reconciliation. It has been said that Sunday morning is the most segregated time in America, because our worshipping communities often reflect the dividing lines of race rather than the unity of Christ’s Body or the glorious diversity of God’s creation. We wish to explore the connection between discipleship, mission, and racial reconciliation. Continuing events in our nation make this work all the more urgent. We understand ourselves, as Christians, to be called to reconciliation. How does making disciples facilitate and celebrate racial reconciliation in our particular contexts? How are the church’s legacies of racial division and racial healing affecting your work of evangelism and mission? What signs of hope do you see? Within the context of the Great Commission, what roles do confession, repentance, forgiveness and reparation play in the work of racial reconciliation within ourselves, our congregations and the Episcopal Church?

PARTICIPANT DIRECTORY: Those who have attended at least one Gathering have access to search our directory for other Participants by name, church affiliation, city, or state. Travelling somewhere and want to meet up with some GOLers? Give it a search! Try out the Directory here.

PARTICIPANT ONLY FACEBOOK GROUP: One of the main ways our participants connect and collaborate with one another is through our private Facebook group. If you have attended at least one Gathering, and are not yet part of the group, please email haley@thegatheringofleaders.org to get setup.

SUGGESTED READING LISTS: At each Gathering we collected suggested readings from our participants that deal directly with our annual theme. Click the themes for access to the most current suggested reading list: Racial Reconciliation and for Unity & Division. 

SHARED RESOURCES: During each Gathering we record the peer-learning presentation (with permission) and upload them to our participant portal.  For all presentations from our Racial Reconciliation year and Unity & Division, log into our website and search.

SEMINARY DEBT REDUCTION GRANTS: Through GOL's partnership with the Episcopal Church Foundation, grant funds have been made available to participants in the Gathering of Leaders network to reduce individual seminary debt. The grants must be used to make loan payments above and beyond the normal repayment/amortization schedule (i.e., principal) and will be awarded on the basis of financial need and the demonstrated capacity to manage debt, handle day-to-day finances, and plan for the future. Grants will range from $3,000-$5,000 and will be paid in one lump sum. Learn more and apply.