I'm totally late to the game, but I finally began listening to Bishop Rob Wright's podcast named For People (Listen here). I started with the pilot episode, as one should, and didn't realize that it was posted exactly two years ago, right after Covid lockdown first hit the United States.

Not even 5 minutes in it felt as if he was perfectly describing the purpose and mission if the people engaged in Gathering of Leaders:

"It's clear that right now a lot of us are being forced to be more imaginative and creative than we would be normally.... [We have] an opportunity to refine, deepen, and broaden our ways to proclaim Jesus Christ, to care for our neighbor, and to live out our Baptismal Covenant." - The Rt. Rev. Rob Wright

While he was speaking directly about the pivoting taking place to be the church when our doors were closed, this desire for creative, innnovative, and hope-filled mission and evangelism had already been inspiring ministry and raising disciples through the GOL network for 16 years. 

We're still squarely in the pandemic with waves of varients keeping us on our toes, and the creativity and faith that participants in GOL exhibit every day are feeding people spiritually in real and meaningful ways.

I encourage you to connect in with one of our 2022 Gathering as a way to re-energize, refresh, and reconnect with others who are doing the hard work in the trenches alongside you:

• Clergy Gathering at Philadelphia on Racial Reconciliation and Discipleship in the Missionary Church (June 27-29)
• Virtual Gathering on Racial Reconciliation (Sept. 20-21)
• Clergy Gathering at Oregon on the Missionary Church After Christendom (Oct. 17-19)

Blessings,

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

The Missionary Church After Christendom

(Gatherings: Oregon)

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

(Gatherings: Philadelphia, Virtual September)

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.