The March 3-5 gathering promises church, social enterprise leaders new insights on sustainability
by Paul Seebeck | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — Together with partners also engaged in church planting and revitalization, 1001 New Worshiping Communities of the Presbyterian Mission Agency is sponsoring an upcoming Hopeful Economics UnConference on March 3-5.
The Rev. Nikki Collins, national coordinator of the PC(USA) 1001 NWC movement, is confident the appropriately named ecumenical gathering will help leaders think differently about sustainability and partnerships within the communities they serve.
“Leaders from faith communities and social enterprise will have the opportunity to listen and learn from one another about both the challenges they face and the abundance in our local communities,” she said. “This will allow them to imagine new possibilities for partnership that were unimaginable until now.”
According the UnConference website, these discussions will “be deep” and “go down rabbit holes,” but participants “will come back up for even more refreshing air.” If attendees do not find something of value from the event — a learning, a new contact, a fresh perspective — then the sponsors will refund the registration fee, which is $20 Canadian, or about $15.75 in U.S. currency.
As sponsors of this event, the 1001 team will offer expertise to participants who are encouraged to set up a booth in a virtual exhibit hall, coaching them as they seek to tell their stories and seek partners for their work. Participants and sponsoring organizations from denominations and charitable foundations across the U.S. and Canada will be at the event, which Collins said “promises hope” to church communities and nonprofits “of all shapes and sizes.”
The Rev. Nikki Collins is coordinator of the PC(USA)’s 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement.
“Congregations and new worshiping communities are encouraged to participate in the event. But we also recognize that our congregations are made up of individuals who lead nonprofits and social enterprises in the community,” she said. “We really hope Presbyterians who are working on these challenges in their local communities will join too.”
1001 is sponsoring the Hopeful Economics UnConference as part of its partnership with Ecumenical Partners in Outreach, a network of leaders engaged in church planting and revitalization from the following denominations:
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- United Church of Christ
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- The United Methodist Church
- The United Church of Canada
- The Presbyterian Church in Canada
For more information or to register for the Hopeful Economics UnConference, click here.
Click these specific links for an event schedule, a list of exhibitors and speakers, or to register.
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