2019 In Common Conference
In 2018, EHF hosted the first In Common conference welcoming more than 100 participants from congregations across the diocese to Houston to learn and join in fellowship with us. Our goal was to provide congregational leaders the opportunity to gain skills and learn more about the resources and support EHF can offer congregations. We had a great response to this initial event and we’ve seen many of the participants take what they learned and moved their involvement in their community to a new level.
This year, In Common will be organized into three regional convening events hosted in Austin, Houston and Tyler. Each event will include a keynote speaker on Friday evening and a full-day of topic-specific workshops on Saturday.
Speakers and topics will vary for each convening, so you may choose to attend the event closest to you or the one offering the topics of most interest. Highlights include speakers The Rev. Eric Law of Kaleidoscope Institute, Jeremy Everett of Texas Hunger Initiative, Matthew Russell and Cleve Tinsley with Project Curate and more!
In Common is not simply a conference. It’s an opportunity to dream big and create a vision with like-minded individuals and congregations with an interest in building healthier communities.
Participants at the conference will have the chance to share their stories, be inspired by others, and gain new skills. Through keynote speakers and community partner organizations, attendees will learn about new resources and approaches to help better understand their communities, identify their communities’ needs and assets, and take action for positive transformation.
To get the most out of this conference, we encourage you to bring a team from your congregation and explore multiple tracks. If you are unsure about who should come or what is the best fit for your congregation, contact us!
You can read more about last year’s In Common conference in our Congregation Connection eNews!
Regional Event Dates
Each regional event will feature a keynote speaker on Friday evening, followed by a full-day of workshops on Saturday. Registration options includes one-day and two-day attendance.
March 29 – 30, 2019 | Austin
Host: Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Austin
Keynote: The Rev. Dr. Eric Law, Kaleidoscope Institute/Holy Currencies
Workshops:
- Civic Engagement
- Holy Currencies
- Bridges Out of Poverty
May 10 – 11, 2019 | Houston
Host: St. James Episcopal Church, Houston
Keynote: Jeremy Everett, Texas Hunger Initiative
Workshops:
- Bridges Out of Poverty
- Mental Health
- Racial Reconciliation
June 7 – 8, 2019 | Tyler
Venue: Christ Episcopal Church (South Campus), Tyler
Keynote: The Rev. Dr. Matthew Russell and Cleve Tinsley, Project Curate
Workshops:
- Approaches to Community Engagement
- Racial Reconciliation
Meals will be provided for all attendees. Childcare and Spanish interpretation are also available. In addition, hotel accommodations will be provided for those who need financial assistance, upon request. Please be sure to make these requests when you register for your preferred regional event!
2019 In Common Workshops
At each In Common event, different workshops provide the opportunity to explore a variety of ways in which your congregation can engage in community. They’re aimed at building skills and knowledge on the issues that matter.
Topics will vary at each location – see above for the list of topics offered at each session:
- Holy Currencies: Learn about Holy Currencies, a model for creating engaged, missional and sustainable ministries with the Rev. Dr. Eric Law. This track will help you understand how to use Holy Currencies to develop an idea for a new ministry, and then turn it into a plan that you can implement. The series of workshops will also prepare you to submit an application for EHF’s next Holy Currencies incubator group in May 2019.
- Racial Reconciliation: Did you know that many congregations in the diocese are actively involved in racial reconciliation in their communities? Meet them and learn about what they are doing, what support EHF offers to start the work, and how you can get involved. We will be joined by racial equity leaders, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Russell and Cleve Tinsley IV, from Project Curate.
- Community Organizing/Civic Engagement: Learn strategies for supporting locally-led action to improve your community. EHF’s Community Engagement staff and partner groups will provide an overview of basic approaches to community organizing and civic engagement, demystify the work, and correct misconceptions. We encourage those who are unfamiliar with community organizing work to learn how this approach can bring communities together while avoiding the polarization of issues.
- Approaches to Community Engagement (ACE) Training: A key skill in any community work is learning the fundamentals of community engagement. The training teaches participants why these fundamental skills are critical to successful initiatives and what good community engagement looks like. It also explains the steps to effectively build community relationships and respond to concerns and issues that typically arise when engaging the community.
- Bridges Out of Poverty: The one-day Bridges Out of Poverty workshop introduces participants to a comprehensive approach for understanding the dynamics that cause and maintain poverty from the individual to the systemic levels. Bridges Out of Poverty uses the lens of economic class and provides concrete tools and strategies for a community to prevent, reduce, and alleviate poverty.
- Mental Health: Did you know EHF has hosted over 60 Mental Health First Aid workshops and provided more than 1,100 certifications? Congregations have equipped their parishioners and community neighbors with the tools to address misconceptions and help those experiencing mental illness. So what’s next? We will share data from the current work we’ve done in Mental Health and explore next steps a congregation can take to make effective change for mental health and wellness.
Join our EHF Churches Facebook Group to get updates on the upcoming In Common events and connect with other participants.
If you have questions regarding any of the regional events, please email Melodee Toles or call 832-658-2662.