Workshops

At the Table: Strategic Communication & Leadership in Ministry

Tuesday, April 21, 1:00 pm

Join Bishop Wright and Canon Easton Davis for a conversation-style workshop exploring how communicators can—and must—be at the core of strategic decision-making. Through relatable stories and practical frameworks, they’ll illustrate how their partnership strengthens leadership, enhances clarity in mission, and empowers communicators to wield influence in critical conversations. Their work together illustrates how communications isn't an afterthought—it’s integral to vision-casting, crisis handling, and shaping organizational culture.

AI Alchemy – How to Turn One Piece of Content into Multiple Pieces of Content

Tuesday, April 21, 1:00 pm

In this session, we’ll explore how churches can maximize their reach and save time by repurposing a single piece of content across multiple platforms. You’ll learn practical strategies and AI-driven tools to transform sermons, blogs, and announcements into engaging social media posts, reels, newsletters, and more—without reinventing the wheel every week.

This workshop is led by Katie Allred, a leader in church communications, marketing strategy, and digital engagement. She’s the founder of ChurchCommunications.com, a community and resource platform serving church leaders via website content, social media, podcasting, and educational content.

Unlocking the Power of Story: Using Your History to Inspire Connection

Tuesday, April 21, 1:00 pm

Every congregation has stories that define who they are — but too often, those stories are hidden in boxes or fading memories. In this session, Canon Mike Orr of the Episcopal Church in Colorado and Martha Tye of HistoryIT share how their partnership is making 150+ years of diocesan history accessible and impactful through a strategic digital archive. Learn how this initiative is deepening connection, strengthening identity, and fueling storytelling efforts. You’ll leave with practical guidance for starting your own preservation journey and creative ideas for using your legacy to communicate your mission more powerfully.

From Daydream to Doing: Start Your Church Comms Side Hustle

Tuesday, April 21, 2:30 pm

You’re already the go-to person for Canva graphics, clever copy, or last-minute social media posts—so why not turn those everyday ministry skills into a life-giving side hustle? If you’re full-time in church work or juggling multiple part-time roles, this workshop will help you move from daydreaming to doing. We’ll tackle the real barriers—like imposter syndrome, lack of time, and not knowing where to start —and offer mindset shifts, practical tools, and proven shortcuts. Learn from the wins (and missteps) of Josh Linman, founder of Common Good Creative, and walk away with your own Side Hustle Starter Pack to help launch your freelance communications gig with more freedom and less frustration.

Leading from the Middle

Tuesday, April 21, 2:30 pm

Not every leader sits at the head of the table. In most churches, the real work of leadership happens in the middle—navigating between clergy, councils, staff, and volunteers. This workshop, presented by Ashley Graham-Wilcox, Program Director for Caffeinated Church, offers practical tools for communication and trust-building that strengthen influence from any seat. Participants will leave equipped to shape culture, spark collaboration, and practice authentic leadership, wherever they serve.

Shift Your Social Presence from Static to Inspiring

Tuesday, April 21, 2:30 pm

Social Media has evolved, and your approach should, too. What connected with your current and potential audience a few years ago may fall flat today. Join Kelly Champagne, co-owner of Evoke, as she shares five practical shifts to refresh your strategy, engage followers, and inspire action.

Together, you’ll explore how to:

• Repurpose existing content to spark inspiration

• Leverage Meta advertising to build community engagement

• Decide when video is worth the investment

• Know when to follow (or ignore) social trends

AI & the Great Commission: New Tools for Timeless Truths

Empowering Episcopal Leaders to Proclaim the Gospel in a Digital Age

Tuesday, April 21, 4:15 pm

Step into the future of evangelism! This dynamic workshop is designed for Episcopal leaders who are ready to harness the power of AI to share the Good News more effectively and creatively. Whether you're leading a parish, managing a ministry, or simply passionate about spreading the Gospel, this session will equip you with powerful, yet accessible tools to amplify your message.

Learn how to:

• Use AI to create engaging graphics, newsletters, and social media content

• Clip and edit sermons, enhance live streams, and repurpose video for outreach

• Generate content ideas, write compelling posts, and streamline communication

• Discover both free and paid AI tools to elevate your church’s digital presence

• Reclaim your time so you can focus more on mission, not just media

No tech degree required—just a heart for the Gospel and a willingness to explore what’s possible when ancient truth meets modern tools.

This workshop is led by the Rev. Christian Anderson, Vicar of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, in Stuart, Florida.

Curiosity Killed the Conflict: Using curiosity and humility to foster unity across division

Tuesday, April 21, 4:15 pm

Leadership in a context where the congregation or community speaks, acts, votes, or has priorities different from you often leads to burnout and harm to both leader and community. Whether communicating in newsletters, sermons, announcement time, or on social media, God is calling us to carefully attend to our words, tone, and intent – without watering down our message! During the workshop, we will consider this call, reflect together, and practice new patterns of communication.

This workshop is led by the Rev. Jennifer Shimota, Pastor of Coble's Lutheran Church, in Julian, North Carolina.

The External Pivot: Communication Strategies that Turn Neighbors into Guests

Tuesday, April 21, 4:15 pm

Your church is doing great things, but if your marketing sounds like it was written by the church for the church, you’re unintentionally signaling to your neighbors that they aren't the primary audience.

In this session, we move beyond "event planning" to focus on strategic communication methods that lower the psychological hurdles for first-time visitors. Using a case study that drove 400+ RSVPs and led to a record-breaking Christmas Eve service, we’ll analyze how to differentiate internal vs. external messaging. We’ll break down the "External Pivot"—the shift from church-centric jargon to community-minded branding that builds immediate trust with "seekers."

In this workshop, we will deconstruct:

• The Branding Barrier: Why geographical and experience-based titles (e.g., "The Downtown Christmas Experience") outperform church-branded titles in digital spaces.

• The Digital Handshake: Using Eventbrite and Facebook not just for promotion, but as professional "lead-capture" tools that respect a visitor’s digital boundaries.

• The Intentional Hand-Off: The communication architecture required to transition a community lead from a low-stakes event into a high-value invitation (like Christmas Eve).

• The "Insider" Audit: Practical steps to identify and remove the "church-ese" that creates invisible walls for your neighbors.

This workshop is led by Kyle Bynum, Communications Specialist, Common Good Creative. Kyle has spent over a decade helping mainline churches find the right words to reach their neighbors. As a Communications Specialist at Common Good Creative, he focuses on practical branding and communication methods that lower the barrier for first-time guests while telling the story of their community. A graduate of Middle Georgia State University with a degree in Digital Media, Kyle offers a unique perspective on the modern seeker. When he isn’t helping churches with their digital outreach, he serves as the Director of Music for an Episcopal parish in Atlanta.

Cohesive Design for a Fast-Moving Ministry

Wednesday, April 22, 11:00 am

In today’s fast-paced ministry life, church staff and volunteers juggle a hundred roles—leaving little time to design everything from scratch. This workshop equips church communicators and leaders with the confidence, tools, and templates to quickly produce cohesive, effective designs that reflect their church’s unique identity—both internally and externally. Designed for churches of all sizes and skill levels, this session blends strategy with hands-on practicality so participants can walk away with tools they’ll use right away—no design degree required.

This workshop is led by Amelia Simmons, Founder of Blaze Studio. With over a decade of experience in church branding and ministry communications, Amelia has helped dozens of churches and ministries bring clarity and creativity to their message.

Know Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor

Wednesday, April 22, 11:00 am

Discover creative and practical ways to know your neighbors and make genuine life-giving connections. And discover the strategies employed by healthy, growing churches to create intentional environments where relationships deepen with God and with one another. This workshop is led by Canon Mike Orr, Canon for Communications & Evangelism, the Episcopal Church in Colorado, and Founder of Caffeinated Church.

Video Storytelling – Start to Finish Video Production Training

Wednesday, April 22, 11:00 am

How do we capture the stories of our people in modern ways in 2026? It starts with video. In this workshop, Easton Davis, Canon for Communications and Digital Evangelism in The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, will lead participants in a hands-on experience in capturing Good News behind the lens. It will include video and audio basics, a live demonstration of someone sharing their story, and post-production. There will also be time for questions and responses. You will leave this workshop knowing how to: use your phone to do pro videos, capture professional audio on a budget, capture someone's story, & manage post-production!

Defending Democracy from Christian Nationalism: Ethical Tools for the Church

Wednesday, April 22, 1:45 pm

In this session, Dr. David P. Gushee will address the growing threat of Christian nationalism—or what he terms “Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity”—and equip church communities with theological and ethical frameworks to respond. Drawing from his 2023 book, Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies, he explores American history, global parallels, and offers practical guidance grounded in the Baptist Democratic and Black Christian traditions.

AI 101 – How to Prompt, What Platforms to Use, and Tips and Tricks

Wednesday, April 22, 1:45 pm

This workshop is a beginner-friendly guide to understanding and using AI in ministry communications. We’ll cover the basics of prompting, highlight the most helpful platforms available to churches today, and share tips and tricks that will help you use AI ethically, efficiently, and effectively in your context.

This workshop is led by Katie Allred, a leader in church communications, marketing strategy, and digital engagement. She’s the founder of ChurchCommunications.com, a community and resource platform serving church leaders via website content, social media, podcasting, and educational content.

Leveling Up Your Ministry Photography: Gear, Tips & Tech

Wednesday, April 22, 1:45 pm

Ready to enhance your visual storytelling? Whether you're just starting out or looking to fine-tune your setup, this hands-on workshop will guide you through today’s essential camera gear, helpful accessories, and the latest tools for capturing stunning images in your ministry context. We’ll break down common photography terms, explore real-world examples, and share budget-friendly upgrade ideas to fit churches of all sizes.

With over a decade of experience behind the lens, Bro. Andrew Morehead, Missioner for Communications and Evangelism for the Episcopal Church in East Tennessee, returns to lead this updated workshop packed with insights, humor, and practical takeaways.

Shame Slayers Needed

Thursday, April 23, 9:30 am
Flamy Grant is our performer at the Wednesday reception and concert.

No one escapes the influence of shame — especially not a kid growing up in evangelical Appalachia who just wants to walk an imaginary runway across the living room floor in his mother’s oversized black pumps. But even half a lifetime of efforts to disparage, diminish, and dim her sparkle couldn’t keep Flamy Grant in the closet. As the first drag queen to ever release a gospel record and top the Christian music charts, Flamy’s flashy presence continues to confound the self-appointed gatekeepers of a world where queer artists and fans alike have long been ignored and expelled. Proving that there’s no limit to what you can accomplish when you strap on a stiletto and stamp out shame, Flamy Grant shares her story of finding belonging within yourself and creating more space for others even when the world around you says, “you can’t do that here.”

Show & Tell: Why Storytelling Is the Church’s Next Faithful Step

Thursday, April 23, 9:30 am

What happens when we stop assuming people understand what the Church is and start listening to what they’re actually searching for? In this session, Ashley Graham-Wilcox will offer an inside look at Show & Tell: Stories for the Nones, Dones, and Disconnected, the multi-year Lilly Endowment–funded storytelling project rooted in Caffeinated Church and designed to equip mainline congregations to communicate faith with clarity, honesty, and imagination.

You’ll hear:

• Why this project exists and why storytelling is the urgent invitation before the wider church

• What we’ve already learned from our initial research partnership with Egg Strategy, including how Millennials and Gen Z describe spiritual curiosity, mistrust, longing, and belonging

• What comes next in the expanded research phase—and why listening well is foundational to faithful communication

• How the project is already producing tangible, high-quality media, through short-form documentaries, bilingual narrative podcasts, and congregational storytelling training

• How you and your congregation can participate, collaborate, or prepare for what’s ahead

This session focuses on hope for the future of church communications through digital ministry, narrative integrity, and generational engagement.