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Contextual Gathering

June 11-13
New Orleans

Join us in the Big Easy

We are excited to invite you to this year’s Contextual Gathering, a space for leaders engaged in faith-based community organizing. Grounded in our core values—racial and economic equity, place-based organizing, and community organizing as a spiritual practice—this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from those doing the work on the ground.

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This year, we’ll gather at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Orleans, LA, a congregation with 130 years of leadership in mutual aid, housing, and community resilience. Together, we’ll explore fundamental organizing principles and learn directly from our hosts’ experiences. Whether you’re new to organizing or a seasoned leader, this gathering will equip and inspire you for the road ahead.

Registration is now open

Step One: Fill out the Google Form to register. Click Here.

Step Two: Pay the Registration Fees. Click Here.

Registration fees include training costs, 3 lunches, 1 dinner, and a 3-Day Jazzy Pass for RTA. 


When you go to the fees page, you can select to join OFMN as an individual, congregation, or large organization which will waive your registration fees. Otherwise, the fee is $280. 

Participants are responsible for the cost of traveling to NOLA, hotel, and meals not included during the program.

Schedule

Wednesday, June 11

9:00 am-Noon - Gather, Spiritual Grounding, Overview of OFMN, the Contextual Gathering, and introduction to Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Noon-1:30 pm - Community Table and Lunch

1:30-5:00 pm - Afternoon sessions

Thursday, June 12

9:00 am-Noon - Spiritual Grounding and morning training

Noon-1:00 pm - Lunch

1:00-3:00 pm - Afternoon sessions

4:00-5:00 pm - Time with teams or affinity groups

5:00-6:30 pm - Dinner

6:30-8:00 pm - Evening program

Friday, June 13

9:00 am-Noon - Spiritual Grounding and morning training

Noon-1:00 pm - Lunch

1:00-2:00 pm - Closing session

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Lodging Info

A block of rooms is reserved at the SpringHill Suites Downtown/Canal Street.  

 

Rooms are $99 per night for single or double occupancy.​​

 

Book by May 10 to receive the group rate.

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Who is this event for?

  • Leaders looking to develop or sharpen their organizing skills

  • Members of the network seeking to re-connect

  • Teams from congregations asking questions about community, housing, mutual aid, faith, and justice

  • Organizers seeking new approaches

  • Faith leaders looking to deepen relationships in their own community

  • YOU!

Our planning team

Rev. Denise Graves

Interim Pastor
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 
New Orleans, LA
OFMN Shared Leadership Team

Barbara Artuso
 

Member

Grace Lutheran Church
New Orleans, LA
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Jaszy Segarra
 

Interim Co-Executive Director
Leaders Igniting Transformation
Wisconsin
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Br. Steve Jerbi
(he/him)

Director,
Organizing for Mission Network,

Seattle, WA

OFMN Shared Leadership Team

Philip X. Diaz 
 

Member

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
New Orleans, LA

Carol Tyler
 

Member

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
New Orleans, LA

rev. shalom agtarap

Pastor/Developer

First Church UMC / Common Good 
Tacoma, WA

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Rev. Clark   Olson-Smith

Pastor

Zion Lutheran Church

Davenport, IA

Josh Wartelle
 

Member

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
New Orleans, LA

© 2024 by the Organizing for Mission Network

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