Western Training
August 27-29, 2026
THREE DAYS. REAL SKILLS. ROOTED IN PLACE.
Registration is closed. If you hope to attend please contact Br. Steve.
This training connects organizers, lay leaders, deacons, pastors, and community members to learn the core practices of organizing. We start with what’s right in front of us. Neighborhoods. Relationships. Stories. Then we build toward action.
Schedule
Thursday, August 27 - Sacred Reflection & Sacred Listening
Doors open 9am. Registration starts at 9:30am.
10am - Opening Session: What's at stake & building relationships.
1pm - Lunch
1:45pm - Afternoon Sessions: Theory of change and sacred stories.
4:30pm - Happy Hour at Civic Roasters (optional)
Friday, August 28 - Sacred Unveiling
Doors open 9:30am.
10 am - Morning Sessions: Building teams and honoring context.
12:30pm - Lunch
1:15pm - Afternoon Sessions: Intersectional Power
4:30pm - Asada Cookout (optional)
Saturday, August 29 - Sacred Action & Sacred Joy
Doors open 9:30am.
10am - Opening Sessions: The long view
12pm - Lunch
12:30pm - Afternoon Sessions: Preparing the way
2pm - Sending
First Church of Tacoma
Our host for this training is First United Methodist Church of Tacoma, WA. First is a is a small, queer-affirming fellowship with a history of social justice activism. They are shifting from traditional modes of doing church to being the church that is responsive to neighbor; deepening relationship and building power with the most vulnerable, in the manner of Jesus.
One key partner at First is Common Good Tacoma. Common Good Tacoma is a multiracial organizing hub that works in anti-racist coalition with neighbors and organizations that support and promote the dignity of impacted populations.
What You'll Learn
You'll gain practical skills to:
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Build public relationships through 1:1 conversations
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Identify leaders and grow leadership capacity
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Discern issues rooted in your community's reality
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Take action that leads to real change
This is hands-on, relational learning.
Who this is for
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Congregational teams, lay leaders and ministry leaders
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Deacons, Priests, Pastors, Mission Developers
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Community organizers and organizing teams
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Anyone ready to deepen their leadership and impact
Why this matters
Communities don't change because of one strong leader. They change when people act together.
This training helps you:
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build the relationships that makes that possible
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develop leaders who can share the work
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take faithful, collective action
Place-Based
In addition to learning from the leadership and wisdom of local leaders, this training will also focus on the uniqueness of participant's locations and contexts.
Special tracks will happen for rural, suburban, and urban leaders.
Training Team
With leaders that have real-world organizing experience, alongside a broader planning team, we are excited to see you in Tacoma!
Joey Ager
Tacoma, WA
Rev. shalom agtarap
Tacoma
Sarah Augustine
Theologian in Residence
Rev. Misa Fajardo-Perez
West Covina, CA
Br. Steve Jerbi
Network Director
Joey Lopez
Seattle, WA
Prof. Yolanda M. Norton
Theologian in Residence
Aisea Taimani
Artist in Residence