National Gathering in Review

Our time may have past at the 2018 National Gathering in Atlanta, but the lessons learned and conversations shared along the way will prayerfully motivate us to deepen our discipleship in the months and years to come.

From the calls of Mark Labberton to rethink our exilic existence to Harvey Drake’s challenge to admit our own ignorance when it comes to racial division, we were confronted with the array of difficulties before us. As Hope Lee passionately encouraged us to examine how to address gender inequities and Mark Hong laid the groundwork for us to leave behind attitudes that may unknowingly promote division, we at all times were pointed toward the unity we all enjoy in Christ Jesus. Chad Pecknold called us to see this unity as based on the humbly-laid “City of God” as described by St. Augustine, and throughout the workshops and times of table fellowship it was said that the work of demonstrating this unity would only come by Church leaders being intentional with their engagement around these divisive topics. It was with that attitude that hundreds of us went to the Historic Martin Luther King Jr. Center to see the work Dr. King did to confront the scourge of racial segregation and violence.

This was a Gathering of hope and peace and joy, and we are thankful for all God has done and is doing in our midst. We hope to see you next year.