[RMN CONVOCATION] Uncharted: Becoming the Church We Need Right Now

Church – we've set off from the shores of the last General Conference hopeful for progress and inclusion. But between then and now, we've also been buffeted by polycrisis: heightened cruelty, exclusion, and a shaky future of justice for LGBTQ+ people of all intersecting identities.

In the swirling chaos: who do we say God is? And who do we say we are?

The Spirit is calling us into Uncharted waters.

This July, come to beautiful Madison, WI, to refresh your soul, enlarge your capacity, and find your travelers on this justice journey. Just in time, RMN is poised to create a different, stronger movement in this era of our Church and our world.

This is a special Convocation combining the best of our past gatherings and new ideas.

In past Convocations, workshops were woven through the length of our gatherings. This time, workshops are happening first.

Throughout Convocation, you'll gather with Constellations – other Reconciling people who share a question, identity, passion, or growing edge with you. Constellations will gather between Plenaries, which will be rich opportunities for learning and inspiration.

Your Constellation will form a close learning community that will hopefully outlast our time together in Madison.

Affinity Group Meetings and Workshops

RMN Extension Ministries and other justice-seeking groups that want to take advantage of being in Madison together can book time and space to gather. Send us a message if that's you.

Church Leadership Inclusion Training

In addition to meetings of affinity groups, RMN is hosting a training on inclusion for annual conference leaders who want to embrace the UMC's potential as a beacon of God's justice.

Registration for this training will be separate and will be sent to annual conferences within the next few weeks. AC leaders who attend will receive a discount code for Convocation registration if they choose to stay for the whole weekend.

Workshops

RMN Extension Ministries and others will present workshops on Thursday and Friday. Details on workshops will be published on the Uncharted website.

Doors Open

Uncharted officially kicks off at 2:00 pm on Friday afternoon with our first plenary gathering. Details, including bios of speakers, will be added soon!

Homecoming

On the evening of Friday, July 25th, come by First UMC for a fun and informal reunion. If this is your first Convocation, then it's a wonderful opportunity to meet one another and make new friends.

Plenaries and Constellations

Throughout Uncharted, you'll gather with Constellations with others who share a question, identity, passion, or growing edge with you. Plenaries will provide us the opportunity to hear from dynamic leaders of the Reconciling movement, theologians, artists, pastors, activists, organizers, and more.

Plenaries will be paired with Constellations, where you'll problem-solve and glean insights in a focused, more intimate group setting.

Worship, Bible Study, Preaching

As always, Convocation will feature musical worship, Bible study, and preaching that can warm and challenge our souls.

Prom: Starry Night

Break out those heels or those oxfords (or those hiking boots, that's fine!) because we're heading to prom on Saturday night! Our theme is "Starry Night."

Prom will be accompanied by a banquet dinner (prom entrance and dinner are included in registration). The event will also be a fundraiser for Reconciling Ministries Network. Your generosity will help ensure that we can continue to chart a more just and loving future for the Church and the world.

Sunday Worship

On Sunday morning, come back to First UMC to worship and praise God with the people of our hosting church.

Sending-Out

At the close of Convocation, we'll put together our learnings and deepened relationships for the sake of building the kin-dom of God in our own communities.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, United States