Acting BOLDLY! June Congregation Convening Recap
by Dan Gregory, Strategic Communications Manager
When 120 enthusiastic people gather in one room, the likelihood of ‘fun’ erupting is very high. When congregations evoke card games and start playfully ‘seeing-and-raising’ the invitation commitment level of a congregation across the room, you know you’ve arrived.
Ah, yes: our June Congregation Convening!
June 12 was an evening of passionate speeches and moving stories. We cheered as Tiffany called us to build more homes so families like hers could thrive. We were motivated as Rev. Schroeder invoked the need to be in service to our neighbors. We also chuckled as Deb previewed her 2018 Halloween costume, part of the $260 million we in the Twin Cities decide is worth it to spend on Halloween each year.
What drew us together was a sense that this is a time for ACTING BOLDLY. Will our congregations commit to creating homes through three new developments focused on Family Supportive Housing? Will we go all-in establishing a regional dedicated funding source providing rental assistance – and stability – for tens of thousands of us? Will we stretch our comfort to live out our faith, inviting 421 MORE people from our congregations to the September Convening?
As this Convening reminded us, we ARE a POWERFUL collaborative making a positive impact for more resilient, compassionate, and just communities. When the vision comes into focus – as it did on June 12 – we step up to claim it. There are incredible opportunities opening up around us, opportunities that we are poised to take because of the foundations we have laid and the drive in our hearts. As speaker after speaker reiterated, the time is NOW for homes, NOW for rental assistance, NOW for inviting others in – the time is NOW for acting boldly!
But this all awaits our response.
Are you in? Does building homes for 150 more families excite you? Does providing relief to 100,000 families struggling with their rent inspire you? Are you willing to clasp hands across the collaborative to put in the meaningful work to ensure that all people have a home?
Yes? That’s what we hoped 🙂 Let the fun continue to erupt! We’ll see you – and 540 of your closest friends – at the September Convening.
