TECConversations Announced

Emily Keniston
May 11, 2018
2 min read

A highlight of General Convention 2018 will be The Episcopal Church Conversations (TEConversations), three innovative, inspirational and informative sessions featuring brief talks, videos and engaging interludes.

Each TEConversations session will be 90 minutes and will include three speakers, videos, music interludes and deeper small group engagement. The speakers represent international leaders, well-known Episcopalians, and rising voices in the church. The TEConversations will be emceed by David Crabtree, News Anchor at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, NC and a deacon in the Diocese of North Carolina. The TEConversations topics, times and speakers are: Racial Reconciliation Friday, July 6 from 10:30 am – noon Central Speakers:

Arno Michaelis, a former racist skinhead who examines aspects of his past in his books, including My Life After Hate.
Dr. Catherine Meeks, founder of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing in Atlanta, GA.
The Rev. Nancy Frausto, a “Dreamer” from the Diocese of Los Angeles who came to the United States from Mexico as a child.

Evangelism Saturday, July 7 from 2:30 pm – 4 pm Central Speakers:

The Rev. Lauren Winner, an Episcopal priest and popular author who bridges faith and culture.
Bishop Alan Scarfe of the Diocese of Iowa, who led revivals in every diocesan congregation in 2017.
The Rev. Daniel Vélez-Rivera, a church planter from the Diocese of Virginia.

Care of Creation Tuesday, July 10 from 10:30 am – noon Central Speakers:

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of the Anglican Province of South Africa and a leader in the Anglican Communion on climate change.
The Rev. Stephanie Johnson, co-chair of the Episcopal Church Stewardship of Creation Advisory Council.
Bernadette Demientieff, leader of the Gwich’in Steering Committee and defender of Alaska’s Arctic Refuge

Attendees are encouraged to visit the Exhibit Hall during the lunch break following the Racial Reconciliation and Creation Care sessions, and preceding the Evangelism session. A number of exhibitors are planning to host speakers and content that expands the TEConversations further. Details available in June at the General Convention website. Host a viewing Congregations, dioceses and ministry networks can serve as a host-viewing site for the TEConversations. “The TEConversations are a great opportunity for broad engagement and learning across the church,” said Julia Ayala Harris, a member of the TEConversations Planning Group and a member of Executive Council. “Dioceses and congregations can host a viewing and welcome their members and communities into the conversation. We’re eager to see how far the circle of General Convention can reach.” Hosting TEConversations is designed to be simple. Any site or individual may access a viewing link each day at the General Convention Media Hub. Off-site participants can also access the same handouts and slides shown in the convention hall, and will be able to engage the ongoing conversation via social media. To be listed as a host site, send the organization name and website, and a site contact name and email to TEConversations@episcopalchurch.org. For more information and to sign-up contactTEConversations@episcopalchurch.org.