Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference to feature outstanding lineup of preachers

LOUISVILLE — A prominent PC(USA) leader and powerful preacher, the Rev. Dr. Alonzo T. Johnson, is scheduled to lead worship on the opening evening of the Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference, when the popular event convenes on Monday, Sept. 22.

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Themed “Stewardship: The Art of Resiliency,” this year’s conference will be held live in New Orleans Sept. 22-24. To enable broader participation, the conference will again offer an online virtual registration option.

On-site conference participants at the Sheraton Canal Street will be able to choose from dozens of workshops in addition to attending diverse plenary sessions and worship experiences. Virtual attendees will be able to attend livestreamed and recorded plenaries and worship, and will also have access to eight workshops, four of which will be available via be livestream.

Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to ignite generosity in faith-based communities, give practical tools for cultivating generosity in congregations, expand the leadership capacity of those who lead stewardship initiatives and cultivate adaptive approaches for funding Christ’s mission.

Johnson, who coordinates the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People Program (SDOP) in the PC(USA)’s Interim Unified Agency, has 25 years of experience in missional church studies, urban ministry, congregational-based organizing, youth/education, creative arts, peacemaking, anti-poverty, prison and social justice ministries. He is also the convener of PC(USA) Public Education Roundtable and is an active staff member of the Poverty Consultant team, an anti-poverty working group composed of both PC(USA) national staff and mid council leaders.

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Representing the Lutheran tradition, the Rev. Dr. Katrina D. Foster, pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, will give the closing keynote address as well as lead the conference’s final service of worship on Wed., Sept. 24.

Foster, who received the Bronx Borough President’s Citation of Merit in 2000 and 2004, was awarded the NAACP’s Women Who Make a Difference Award in 2001. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America also recognized Foster’s unique stewardship gifts by awarding her the Dr. Richard Lee Peterman Good Steward Award in 2007.

In addition to Foster, featured keynote speakers this year include:

• The Rev. Dr. David P. King, Karen Lake Buttrey Director of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving and associate professor of Philanthropic Studies within the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
• The Rev. Dr. Corey Nelson, pastor and head of staff at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, Colorado.
• The Rev. Jean Marie Peacock, organizing pastor of Be Well-Come Together in Harvey, Louisiana.

Registration options include early-bird pricing for in-person attendees, which is offered through June 30, and a discount for seminarians and first-call pastors. The deadline to register for in-person attendance is Sept. 5.

All PC(USA) ministers are eligible to apply for a grant through the Presbyterian Foundation to cover half of all costs to attend the conference in person, including travel and hotel. For pastors who attend with members of their congregation, this grant is also available toward half the conference costs for those lay leaders. For more information about this grant, prospective attendees are invited to email the Presbyterian Foundation Ministry Relations Officer located in their region.

For more information or to register, click here.