Events

In recent months, I have created two presentations drawing on stories from my book What You Sow Is a Bare Seed: A Countercultural Christian Community during Five Decades of Change, as well as my experience in urban congregations and as a journalist covering the US religious landscape: 

Shared Spaces, Shared Leadership—a conversation about how we live out our social justice commitments in our congregational and building relationships, touching on topics of gender equity, racial justice, and neighborhood change. 

Seasons in the life cycle of congregations — Through stories about the Community of Christ in Washington, DC, I trace its development from its start as an innovative church plant in 1965, through pivotal moments in its middle decades, to its ending in 2016. I also bring in observations from other recent publications and lead a discussion on the religious landscape today.

Both talks could be adapted to many different contexts. Please let me know if you’re interested in having me speak to your congregation, community, or organization. You can reach me at celeste.kennel.shank [at] gmail [dot] com.

Above: photo by Arash of book cafe