2026 Regional Gathering Workshop Schedule

Thursday, May 28 at St. Paul’s, Akron

Noonday Prayer
12:00-12:30 p.m.
Join us for Noonday Prayer, a brief service of scripture and prayer in the midst of the day. This service offers a moment to pause, reconnect with God, and join the wider diocesan community in prayer during the Regional Gathering.

Clergy Lunch with CPG
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Whether you are recently ordained, in the middle of your career, nearing retirement, or in retirement, the Church Pension Group (CPG) is your partner in ministry. Jeff Hamilton, the Diocese of Ohio's Benefits Relationship Manager from CPG, will join us to share important information about pension, health benefits, resources for mental health support, and more.

Clergy Spouse/Partner Luncheon
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Spouses and partners of current or retired clergy are invited to an informal luncheon. This time together offers space for conversation, connection, and mutual support with others who share the rhythms of clergy family life. This luncheon will be hosted by Clergy Spouse Convener and Chaplain, Kim Lager, spouse of the Rev. Mike Lager.

CPG Admins/Bill Payers Session
1:30-2:30 p.m.
It’s no secret that administrators of employee benefits wear many hats, from ensuring that employees can receive and effectively use their benefits to managing billing. The Church Pension Group (CPG) provides the tools you need to get the job done. Jeff Hamilton, the Diocese of Ohio's Benefits Relationship Manager from CPG, will join us to share best practices, tips, and the latest advancements in Benefits Administration for employers of The Episcopal Church. 

Diocesan Staff Office Hours
2:30-5:00 p.m.
In these office hours, attendees have the opportunity for individual bookings with members of the diocesan staff who are present. Sign-up information will be included in the Regional Gathering “Know Before You Go” email, distributed the week before the gathering.

Dinner
5:00-6:00 p.m.
Gather in fellowship to eat and grow in relationship with one another.

A Conversation with Bishop Jolly
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Join Bishop Jolly for an open, thoughtful conversation about the life of our church and the future of the Diocese of Ohio. This session is designed as a space for listening, reflection, and shared wisdom—where your experiences, questions, and hopes help shape the conversation. Drawing on insights from the College for Congregational Development, we’ll explore what faithful, adaptive ministry looks like in this moment and what God may be calling us toward next. Come ready to speak honestly, listen deeply, and imagine together how we can strengthen our faith communities and our common life. 

Camp, Faith & Friendship 
6:00-7:30 p.m.
A children/youth event
Experience a taste of summer camp fun with the team of Bellwether Farm! Join the camp counselors for an unforgettable evening inspired by the joys of camp. We are excited to offer a technology-free, enjoyable, and community-centered event for children and youth. They'll experience our summer camp theme through uplifting worship and music. Engage in playful games, embrace silliness, and share laughter with friends during this “night at camp,” complete with crafts and delicious s’mores. Ages 0-18 are invited to join in on this wonderful opportunity! This event will be led by Bellwether Farm's Director of Program Innovation, Renzi Ricketts.

Compline 
7:30-8:00 p.m.
End the day in prayer with Compline, the Church’s ancient nighttime prayer. In a spirit of quiet and rest, we will reflect on the day and commend ourselves to God’s care. This service offers a peaceful close to Thursday’s gatherings.

Friday, May 29 at St. Paul’s, Canton

Morning Prayer 
9:00-9:30 a.m.  
Zoom only
Join us for Morning Prayer as we begin the day connected across distance, rooted in scripture, silence, and common prayer. This online service offers an accessible way to gather as a diocesan community, whether you are joining from home, your faith community, or on the go. 

Noonday Prayer
12:00-12:30 p.m.
Join us for Noonday Prayer, a brief service of scripture and prayer in the midst of the day. This service offers a moment to pause, reconnect with God, and join the wider diocesan community in prayer during the Regional Gathering.

Warden Luncheon
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Junior and senior wardens are invited to gather for a dedicated luncheon. Facilitated by Canon for Leadership Development, Russ Tripi, this one-hour session is designed to foster connection, encouragement, and shared wisdom among those serving in this vital leadership role. Through guided conversation and relationship-building, wardens will have space to meet peers from other faith communities, share joys and challenges, and reflect on the unique call of lay leadership in today’s church. We will also listen for what support would be most meaningful as we strengthen networks and resources for wardens across the diocese. Whether you are new to the role or a seasoned leader, come connect, be encouraged, and remember you are not alone in this ministry. Spouses and partners are welcome, too. 

Spiritual Practices to Deepen Beloved Community and Strengthen Our Faith Communities Workshop
6:00-7:00 p.m.
This intergenerational session will help faith communities explore what connecting more deeply with neighbors can look like. We’ll create relational maps of the areas around each of our faith communities and begin to reflect on under-the-surface culture dynamics that can affect our ability to build mutual relationships with our neighbors. We'll spend time in conversation, prayer practices, and liturgical expressions to support and strengthen each of our faith communities to reflect more of the fullness of the neighborhoods around us and deepen beloved community. Clergy, lay leaders, children, elders and all members are welcome and needed for this conversation, which will be co-facilitated by Canon for Beloved Community, the Rev. Rosalind Hughes, and Canon for Innovation and Congregational Development, the Rev. Audra Abt. 

Compline
7:30-8:00 p.m. 
End the day in prayer with Compline, the Church’s ancient nighttime prayer. In a spirit of quiet and rest, we will reflect on the day and commend ourselves to God’s care. This service offers a peaceful close to Friday’s gatherings.

Saturday, May 30 at Christ Church, Hudson

Morning Prayer  
9:00-9:30 a.m.
We open Saturday’s gathering with Morning Prayer, grounding our work and learning in worship. This service is designed to welcome all ages, with childcare available for families who prefer it.

Creating Missional Communities Workshop 
9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Creating Missional Communities workshop is for lay and clergy, who are encouraged to come as teams. We’ll consider the people around us who choose not to participate in church, how we understand Missional Communities in the Diocese of Ohio, and how these ministries relate to established faith communities. Tools for missional bible study, neighborhood asset and relationship mapping, and discerning missional communities will be introduced, and participants will develop initial ideas and plans with partners from around the diocese. We’ll use our imaginations, build connections for ongoing learning and support, and pray that God form us faithfully share the transformative love of Jesus with more people in our wider communities. This workshop will be co-facilitated by members of the Innovation Community calls and Canon for Innovation and Congregational Development, the Rev. Audra Abt. 

Worship Leader Training 
9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
A Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of clergy or other leader exercising oversight of a congregation or community of faith. This ministry requires a diocesan license in accordance with Title III, Canon 4. Attending this workshop fulfills the training requirement toward licensure (or renewal). Together, we’ll explore how to plan and lead Morning Prayer and gain practical tips and tools for effective worship leadership. A certificate of completion will be issued at the end to be used for applying or renewing your license. This workshop will be led by Canon for Leadership Development, Russ Tripi.

Finance Roundtable  
9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Parish treasurers and parish financial leaders are invited to a Financial Round Table. This practical workshop will guide participants through the Parochial Report, address common questions, and provide tools and contacts to support accurate, confident financial reporting. Paid and volunteer bookkeeping staff, finance committee members, endowment trustees, and others involved in parish finances are welcome to attend. This roundtable will be co-facilitated by Interim Canon for Operations and Finance, Christopher Whitaker, and Darrell Knapp, Vice-Treasurer of the Diocese of Ohio.

Lunch
12:00-12:30 p.m.
Gather in fellowship to eat and grow in relationship with one another.

Beloved Community: All Are Welcome Training 
12:30-2:30 p.m.
All are welcome at our churches. But how do we ensure that all feel welcome when they walk through our doors, or pass by our parking lots, or hear our hymns floating on the breeze? This session explores authentic welcome, based in our identity as children of God and followers of Jesus. Welcome is not only for ushers, greeters, clergy, Vestry, or search committees; every member of our faith communities is essential to making welcome. This session introduces tools to face and undermine implicit bias and build stronger relationships within the worshipping community as an important step toward welcoming the stranger. This workshop will be led by the Canon for Beloved Community, the Rev. Rosalind Hughes.

Deacons and Missional Communities Workshop
12:30-2:30 p.m.
The Deacons and Missional Communities Workshop is for all deacons, aspirants, and people curious about the diaconate to meet with the Ven. Bryan Gillooly, Archdeacon, and the Rev. Audra Abt, Canon for Innovation and Congregational Development. This workshop will expand on the resources and ideas introduced in the Saturday morning Missional Communities session, with a specific focus on helpful tools to encourage and support lay leaders to create missional communities in relationship with neighbors and wider communities. In the Diocese of Ohio, deacons are not the Church’s primary doers of community-based service work, like building Missional Communities, but are called to be chief animators of this ministry—inspiring, equipping, and mobilizing members of the Body of Christ for God’s mission of justice, mercy, and love. 

Stewardship Workshop
12:30-2:30 p.m.
New to your faith community’s stewardship team? Haven’t led an annual giving campaign in recent years and not sure where to begin—or simply looking for a refresher and fresh inspiration? This workshop invites you to explore what stewardship is really about, beyond budgets and campaigns. Together, we’ll reflect on stewardship as a spiritual practice and a shared expression of gratitude, generosity, and care for God’s gifts. Participants will come away with practical, ready-to-use resources, helpful frameworks for planning annual giving, and a renewed understanding of our call to care for all that God has entrusted to us—our time, talents, relationships, and resources. This workshop will be led by the Missioner for Operations, Rebecca Miller.

Confirmation Preparation 
12:30-1:45 p.m.
Those preparing to be confirmed, received, or to reaffirm their faith are invited to join Bishop Anne B. Jolly and the Canon for Leadership Development, Russ Tripi, for a conversation about Confirmation—and what comes next. Together, we will explore Confirmation as a sacrament rooted in Scripture and tradition and consider what it means to claim this moment of commitment as Episcopalians today. The conversation will introduce practical discernment tools, reflect on the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, and invite participants to see Confirmation not as an ending, but as a deepening of vocation and belonging in the Body of Christ. 

Confirmation Rehearsal
1:45-3:00 p.m.
For all those participating in the Regional Confirmation service at 3:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist and Regional Confirmation  
3:00-5:00 p.m.
All are invited to gather for a service of Holy Eucharist with Regional Confirmation, a joyful diocesan celebration of faith and commitment. During this service, participants may be confirmed, received into The Episcopal Church, or reaffirm their faith. Friends, family members, and faith communities are encouraged to attend and support those marking this important moment in their spiritual journey. Children are welcome in the service, and childcare will be provided for those who need it. 

Reception
4:30-6:30 p.m.