What are the Churches Called to Do Together? What are the Churches and Church World Service Called to Do Together?

October 22-23, 2025 at Riverside Church in New York City

The Convening will begin with a reception with the Church World Service (CWS) Board of Directors on Wednesday, October 22nd from 5-6:30 pm at Riverside Church in New York City.  At the reception, CWS will also be honoring the Church of the Brethren and the York County Food Pantry with the annual CWS Ecumenical Award.

The Convening continues all day on Thursday, October 23rd and is designed to be very participatory and to allow for planned as well as serendipitous collaboration. 

Wednesday, October 22

5:00 pm Welcoming Reception and presentation of CWS Ecumenical Awards

Thursday, October 23

7:30 am Breakfast and informal conversation

8:30 am Opening Prayer and Welcoming Remarks

8:45 am Keynote Address

A compelling keynote from Dr. John Nunes, President of California Lutheran University and former President of Lutheran World Relief will begin the program. John is known as a powerful and thoughtful orator. He will offer some challenges for the participants to consider as they collectively think through the challenges.

Respondents: Rick Santos, President and Chief Executive Officer of Church World Service; Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada

Discussion

10:00 am Break

10:15 am Break-out sessions

  • Domestic Disaster Response
  • Hunger and Poverty
  • Immigration and Refugees

Break-out groups will discuss:  What are your churches currently doing on this topic?  What is working well?  What are you learning? What are your pain points?

11:45 am Break

12:00 noon Lunch and informal conversation

1:00 pm Reports from break-out sessions

1:15 pm Introduction to the next break-out sessions

1:45 am Break-out sessions

  • Domestic Disaster Response
  • Hunger and Poverty
  • Immigration and Refugees

Break-out groups will discuss:  What do the churches want to do together on this topic? What do the churches and CWS want to do together?

3:15 pm Break

3:30 pm Reports from break-out sessions

3:45 pm Final Thoughts and Sending Prayer

4:00 pm Conclusion of the Convening

Attendance requires advance registration.  All sessions will be held at Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive (between 120th and 122nd Streets), New York City.  Entrance is at 91 Claremont Avenue.  For more details visit:  https://cwsconnect.org/annual-members-meeting/