top of page
IMG_2063_edited.jpg

Faith Leader Networking Lunches

FAITH LEADER NETWORKING LUNCHES: Quarterly faith leader gatherings funded by a grant from the Foundation for the Carolinas for the purpose of building deeper community between and greater well-being within the clergy community. These sessions include wellness practices, exploration of what's working well in congregations, and LOTS of networking. 

October 29 - The Park Expo and Conference Center | 800 Briar Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205 | Register HERE

Federico Rios

  • Senior Vice President, Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, Foundation For The Carolinas

  • Serves as a member of the leadership team and provides leadership, strategic planning and management for the Foundation’s civic engagement efforts.

rios_federico_web2.jpg
September 17, 2024 - Third Faith Leader Lunch 

At our September gathering, we will explore the first principles of religious freedom with RFI staff and discuss ways faith leaders can legitimately use their influence in an election year.
Today’s religious leaders function in a pluralistic society whose members find it increasingly difficult to navigate the fracturing they experience all around them. Based in Washington, D.C., the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) believes religious freedom is a key to bridging this growing divide. The research is clear—when true religious freedom is protected in law and embraced by society, good things tend to happen. 

Jim Bennett

  • Director of the National Center for Religious Freedom Education at the Religious Freedom Institute, Washington, D.C.

  • Professor, Dean, and Chief Academic Officer, Clemson University

  • Director of Global Education Initiatives

  • Founding Director of Global Leadership Institute for Youth, Clemson University

  • Fulbright recipient

Bennett_Jim (2).jpg
April 18, 2024 - 2nd Faith Leader Lunch

Bishop Tonya M. Rawls

  • Founder / Executive Director of the Freedom Center for Social Justice

  • Established the first Unity Fellowship Church Movement congregation in the Bible Belt of the US by founding Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte in 2000. 

  • Consecrated as one of the first women Bishops in the Los Angeles-based Unity Fellowship Church Movement’s history. 

  • Founded Sacred Souls United Church of Christ in 2014, a diverse congregation of progressive Christians in Charlotte and serves now as Pastor Emeritus after her 2022 retirement.  

Bishop Rawls_Non Clergy Attire.jpg
February 22, 2024 - 1st Faith Leader Lunch

Scott Thumma

Background

  • Ph.D. (Emory University)

  • M.Div. (Candler School of Theology)

  • B.A. (Southwestern University)

Areas of Study

  • Megachurch characteristics and dynamics

  • The increase in nondenominational churches

  • The impact of the Internet on congregational dynamics

  • Congregational studies of healthy growth and member engagement

  • Congregational/Denominational trends of Religion in America

ScottThumma500x500New.jpg

The February 22 featured speaker will be Dr. Scott Thumma, Professor of Sociology of Religion and Director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Dr. Thumma is the principal investigator of Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations: Innovation Amidst and Beyond COVID-19 and the Co-organizer of the Faith Communities Today Project. He will be joining us via Zoom to talk about his current research on the very real challenges of post-pandemic congregational life AND the factors that impact clergy job satisfaction and well-being. Calling himself an "optimistic realist," Dr. Thumma will highlight both the circumstances that create clergy discontent and the things that faith leaders and congregations can do to address them. 
 
The wonderful Sherry Waters, Community Chaplain, Stewardship Practitioner, Life Coach, and owner-operator of The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary will lead the wellness practice. 

Ammalu Saleh, Executive Chef and Owner of Serengeti Kitchen, will provide an amazing Tanzanian meal for us. She has catered for us several times, and her food is INCREDIBLE.
 
These gatherings are made possible by a generous grant from the Foundation for the Carolinas. If you are able to make a donation toward the costs of the lunch, it will help us to make these events more widely available and perhaps more frequent.​

bottom of page