For many congregations, the “traditional” Sunday school of our childhoods is a thing of the past. Today, churches are doing Sunday School in a myriad of different ways and the choices can be overwhelming! In this workshop, we’ll look at current Sunday school trends for children and youth, rundown a list of popular models and curriculum options, and discuss some things to consider when choosing what will work best in your context. (*This workshop is not a sponsorship for any particular curriculum or publisher.)

The adolescent mental health crisis has been at the forefront of national conversation, yet it continues to plague our local communities and congregations. The church has a unique opportunity to address the adolescent mental health crisis by allowing and equipping youth to rest in their identity as beloved children of God. Yet, how can the church resist the temptation to perpetuate the toxic cycle of achievement that runs rampant in our culture? How do we as pastors and educators cultivate hope in our young people as they navigate the world? How can we equip young people with Christian practices that will ground them during life’s chaotic moments? Join us as we build our mental health toolbox, exploring techniques and practices that we can bring home and share with anyone in the church who is passionate about the lifelong faith formation and flourishing of young people.

This workshop is designed to explore this and other important questions by demystifying A.I., exploring both its practical uses and the ethical considerations it brings to our faith communities. You’ll learn about generative A.I. programs like ChatGPT, understand their capabilities, and discuss how these technologies can be harnessed to enhance your ministry. In the first part of the class, we’ll break down how generative A.I. works, what it can do, and its potential applications in your daily ministry tasks. The second half will focus on our collective response as faith leaders—how can we ethically and effectively integrate A.I. into our work while staying true to our values as faith leaders?
This workshop will be a blend of lecture, lively conversation, and hands-on praxis, allowing you to experiment with generative A.I. tools and reflect on their role in your ministry. Whether you’re tech-savvy or just curious, this session will provide valuable insights and practical skills to help you navigate the digital landscape with confidence and faith. Come ready to explore, discuss, and discover how generative A.I. may become a meaningful part of your ministry toolkit.

Interact with members of APCE’s Strategic Planning Task Force and Implementation Team who have created new strategies and a new structure with the goal of ensuring that APCE remains vibrant, relevant and useful into the future. Discover how this new plan will provide support for you in your role as a leader in faith formation. Be inspired to become involved in one of the new Mission Teams. May your soul be stirred by what lies ahead!

Is your Sunday School hour for children and families thriving or dying? How involved and enthusiastic are your children and families about your regular worship services? During COVID, we took the opportunity for change to begin a new program that would reach more children and families who wanted to be together on Sunday mornings. Family Worship is first and foremost child and parent friendly. That means the worship content is developmentally appropriate for all ages, specifically focusing on younger children. This is a service where all are welcome and children feel free to move about and parents do not feel judged. Children and parents engage in the liturgy through singing, prayers, retelling scripture, storytelling, sacraments, sensory activities, and a fellowship time with a snack. The worship moves through fun-loving and relaxed tones to thoughtful and deep moments. Come and experience a Family Worship service and learn how to incorporate into your own faith formation and worship contexts.