Great Rivers Fellowship

08/20/2026

🌎🌱 Faith, Creation Care & Hope for Our Shared Future!

This fall, people of faith from across the country are invited to join a free six-week online film screening series, Caring for the Earth: Stories from Faith Communities.

🎬 Wednesdays | September 2–October 7, 2026
💻 Online via Zoom

Each week, participants will hear inspiring stories from Christian, Muslim, Indigenous, Baha’i, and Jewish faith communities working to care for our shared home and build a more hopeful and just future.

🌿 This is a wonderful opportunity for faith leaders, congregations, young adults, and anyone passionate about faith, justice, climate, and creation care.

👉 Learn more and register:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rVkZ1Of-RN6yHTVkdHG8Mw #/registration

08/19/2026

A Victory for Our Immigrant Neighbors and Our Churches

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has upheld a preliminary injunction protecting CBF churches from unbridled immigration enforcement activity.

At Great Rivers Fellowship, we give thanks for this important decision and for the continued commitment of our churches to religious liberty, local church autonomy, and the freedom to faithfully live out the love of Christ.

For generations, churches across our Fellowship have welcomed and served immigrants and refugees, offering food, shelter, friendship, worship, and a place to belong. This ministry is not simply about policy—it is about people. It is about recognizing the dignity of every person and responding to our neighbors with compassion, courage, and the relentless love of Christ.

We celebrate this ruling while recognizing that the work continues. We remain committed to supporting congregations as they serve immigrant families and seek to be places of welcome, safety, and hope.

Learn more about the ruling and access CBF Advocacy resources to help congregations understand their rights and continue serving their immigrant neighbors: https://cbf.net/cbf-injunction-upheld-by-fourth-circuit/

We are grateful for this important step toward protecting the freedom of our churches and the dignity of our immigrant neighbors.

08/17/2026

🌎 Our friends at Creation Justice Ministries invite us to the EcoPreacher Cohort 2026–2027!

As our climate-changed and changing world continues to demand courage, imagination, and resourcefulness, congregations and their leaders have a unique opportunity to offer prophetic voices of possibility.

Preachers are in a special position to help their communities explore understanding, connection, resilience, and environmental healing through the power of preaching.

Following successful EcoPreacher Cohorts in previous years, Creation Justice Ministries, in partnership with The BTS Center and Lexington Theological Seminary, is offering a 10-month EcoPreacher Cohort beginning in September 2026.

🌱 This cohort will offer:

• Learning and exploration
• Companionship with fellow preachers
• Creative approaches to preaching about climate change
• Tools for integrating climate consciousness into preaching
• Grounded, faithful responses to our changing world

The cohort will be facilitated by Rev. Nicole Diroff of The BTS Center and Derrick Weston of Creation Justice Ministries.

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect faith, preaching, and creation care while imagining new ways the church can respond to the environmental challenges of our time.

📚 Research component: Participants will take part in periodic individual and congregational surveys. Some participants may also be invited to research interviews and focus groups. The research will help evaluate the cohort's impact and inform future cohorts and conversations about homiletics and theological education.

🔗 Learn more and apply:
https://www.creationjustice.org/ecopreacher.html

🌿 We encourage pastors, preachers, and ministry leaders who are passionate about creation care and climate justice to consider this opportunity!

08/13/2026

Great Rivers Fellowship Community Engagement Grants are now open!

What is God calling your congregation to do in your community?

The Great Rivers Fellowship Community Engagement Grants support congregations as they develop creative, collaborative, and justice-centered ministries that respond to real community needs and build lasting relationships.

Grants can support projects focused on:

🤝 Community collaboration
💡 Ministry innovation
❤️ Education, advocacy, and service
⚖️ Justice and inclusion
🌱 Long-term community transformation

GRF encourages congregations to work alongside local organizations, nonprofits, community leaders, and other churches to create meaningful change together.

Up to 8 grants of $1,000 may be awarded each year.

Application deadline: December 31, 2026

If your congregation has an idea that could strengthen your community, this may be an opportunity to turn that vision into action.

Learn more and apply: https://www.greatriversfellowship.org/community-grants

08/10/2026

🗳️ Love Your Neighbor to the Voting Booth

Election season is almost here, and as people of faith, we have an opportunity to help our communities participate in our democracy.

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us to seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you,” while Jesus calls us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Together, these words invite us to consider what it means to care for our neighbors and communities in the public square.

CBF Advocacy is encouraging churches to support nonpartisan voter engagement by helping eligible voters become informed, overcome barriers, and participate in the elections.

Every vote matters. Every voice belongs.

As churches and communities, we can help create spaces where people have the information and support they need to make their voices heard—without endorsing candidates or political parties.

📚 Get informed. Get prepared. Help your community participate.

CBF Advocacy has created resources to help churches prepare for the upcoming election season, including opportunities to connect with 2026 Advocacy Fellows who can help congregations think through ways to encourage nonpartisan voter participation:

https://cbf.net/congregational-ministries/advocacy/voting-advocacy/

08/07/2026

Learn @ Lunch Webinar | Advocating for the Benefits You Need in Ministry

Our friends at Church Benefits Board are hosting an important Learn @ Lunch Webinar designed to help ministers confidently advocate for the benefits they need to thrive in ministry.

Too often, conversations about compensation and benefits can feel difficult. This webinar will provide practical guidance on how to navigate those conversations with confidence and professionalism.

✨ You'll learn how to:

• Frame benefits as essential support for sustainable ministry.
• Initiate transparent, professional conversations about compensation and care.
• Identify the key components of a strong benefits package, including retirement, insurance, sabbatical, and wellness leave.
• Overcome the "guilt factor" and address budget challenges with creative solutions.

Wednesday, September 2, 12pm-1pm ET

Whether you're new to ministry or have years of experience, this webinar will equip you with tools to ensure your benefits package supports both your life and your calling.

Register using the link in the comments.

08/06/2026

You're Invited!

Our friends at Creation Justice Ministries invite you to a special World Day of Prayer Webinar as we begin the Season of Creation.

This inspiring online gathering will explore this year's theme from Ezekiel 47:1–12, reflecting on God's life-giving waters and our shared call to care for creation. The webinar will feature Queen Quet, who will share the Gullah/Geechee Nation's spiritual and cultural connection to water and the importance of environmental stewardship.

Tuesday, September 1
🕛 12:00 p.m. ET
💻 Online (Register to receive the Zoom link)

The webinar is free and open to everyone. We encourage you to join this meaningful time of prayer, learning, and faithful action as we celebrate God's creation together.

Register here:
https://secure.everyaction.com/KwdS4sWvC0C9FYwltobYlA2?emci=1ec9e104-4b8f-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&emdi=a297b2f9-fd90-f111-b337-000d3a1558ce&ceid=24496680

We hope you'll join us and invite others to be part of this important conversation!

08/06/2026

Great Rivers Fellowship Update - July 2026 -

As you are aware, my wife and I served for almost two decades as Field Personnel (CBF lingo for ‘missionary’) in Slovakia and Czechia. That experience provided the opportunity to learn from cultural contexts that were unfamiliar to us. With every engagement with new siblings living within the re...

07/27/2026

🌟New Resource for Children's Ministry Leaders! 🌟

Stepping into children's ministry can be both exciting and overwhelming—but you don't have to do it alone.

The CBF Children's Ministry Network has launched a new Children's Ministry Tutoring Program to provide one-on-one support for:

✨ New children's ministers
✨ Leaders serving in a new ministry role
✨ Volunteers leading children's ministry for the first time
✨ Anyone seeking encouragement, practical guidance, and a trusted mentor

Whether you're just beginning your ministry journey or know someone who is, this program connects leaders with experienced children's ministers who are ready to walk alongside them with wisdom, support, and encouragement.

We encourage our Great Rivers Fellowship churches to share this opportunity with children's ministry leaders in your congregation and community. Sometimes a simple invitation can make all the difference.

Learn more and apply here: https://cbfcmn.org/page-18046

Together, let's ensure that no children's ministry leader serves alone.

07/23/2026