United Methodist Leaders Gather in Baltimore for Inaugural Faith-Based Organizing Training
National training equips leaders for justice work that builds collective power for change.
BALTIMORE, MD – From October 1–3, 2025, United Methodist leaders from across the United States gathered in Baltimore for the first-ever National Faith-Based Grassroots Organizing Gathering—a denomination-wide, spiritually grounded training designed to equip leaders for justice work rooted in the Gospel and the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church.
This inaugural event was co-hosted by the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS), in partnership with United Women in Faith, the Organizing For Mission network, the Baltimore-Washington Conference Advocacy and Action Team, and the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Through a selective application process, over two dozen faith leaders from across the country were chosen to participate in this intensive, faith-rooted experience.
The training integrated theological reflection, spiritual formation, and practical organizing tools to strengthen the Church’s public witness and foster transformative leadership aligned with the teachings of Jesus.
“This training built stronger relationships and deepened our understanding of how to build collective power,” said Br. Steve Jerbi, Director of Organizing For Mission. “Leaders are returning to their communities with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that if they want to see flourishing—economically, politically, socially, and ecologically, they must act boldly. This is a mustard seed moment, where the presence of community organizing is beginning to spread across the country.”
Participants engaged in storytelling workshops, strategic power mapping, and exercises in collective discernment centered around faith-rooted organizing.
“The GBCS national faith-based grassroots organizing training was an innovative and deeply spiritual experience,” said Rev. Noé Gabriel López, Director of Social Impact & Belonging. “I learned so much about the power of storytelling, how to share the story of self, the story of us, and the story of now using the framework of challenge, choice, and outcome. The trainers were knowledgeable, engaging, and helped us see how storytelling can move people from empathy to action. This experience reminded me that organizing, at its heart, is a sacred act of collective transformation.”
For many participants, the training was not only educational, it was transformational.
“I gained valuable skills in organizing and justice action, aligning with Dillard University’s call to courageous leadership. Inspired by John Lewis’s call to make ‘Good Trouble,’ I return to my campus with renewed purpose, equipped to lead and serve boldly,” said Andreus Lowry.
Elizabeth Chun Hye (Liz) Lee, Director of Mobilization and Advocacy for United Women in Faith, affirmed the significance of the gathering in the broader struggle for justice:
“In a moment when climate justice, racial justice, and basic human dignity are under relentless attack, this national training provided United Women in Faith leaders and attendees with vital tools to ground our faith, strengthen our organizing efforts, deepen our commitment to justice, and care for both God’s creation and our most vulnerable siblings.”
Participants described the gathering as both spiritually affirming and practically empowering, a sacred space where deep faith met strategic preparation. With hearts attuned to God’s justice and hands ready for action, United Methodists left Baltimore energized and equipped to lead change in their local churches and communities.
As this training model expands, partners remain committed to ensuring that the movement for justice within the Church is not only sustained but multiplied across the connection.
About the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS):
The General Board of Church and Society is the social justice and public witness agency of The United Methodist Church. GBCS equips people of faith to live out the Church’s Social Principles and engage in faithful advocacy for peace, justice, and liberation.
To learn more about future training opportunities or to bring faith-rooted organizing resources to your conference or local church, visit: umcjustice.org.
About United Women in Faith (UWFaith):
United Women in Faith connects and nurtures women through Christian spiritual formation, leadership development, creative fellowship, and education so that they can inspire, influence, and impact local and global communities.
To learn more about United Women in Faith visit: uwfaith.org.
