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On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Teaching an intensive songwriting class in a North Carolina prison for women made Susannah Long and Michael Conner reflect on gaps in what churches sing about.
Sessions related to mental health are not a common feature of many conferences on worship. Yet mental-health-related concerns affect as many as one in five people at any given time, with one of every twenty-five people living with serious mental health challenges. More than four in ten people in the United States experiences a psychological disorder in their lifetime. What we say or fail to say about these challenges in worship settings can be profoundly formative for how Christian communities respond to these challenges
In this session, a panel of experienced mentors shared the models of mentoring used in their contexts, explored the implicit and explicit goals of each model, and explained how each model trains and equips mentors.
This creed professes the Christian faith through the experience of an immigrant.
In this session, the panelists discussed the structure of the lectionary system and the advantages and challenges of its use.
Through implementing small changes, churches can become inclusive communities for people with a variety of abilities and disabilities.
It is far more common to hear about physical ailments than mental ones in congregational prayers and worship. Psychiatrist Warren Kinghorn explains why mental health issues and people with mental illness should be acknowledged in Christian worship.
We hear a lot about using person-first language. Yet it is still common to label people with their mental health diagnosis. Christians and churches can offer another way to describe our common human identity.
Audio sermon by Karen Campbell on Philippians 1
What we say or fail to say about mental health concerns in worship settings can be profoundly formative for how Christian communities respond to these challenges.
It is important for financially stable churches and Christians to build relationships with those in poverty. But the reason may be different than what you might assume.
Join Greg Scheer as he introduces one of his own songs, based on Simeon’s words in Luke 2:29-32. It works beautifully as a closing song in worship, especially during the season of Epiphany.
