Great news! We’ve extended our regular registration rate to June 18, so there will be no late registration fees! Other options to save you money: registration for a single day (see schedule below) and a no-meal option.

Schedule

Why

National ONA Gathering is the biennial family reunion of the Open and Affirming movement in the United Church of Christ! Members of any church—ONA or not-yet ONA—are welcome to attend. Expect a celebration with exuberant music, inspiring preaching, and workshops that will feed your mind and soul. Especially this year, when the Religious Right and their allies in federal and state governments are renewing their attack on the basic civil liberties of LGBTQ Americans, our growing community of churches needs to respond with confidence, commitment and faith. Much of this National Gathering will focus on how ONA churches can act faithfully in this crisis. We’ll learn best practices from vital and growing ONA churches. And, as is always true at our Gatherings, we’ll explore the intersections of our movement with other movements for social, racial, economic and environmental justice.

Do you have a question not answered on this page? Please contact Kimi Floyd Reisch at ona@openandaffirming.org.

What

Theme

Living Our Covenant: Into Life

Focus Verse

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness.” (Galatians 5:22)

When

Tuesday-Thursday, June 18-20 (OWL Training pre-event begins June 17.)

Best Western Plus Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Conference Center
(ADA Accessible)
5105 South Howell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
1-414-769-2100

Best Western is a very short distance from Milwaukee International Airport. For participants staying downtown, the hotel is served by the Green Line bus.

Who

Keynoters

Rev. Sonny Graves
Rev. Mak Kneebone
Andy Lang

Worship Leaders and Preachers

Rev. Lesley Jones (worship leader)
Rev. Janice Steele (preacher)
Rev. Kevin Tindell (preacher)

Musicians

Bobby Jo Valentine
Patrisha Gill
Rev. Kevin Tindell

Workshop Leaders (partial)

Rev. Dr. Robert Shore-Goss
Rev. Naomi Washington Leapheart
McKay Bram
Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus

Our Whole Lives Training Pre-Event

Rev. Kim Kendrick
Amy Johnson

Organizer

Kimi Floyd Reisch

General Synod ONA Banquet

Our ONA Banquet is one of the signature events at General Synod! This year our keynoter is the Rev. Justo Gonzalez II, interim Conference Minister of the Illinois Conference. The dinner is Friday evening, the day Synod convenes. A few tickets are available! Write Kimi Floyd Reisch at ona@openandaffirming.org for info.

Workshops

Workshops are designed to help ONA congregations live into their covenant in new and life-changing ways. See the schedule (above) for details.

Coalition Choir

It’s a tradition! If you love to sing, you’re welcome to attend rehearsals in our schedule (below) for the Coalition Choir, which will sing during worship and also bring music to our General Synod banquet. More information will be emailed to registered participants in early June.