Small Church Rising: Challenging the Narrative of Decline

Small Church Rising: Challenging the Narrative of Decline is a one-day gathering for lay and ordained church leaders invested in the future of small and rural congregations.

Hosted by the Small Church Center at the School of Theology at the University of the South, the conference brings together current research and practical ministry experience. Presentations will explore what research reveals about church vitality, how leaders can sustain spiritual vitality amid institutional change, how congregational data can inform wiser decisions, and how racism, sexism, and other forms of socialization shape our churches and communities.

The day will include opening worship, keynote presentations, workshops, conversation, lunch, networking, and a closing roundtable focused on what comes next for the small church.

This gathering is not built around a formula for making every congregation larger. Instead, it creates space for leaders to recognize the particular gifts, challenges, and possibilities of the communities they serve while developing practical ways to respond faithfully to change.

Small Church Rising will be held September 26, 2026, at the School of Theology at Sewanee. Registration is $75 and includes lunch.

We will gather at 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel of the Apostles (355 Tennessee Ave., Sewanee, TN 37375).