Event Overview

3 DAYS.
YOUR MOVEMENT.

In-Person Schedule
Online Schedule
A diverse group of people participating in a protest or parade, holding signs and banners with messages about gender and body rights, with a woman in the foreground smiling and wearing a white outfit with decorative elements, in an urban setting under a blue sky.

Friday

October 23: The Stories of Now

Understanding the stories that got us here. A keynote, panels and conversations on our history, White Christian Nationalism, and the persistence of racism and xenophobia in our story. We’ll also talk about how the ways money fuels systemic harm. We end the day with dancing.

Featuring:

  • Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

  • Dr. Jemar Tisby

  • Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas

  • Rev. Dr. Edwin Aponte

  • Dr. Melissa Deckman

  • Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim

  • Dr. Hussein Rashid

  • Ciarra Jones

  • Rev. Natalie Perkins

  • Brian Recker

  • Abby Disney

  • Trevor Smith

  • Edgar Villanueva

  • Rev. Jason Garrett

  • Isaac Luria

  • Rev. Jennifer Bailey

  • Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews

  • Tricia Levesque

  • The Moth Staff

  • Dr. Tonya Evans

  • Paris Woods

  • Elizabeth Ayoola

Crowd of people participating in a street protest or parade in an urban area, some holding flags including a rainbow pride flag and a transgender pride flag, with tall buildings and trees in the background.

Saturday

October 24: Dreaming the World We Desire

The stories of tomorrow. A keynote, panels and conversations on narrative change and art move the movement. We’ll dream wild dreams grounded in real neighborhood organizing. There will be a story slam at the end of our day.

Featuring:

  • Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

  • Ciarra Jones

  • Brian Recker

  • Kristian Smith

  • Genesis Be

  • Nick Laparra

  • Edgar Villanueva

  • Rev. Natalie R. Perkins

  • Erica Williams Simon

  • Rev. Lucas Johnson

  • Alencia Johnson

  • Tiq Milan

  • Casey Donahue

  • Bridgit Antoinette Evans

  • Kaliswa Brewster

  • Lucy Tiberghian

  • Ty Jones

  • Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes

  • The Moth Staff

  • BLIS Collective

  • Decolonizing Wealth Project

  • Just Love Kids

Crowd of people protesting on the street, many holding signs and banners with messages about justice and love, wearing masks and warm clothing.

Sunday

October 25: The Spiritual Practice of Revolution

The practices that sustain us as nourishment for the body and soul. A keynote, panels, and a multi-faith worship celebration on Ubuntu, interrelatedness, and fierce love of self and neighbor.

Featuring:

  • Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

  • Rev. Amanda Hambrick

  • Rev. Natalie Renee Perkins

  • Rev. Macky Alston

  • Rev. John Janka

  • Kristian Smith

  • Ciarra Jones

  • Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes

  • Rev. Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas

  • Dr. Simran Jeet Singh

  • John Fugelsang

  • Linda Sarsour

  • Rev. Mark Thompson

  • Gamal Palmer

  • Rev. Traci Blackmon

  • Shifra Bronznick

  • Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

  • Dr. Rami Nashashibi

  • Middle Church Staff

Freedom Rising Conference • October 23–25, 2026

Master Schedule

All in-person and online events in one list • All times Eastern

108%
Format / Type
9:00–9:30 AMDoors Open and GatheringIn PersonArrival and connection at Middle Church
9:00–9:30 AMOnline WelcomeOnline InteractiveCiarra Jones, MTS; Rev. Natalie R. Perkins
9:30–10:00 AMWelcome and GroundingMain Stage / HybridRev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
10:00–10:45 AMHistory Matters: How Did We Get Here?Main Stage / HybridDr. Jemar Tisby
10:45–11:00 AMFilm and Self-Reflection: Decolonizing Wealth Project - An Invitation to HealFilmDecolonizing Wealth Project
11:00 AM–12:00 PMWhite Christian Nationalism, Our Peculiar Economy, and the Dismantling of ‘Democracy’Main Stage / HybridRev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas; Rev. Dr. Edwin Aponte; Dr. Melissa Deckman; Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim; Dr. Hussein Rashid (via video call)
12:15–1:30 PMLunch, Connections, and Book SigningIn PersonLunch on your own, connections, and book signing
12:45–1:30 PMDeconstructing Hell and Punishment Theology as a Pathway to Political ChangeOnline InteractiveCiarra Jones, MTS; Brian Recker, MDiv
1:30–2:15 PMClass Matters: Can We Unbreak What Money Broke?Main Stage / HybridAbby Disney; Trevor Smith
2:15–2:30 PMMoney on the Table - FilmOnline InteractiveOnline screening
2:15–2:30 PMConnect + Discuss (Intermission)Connect + DiscussIn-person transition and conversation time
2:30–3:15 PMMoney Matters: How Do We Decolonize Wealth and Finance Freedom?Main Stage / HybridEdgar Villanueva; Rev. Jason Garrett
3:15–3:45 PMConnect + Discuss (Intermission): Money on the Table - The Cost of UsConnect + DiscussStrategic clips connected to the panels
3:45–4:45 PMResourcing Our Movements with LoveWorkshopIsaac Luria; Rev. Jennifer Bailey; Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews; Tricia Levesque
3:45–4:45 PMThe Moth: Shaping Stories, Building WorldsWorkshopThe Moth Staff • Registration-based; limited space
3:45–4:45 PMBusting Christian Nationalism and the Myth of a MeritocracyOnline InteractiveCiarra Jones; Brian Recker; Rev. Natalie R. Perkins
4:45–5:00 PMConnect + Discuss (Intermission): Survey Day 1 ReminderConnect + DiscussOnline survey reminder
5:00–5:45 PMThe Movement Moves: Dance Party and ReceptionIn PersonFriday closing celebration
5:00–5:45 PMThe Financial Future Is Female / Who Runs the World? Hot Takes from Black Financial ThinkersOnline InteractiveDr. Tonya Evans; Paris Woods; Elizabeth Ayoola; facilitated by Decolonizing Wealth Project / Tricia Levesque
No sessions match your filters.
Format / Type
9:00–9:15 AMGathering and GroundingMain Stage / HybridRev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
9:15–10:15 AMBuilding the Narrative: Re-shaping God TalkMain Stage / HybridCiarra Jones; Brian Recker; Kristian Smith; Genesis Be; Nick Laparra
10:15–10:30 AMOnline Welcome for Day 2Online InteractiveEdgar Villanueva; Rev. Natalie R. Perkins
10:30 AM–12:15 PMWho Shapes Our Spiritual Imagination: A Soul Story ExperienceMain Stage / HybridErica Williams Simon; Rev. Lucas Johnson; Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis; Alencia Johnson
12:15–1:30 PMLunch and Book SigningIn PersonLunch and book signing
12:15–12:45 PMConnect + Discuss (Intermission): Digital LunchConnect + DiscussOnline lunchtime transition
12:45–1:30 PMQuestioning Our Answers: How Curiosity Invites Us to Imagine a Liberated WorldOnline InteractiveCiarra Jones; Kristian Smith
1:30–2:15 PMWhen Our Stories All Matter…Main Stage / HybridTiq Milan; Casey Donahue; Bridgit Antoinette Evans
2:15–2:30 PMConnect + Discuss (Intermission): Turn and TalkConnect + DiscussIn-person and online reflection time
2:30–3:15 PMArt Creating the WorldMain Stage / HybridKaliswa Brewster; Lucy Tiberghian; Ty Jones
3:30–4:30 PMDream Space: BLIS Collective ActivationIn PersonStudio on 4
3:30–4:30 PMDream Space: Decolonizing Wealth ProjectMain Stage / HybridSanctuary / online
3:30–4:30 PMDream Space: Middle Church ArtistsIn PersonStudio on 3
3:30–4:30 PMJust Love Kids: Imagining a Liberated GenerationIn PersonStudio on 3
3:30–4:30 PMOnline Dream Space: Theological Futurism - Imagining a Theological World That Frees Us AllOnline InteractiveRev. Dr. Sarah Townes (Disorganized.Religion); Rev. Natalie Perkins; moderated by Ciarra Jones
4:30–4:45 PMSetting the Table Before Dinner: What Have We Learned So Far?Main Stage / HybridDay-program reflection
4:30–4:45 PMOnline Wrap-Up and Survey ReminderOnline InteractiveOnline program closes at 5:00 PM
5:00–6:15 PMMoth Rehearsal CoachingIn PersonRegistration-based; limited space
6:30 PMDoors Open for The Moth Story SlamIn PersonEvening public event arrival
7:00–9:00 PMAn Evening Story Slam with The MothIn PersonOpen to the public; ticketing information coming soon
No sessions match your filters.
Format / Type
9:00–9:15 AMGroundingMain Stage / HybridOpening grounding
9:15–10:00 AMRevolutionary Spiritualities in Intergenerational Organizing, Hybrid Spaces, and the Public SquareMain Stage / HybridRev. Amanda Hambrick; Rev. Natalie Renee Perkins; Rev. Macky Alston
10:00–10:30 AMSpecial Guest KeynoteMain Stage / HybridSpeaker to be announced
10:30–11:30 AMEssential Strategies to Build Multiracial CommunitiesMain Stage / HybridRev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis; Rev. John Janka
10:30–11:30 AMBuilding Digital Communities for ChangeOnline InteractiveKristian Smith; Rev. Natalie Perkins; Ciarra Jones; Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes (Disorganized.Religion)
11:45 AM–12:50 PMCelebrating Love and Liberation in WorshipMain Stage / HybridMultifaith worship celebration
1:00–2:00 PMLunch, Book Signing, and Community Org FairIn PersonConference ticket-holder lunch, book signing, and community organization fair
1:00–2:00 PMCommunity Fair: Online Regional Networking FairOnline InteractiveOnline regional networking fair
2:00–3:00 PMUbuntu & The Spiritual Practice of RevolutionMain Stage / HybridDr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas; Dr. Simran Jeet Singh; John Fugelsang
3:00–3:15 PMConnect + Discuss (Intermission): SurveyConnect + DiscussSurvey and reflection time
3:15–4:00 PMHealing Institutions; Repairing Our MovementsMain Stage / HybridLinda Sarsour; Rev. Mark Thompson; Gamal Palmer
4:00–4:15 PMConnect + Discuss (Intermission): Reflecting on All We Have Learned TogetherConnect + DiscussCiarra Jones; Rev. Natalie Perkins
4:15–5:15 PMLiberating a Multiracial, Multifaith Movement to Heal Our NationMain Stage / HybridRev. Traci Blackmon; Shifra Bronznick; Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis; Dr. Rami Nashashibi
5:15 PMClosing RitualMain Stage / HybridDr. Jacqui Lewis and Middle Church Staff
No sessions match your filters.
In-Person Schedule

Choose the experience that works best for you.

Attend in person for a unique experience gathering and meeting face to face. Participate in activities throughout Middle Church.

Our engaging online programming is designed to be an experience of its own. More than simply a camera pointed at the room, we us special software and tools for a complete and interactive experience.

Online Schedule