{"id":591,"date":"2017-11-16T12:53:01","date_gmt":"2017-11-16T18:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/cwta\/?page_id=591"},"modified":"2026-09-10T14:52:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T19:52:57","slug":"new-landing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/cwta\/","title":{"rendered":"St. Olaf Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t2026 Dates: July 20-22<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFAQ\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t
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CWTA 2026: The Impact and the Stories<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
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The Impact<\/h3>\n

What happens when more than 200 people gather around a shared hope for worship, theology, the arts, and vocation? At the 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts, we hoped participants would be nourished in their own vocations, inspired by one another, and equipped to carry new ideas and practices back into their congregations and communities. The feedback suggests that something meaningful happened.<\/p>\n

Participants responded to the conference assessment survey with exceptionally strong affirmation. Again and again, they described CWTA as a place to learn, experiment, worship, make connections, and\u2014perhaps most importantly\u2014remember that their own work and vocation are part of something larger.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re grateful to everyone who made CWTA so meaningful\u2014and are excited to share a snapshot of what participants experienced and are carrying forward.<\/p>\n

Take a look at the CWTA 2026 infographi<\/strong>c above.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Stories<\/h3>\n

The CWTA theme of Nourishing Vocation: Every Time, Every Age, Every Place<\/strong><\/em> shaped the conference in many ways. Participants appreciated the opportunity to think about vocation through the lenses of Sabbath and rest, intergenerational community, and our call to serve God and neighbor in the world.<\/p>\n

The evaluation suggests that \u201cnourishment\u201d was not simply something we talked about\u2014 participants experienced it. They spoke about the gift of spaciousness, energizing worship, meaningful conversations, music and the arts, and opportunity to step away from the demands of daily ministry and pay attention to what gives life. The conference created room not only to learn something new, but to reconnect with the deeper reasons participants do this work in the first place.<\/p>\n

Inspiration with somewhere to go<\/h3>\n

The arts, music, worship practices, intergenerational ministry, creative approaches to community, and stories from ministry practitioners sparked new possibilities. Participants frequently named specific ideas they wanted to take home and try. They weren’t simply inspired in the moment; they left thinking about what might be possible in their own congregations and communities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We have already seen this inspiration in action! Rev. Beth Gedert and Julie Cory of Zion UCC in Delaware, OH, created an altar covering and lectern\/pulpit banners for their Open and Affirming Sunday service. Participants were invited to write the name of someone who had made them feel included or had shown them radical welcome. The beautiful result is a wonderful example of how an idea shared at CWTA can take on new life in another community.<\/p>\n

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The arts matter<\/h3>\n

Music and the arts emerged as especially powerful sources of nourishment. Participants appreciated the ways artistic expression was woven into worship, learning, and prayer, rather than treated as something separate from the theological work of the gathering.<\/p>\n

Many participants expressed a desire for even more opportunities to experience and engage the arts at future CWTA gatherings. Their response affirms one of the convictions at the heart of CWTA: the arts can help us encounter God, one another, and our own vocations in ways that words alone cannot.<\/p>\n

The big question\u2026 \u201cWhat will be different because you were here?\u201d<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the most important question in a conference evaluation is not, \u201cDid you enjoy it?\u201d but \u201cWhat will be different because you were here?\u201d Participants described renewed energy for ministry, new ideas for worship and congregational life, greater attention to intergenerational relationships, and a desire to create more space for music, art, creativity, rest, and connection. They left with people to contact, practices to try, resources to explore, and questions to ponder.<\/p>\n

Survey results reminded us that meaningful change takes time. A conference may offer a seed, a question, or a new relationship that continues to grow long after we have gone home.<\/p>\n

The evaluation also gave us thoughtful suggestions for what could be strengthened in the future. We are grateful for that feedback. A strong evaluation is not simply affirmation; it is an invitation to keep learning.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most encouraging thing we heard is this: participants left nourished enough to want to nourish others<\/strong>. That feels like a fitting legacy for CWTA 2026.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div> \n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n

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2026 – Nourishing Vocation: Every Time. Every Age. Every Place. July 20-22<\/h1>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t
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\"St.The Lutheran Center for Faith, Values and Community and the Nourishing Vocation Projects at St. Olaf College would like to invite you to this year\u2019s Conference on Worship, Theology and the Arts: Nourishing Vocation: Every Time, Every Age, Every Place, which takes place in July 2026<\/span> at St. Olaf College.\u00a0 The conference will combine signature CWTA musical experiences with innovative and imaginative work being done by both the Nourishing Vocation Project and Nourishing Vocation with Children, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t

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Nourishing The Spirit Retreat<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t
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PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RETREAT IS NOW FULL<\/h2>\n

We are excited to announce a new offering at CWTA 2026! For those looking for an additional opportunity to rest and reset, we invite you to join us for <\/span>\u201cNourishing the Spirit<\/a>\u201d, a pre-conference spiritual renewal retreat July 17-19.<\/b> Programming will include worship services, time in nature, opportunities to attend Lutheran Summer Music\u2019s rich concert offerings, time to rest, and more. Registration is $300 per person which includes housing, meals, and programming. This is an intimate retreat and will be capped at 12 participants, so act fast if you would like to attend.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t
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Why attend CWTA?<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
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Attendees at the previous CWTA said they felt\u00a0rejuvenated, refreshed, and renewed after the 2024 conference<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was my first experience with CWTA…and I had no idea the content or how I would apply the materials presented. WOW!!!! This was one of the BEST conferences that I have attended…and it actually provided materials that I can use in my ministry context. I came back renewed, excited and full of ideas!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very thankful for the invitation to attend and I am especially grateful for all the wonderful music resources that were available for my music directors. They loved the opportunity to learn and perform in the handbells and choir. This conference was such a POSITIVE experience on so many levels and for people of varied vocations within the church. Can’t wait to go again in 2026!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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As a college that <\/span>challenges students to excel in the liberal arts, examine faith and values, and explore meaningful vocation in an inclusive, globally engaged community nourished by Lutheran tradition, St. Olaf College has a rich history of nourishing the church in its own unique calling. <\/span>The Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA) is a conference\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n