Spring Training & Gathering 2026
Living in Hope
Online via Zoom April 27–30
On location at Berlin High School, May 2
including our Plenary Session: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-out World
Spring Training & Gathering brings together leaders from around ECCT to explore new ideas, share resources, and deepen fellowship. Courses are taught by lay and ordained leaders from around the diocese.
Featuring our plenary speaker, David Zahl, founder & director of Mockingbird Ministries
Everywhere you look these days, it seems like treadmills are getting faster and ladders getting longer. More and more is being asked of people who were already over-functioning. As the expectations we face—from others, from society, from ourselves—ratchet upward, so too does the pressure we live under. Who of us couldn’t use a little relief? The Christian faith addresses this thirst most directly and profoundly via its conception of grace. Sadly, that aspect is not always at the forefront of how the faith is perceived or experienced. In our time together, I aim to explore how the grace of God intersects with our day-to-day lives and the desperately needed relief it brings for our worn-out people like you and me. My goal is that those attend would walk away a little lighter than when they came in, with renewed confidence in the Gospel message, and in possession of some fresh language and imagery to bring that message alive in whatever context in which they find themselves. We’ll also have some fun in the process. I hope you can come.
David Zahl is the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, editor-in-chief of the Mockingbird website, and co-host of both The Mockingcast and The Brothers Zahl podcasts. Learn more about David.
Virtual classes via Zoom from April 27–30
Learn more about the courses offered in each track by clicking the links below or explore the full agenda.
Ready to register?
- Click on the title of the class on the Spring Training & Gathering Agenda to read the full descriptions and meet the facilitators.
- Once you find a class you’d like to attend, click the “Register for virtual class” button on the class page.
- You will be linked to the Zoom registration page where you can complete your registration.
In-person on May 2 at Berlin High School
Gather at Berlin High School (139 Patterson Way, Berlin) on Saturday, May 2, to worship, attend in-person classes, and hear from our plenary speaker, David Zahl, as he discusses, “The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-out World.”
Pre-registration is required, and a $25 fee helps cover lunch and other costs. Scholarships available.
How do I register for the in-person day, including classes?
- Click on the title of the class on the Spring Training & Gathering In Person Class Agenda and click on the “Register for in person class” button on the class page or click on the In Person Registration link.
- Complete the registration form, including your class selections.
- Pay via debit/credit card or send a check to ECCT.
Registration for in-person classes closes on Sunday, April 26. No walk-ins day of.
If you have questions or need assistance with registration, please contact Deb Kenney, Program Assistant for Lay & Ordained Vocations. For all other ST&G2026 inquiries, please contact Dr. Louisa Baker, Director for Training & Clergy Support.