Love First: Preaching and Practicing Beloved Community Summit

What if the church became a place where every neighbor is welcomed, respected, and invited to belong? Join clergy and laity from across Florida for a collaborative ministry gathering centered on the preaching and practice of Beloved Community.

As part of the Love First Evangelism Initiative, this training invites us to reflect on how the church can respond to a divided world with hospitality, courage, and the loving faithfulness of God—chesed—alive in our congregations.

Through stories, teaching, and practical skills from practitioners around the nation, participants will explore how we can preach and embody a community where people of every race, economic background, ethnicity, and orientation are welcomed as their whole, authentic selves and supported in moving forward in relationship with Christ and his community.

Clergy and laity alike are invited to learn, listen, and imagine new ways to cultivate belonging and live out love first in our congregations and neighborhoods.

Date: October 9-10, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Orlando – 4851 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, FL, 32819
RSVP: Register here