The NEXT Church National Gathering is next month and we couldn’t be more excited! Gathering with you, in the height of spring in the DC Metro area, feels like an oasis of joy on the horizon. Here are some details we’d like to highlight as you register and plan your trip to the National Gathering. There are a lot of places you can stay in the Falls Church area. We’ve reserved two blocks of… Source ..read more

“If we host a National Gathering, we aren’t doing it the old way.” The NEXT Church Vision Team was clear when they made the decision to bring back the National Gathering – it wasn’t going to be the same old model. The Church, in so many ways, isn’t the same Church it was in March 2020, so our gathering couldn’t be the same either. This was an opportunity to get clear about why we gather and what… Source ..read more

We are grateful to those who attended our Town Hall Meeting on Monday, January 29, 2024. NEXT Church leadership shared some updates and then engaged in a fruitful activity and discussion. Check out what you missed! Source ..read more

by Jen James January 30, 2024 Over the past seven years, I’ve been on the balcony and the dance floor as NEXT Church fumbled its way forward on its antiracist journey. It hasn’t always been pretty. In fact, if I’m being honest, it’s been incredibly painful, humbling, and raw. But it has also been the most life-giving and deeply sacred journey of my life. Over the years… Source ..read more

You are invited to join us on a Lenten journey. We have been working with Crossroads Antiracism Organizing & Training for over a year to curate a brand new resource to cultivate antiracist leadership. We’ve taken the best of our previous resources, made adjustments based on your feedback, and rooted rich theoretical concepts into practice. Antiracism as a Way of Being illustrates antiracism as… Source ..read more

As the shadows lengthen on another year, it is natural to turn inward in reflection. So we ask ourselves: What have we done? Where have we been? Where would we like to go in the new year? Navigating life and leadership through the pandemic has led to some fallow times, but in this season, we have leaned into our roots of deep listening to the Spirit and to our network. What is NEXT Church called... Source ..read more

At NEXT Church, we are curious about the ways to embody the work ahead so that we live as the beloved communities we are called to be. It is not about striving for perfection, right answers, solutions, or immediate fixes; we believe it’s about uncovering vulnerable ways to live together and make our faith incarnate everywhere we go. We come alongside leaders in the Church – church members... Source ..read more

As a regular preacher in the local congregation, I am increasingly aware of how formative our worship can be, and how many distractions there are that too often prevent Christ’s liberative gospel from taking root and being a catalyst for congregational transformation. With excitement, I invite you to consider applying to join our new Preaching for Change Initiative. This initiative is designed to... Source ..read more

The Church is always called to be on the ground and grounded. Rooted in the needs of others and the yearnings of all Creation, we respond with trust and confidence as people of faith to transform the world around us. This work requires trust, openness, and resiliency. We also must remember that we do not go on this journey alone. Over and over at NEXT Church, we have heard the deep desire to... Source ..read more

NEXT Church seeks to embody faith in ways which bring about change and impact. We know shifts do not happen without bold intention and faithful leadership. This network of leaders is fertile soil for ideas to take root, leadership skills to grow, and collaborative conversations to shape the future of the Church. Let us accompany you on your journey toward growth and transformation. Source ..read more