Stories We Tell

Stories We Tell

March 21, 2024 9:00 am ET

In conjunction with the Holston Conference and Table Grace, Come to the Table is hosting a free workshop for clergy and lay leaders on March 21 at Cokesbury UMC (Knoxville). The event – Stories We Tell: Shifting Food Justice Narratives – will focus on the power of narrative and story as it pertains to food justice issues like hunger and food access and will provide tools for faith leaders to engage in these conversations in their community. The event will feature a morning session from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and an afternoon session from 1 – 4 p.m. with a free lunch during the break. Attendees are encouraged to join for both sessions.

In the morning session, Come to the Table staff will lead participants through the Racial Wealth Gap Simulation, an interactive tool that helps participants understand the connections among racial equity, hunger, poverty, and wealth. In the afternoon session, Table Grace and Come to the Table will lead a workshop focused on the role of story and narrative in food justice work. Special thanks to organizers Carol Wilson (Table Grace Founder), Annette Spence (The Call Editor), Mike Sluder (Director of Connectional Ministries for Holston Conference).

Free lodging is offered to registrants traveling more than 150 miles round trip. Please e-mail [email protected] if you have any questions.

Event Speakers and Sponsors

Holston Conference
The United Methodist Church

The Holston Conference of The United Methodist Church is comprised of 545 congregations, organized in nine districts, and located in East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and North Georgia. Annette Spence, The Call Editor, and Mike Sluder, Director of Connectional Ministries for Holston Conference, assisted in the planning and organization of the event.

Carol Wilson
Table Grace Founder

Carol Wilson is the Founder of Table Grace and serves as the Conversation Partner and Guide for all Partner Conversations. Based in Johnson City, Tennessee, she served for thirty years as a United Methodist Church pastor, district superintendent, and conference staff member helping others hear and tell their own stories and sort through complexities to reach clarity in priorities and direction and decide on next steps. Table Grace combines her personal and church leadership experience with further training in coaching, community-building, cultural systems, congregational health, and innovation processes. Carol will co-facilitate the afternoon session, Shifting Food Justice Narratives.

Come to the Table Team
RAFI

Members of the Come to the Table team will facilitate the Racial Wealth Gap Simulation, and co-facilitate the Shifting Food Justice Narratives Workshop.