Our last Conference was
November 3-5, 2022
Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
Read More About it Below.
A Place at the Table
We’re so excited to announce the 2022 CenterPeace Conference – in Dallas, Texas, at Wilshire Baptist Church!
This year’s theme is A Place at the Table, focusing our attention on all the ways Jesus invited everyone into His story. The gospels are replete with stories of Jesus reaching out to everyone.
People on the margins – the poor, the sick.
But also those who were wealthy.
And the ones who were well.
Jesus engaged with the religious leaders of the day. And he was right in the middle of the very folks some of those leaders sought to exclude. He sat among the despised and honored, the rejected and the revered, dining in their homes and drinking from their cups.
Much like the parable Jesus told of a king who kept sending his servant out to invite more people to his banquet feast, “so that my house may be filled,” we are called to:
“Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge
anyone you find to come…” -Luke 14:23, NLT
Jesus is still inviting all of us to feast with him today. If you’ve been left out, rejected by family or church, feeling you have no place at Christ’s table, we invite you to please come to the conference. If you’ve come to realize that the hospitality Jesus extends is far more inclusive than we’ve practiced, and you’re wanting to follow Jesus’ example – we invite you to please come to the conference.
If you’re an LGBTQ+ person, a pastor, a parent, or an ally, this conference is for you. Because the message of the gospel is clear – each of us has a place at the table. Together. It is Christ’s table, not ours, and Jesus does the inviting.
It’s not always easy. but it’s what Christ is calling us to.
So wherever you’ve been, wherever you are – whatever your “table manners” – come claim your place at the table!
Conference Details
We're excited to host the 2022 CenterPeace Conference at Wilshire Baptist Church. Wilshire is conveniently located in Dallas, with several local restaurants nearby. The conference hotel is The Beeman, which can be booked for $140/night only using the conference link below.
Wilshire Baptist Church
4316 Abrams Road
Dallas, TX
The Beeman Hotel
6070 N Central Expy
Dallas, TX
Schedule
The main conference will open at 7:00 pm on Thursday, November 3, and wrap up around noon on Saturday, November 5. We're also excited to offer a pre-conference workshop for pastors and church leaders and a post-conference workshop for parents of LGBTQ individuals.
Thursday, November 3
1:00 - 1:30 pm
1:30 - 5:00 pm
5:00 - 7:00 pm
6:00 - 7:00 pm
7:00 - 8:30 pm
9:00 - 10:30 pm
Workshop check in
Pastors Workshop
Main conference check in
First-timers Orientation
General Session 1
Late night events
Friday, November 4
8:00 - 9:00 am
9:00 - 10:30 am
11:00 am - Noon
Noon - 1:30 pm
1:30 - 2:30 pm
2:45 - 3:45 pm
5:00 - 7:00 pm
7:00 - 8:30 pm
9:00 - 10:00 pm
Conference check in
General Session 2
Breakout A
Lunch
General Session 3
Breakout B
Dinner
General Session 4
Late night events
Saturday, November 5
9:00 - 10:00 am
10:15 - 11:15 am
11:30 - 12:15 pm
12:30 - 1:00 pm
1:00 - 1:30 pm
1:30 - 5:00 pm
General Session 5
Breakout Session C
Closing Ceremony
Break
Workshop check in
Workshop for Parents
Learning and growing together
The CenterPeace Conference is a biennial gathering of LGBTQ+ Christians, their churches and their families. Exploring topics related to faith and sexuality, Conference features a range of speakers - from academic scholars of biblical text who have devoted their lives to studying scripture and its application in the 21st century, to parents who just want to love their LGBTQ+ children well.
At every session, we will emphasize the need to approach this topic with grace and compassion, living out our call to love as Christ loves. As always, our goal is to create a place to belong for all people in the family of God.
Special events
Pre-conference Workshop: Pastors & Church Leaders
Thursday, November 3
1:30 - 5:00 pm
Wondering how to respond to the needs of LGBTQ people and our families who are members of your church? Trying to discern what Scripture teaches about sexuality without splitting your church? Addressing questions around faith and sexuality while genuinely embracing LGBTQ Christians in our churches is one of the local pastor’s greatest challenges these days.
Post-conference Workshop: Parents of LGBTQ+ Children
Saturday, November 5
1:30 - 5:30 pm
Parenting an LGBTQ child can be one of the most rewarding, yet challenging aspects of a person’s life. But you don’t have to walk this journey alone. For the past sixteen years, CenterPeace has helped parents stay connected to their children. Learning to love and support our LGBTQ children requires us to go deeper with God. The reward comes in the realization that God’s unconditional love for each of us is more profound than we ever realized. That’s the blessing – that our picture of God is transformed into the truly loving being that God is.
Is this conference for me?
If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community and looking for a place to belong, come to Conference and you’ll find it. If you’re a parent or family member of someone who identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, please join us at Conference. Are you a friend or ally? Come and get involved with CenterPeace!
And if you’re a pastor, elder or other church leader, there’s no better place for you to learn from trusted teachers how to examine scripture, extend hospitality, and embrace those in your reach who long for spiritual community.