Request a download of the full report What do Episcopalians and mainline Protestants really believe about evangelism, hospitality, and belonging—and how does what they believe compare to what their congregations actually practice? Invite Welcome Connect spent a season of listening to find out. The full report is now available for download at invitewelcomeconnect.com. The gap, it turns out, is significant—and instructive. Across more than 700 survey responses and five facili

By Steve Welch, Executive Director Creator God, Holy one, Maker of love and source of joy: We give you thanks for the infinite variety of your creation. We bless you that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that we are your beloved rainbow tribe. Grant us the courage to tell our truth, to honor ourselves, to love our neighbors, and to share your grace with a world aching for healing. We pray because of Jesus, who shows us the way. Amen. —From “Pride Sunday Prayers of t

By the Rev. Chris Harris, Sr. Associate Rector, Christ Church Cranbrook, Mich.; Invite Welcome Connect Board member If your congregation longs for deeper connection across the generations, here is a simple, no-cost, scalable practice that is powerful: pair children with older adults as prayer partners. Intergenerational Prayer Partners embody the heart of Invite Welcome Connect by creating natural pathways of belonging across age groups—the very kind of relationships resear

We're listening to you In every season of ministry, there comes a moment to pause, to listen, and to lean more deeply into the wisdom of the community we serve. This is one of those moments. At Invite Welcome Connect, we believe that the work of hospitality, belonging, and evangelism is never finished—and never done alone. It grows and deepens through shared experience, honest reflection, and faithful imagination. That’s why we’re inviting you to be part of an upcoming series

There are many good ideas in the life of a church. Many experiments. Many approaches. But greeting?Greeting is not optional. It is one of the few true constants in the ministry of Invite Welcome Connect. Greeting is where welcome becomes real.

Across the country, something quietly transformative is happening in congregations of every size. It doesn’t arrive with fanfare or flashy programs. It begins with a shift in culture, a reimagining of what it means not just to open the doors—but to truly invite, welcome, and connect. At the heart of this movement is Mary Foster Parmer, founder of Invite Welcome Connect, who is currently facilitating immersive workshops in communities nationwide. Mary is helping churches buil

The free, online assessment tools from Invite Welcome Connect help congregations gauge the strength of their ministries in real time. Invite Welcome Connect has announced the availability of a suite of free, online assessment tools designed to help congregations strengthen their ministries of invitation, hospitality, and connection. The Invite Welcome Connect Assessment Tools provide congregational leaders with practical, accessible resources for reflecting on how their churc

We are sometimes so wrapped up in the beauty and holiness of Lent that we may take these seekers for granted.