Bring the Welcome to Life: Workshops with Invite Welcome Connect Founder Mary Foster Parmer
- Invite Welcome Connect
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
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. Alongside a team of gifted certified facilitators, Mary is helping churches build something deeper than hospitality as a task list. She’s helping them cultivate belonging as a way of life.
Build a Culture of Welcome. Grow Belonging. Strengthen Ministry.
Invite Welcome Connect workshops are not lectures. They are living laboratories where ideas take shape and ministries find momentum.
Through a dynamic blend of teaching, conversation, and hands-on practice, participants learn how to create intentional systems of hospitality and inclusion—grounded in strong partnership between clergy and lay leaders.
Each workshop typically includes:
Practical tools and ready-to-use checklists
Creative, collaborative small-group work
Best practices gathered from across the Church
Clear, actionable guidance for implementation
Whether your congregation is large or small, urban or rural, just beginning or ready to deepen existing efforts, these trainings meet you where you are—and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Who Should Attend?
These workshops are designed for the whole leadership ecosystem of a church:
Clergy
Vestry members
Staff
Ministry leaders
Engaged parishioners of all ages
In other words, anyone who cares about how people experience your church—and how that experience can become more intentional, more relational, and more life-giving.
“A Game-Changer” in Congregational Life
The impact of this work is perhaps best expressed by those who have experienced it firsthand. The Rev. Dr. Hillary Raining, Rector of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., writes:
“I can’t say enough about the impact Mary Parmer and her Invite Welcome Connect ministry have had on the churches I’ve served. I’ve brought this approach into three different congregations now, and every single time, it’s been a game-changer. Mary’s wisdom and gentle guidance have helped each church rethink what it really means to be open—not just in theory, but in everyday practice.”
But the transformation doesn’t stop at insight. It becomes energy. Movement. Joy.
“What I love most is how Mary meets people where they are. She has a gift for connecting with folks from all walks of church life, and she creates a space where everyone feels heard and energized. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her ability to get people excited about hospitality is truly special.”
And then, something remarkable happens. The culture begins to turn—like soil being tilled for new growth.
“The culture at each church I’ve worked with has shifted for the better—people are not only more welcoming, but they look forward to finding ways to invite others in and help them belong.”
It’s not just friendliness. It’s formation.
“I’ve watched people light up after learning from Mary, inspired to take what they’ve learned and put it into action. Her leadership hasn’t just made our churches friendlier—it’s made them stronger, more open, and more joyful communities.”
And perhaps the clearest endorsement of all:
“I’m deeply grateful for Mary and for the Invite Welcome Connect ministry that she has created and shepherded, and I recommend her work to anyone who wants to see real transformation in their congregation.”
Bring a Workshop to Your Community
If your congregation or diocese is ready to move from good intentions to lived practice, now is the time.
Invite Welcome Connect workshops are available to congregations, dioceses, seminaries, and deaneries across the country. Each one is tailored to your context, your people, and your hopes for the future.
To learn more or schedule a workshop:
The invitation is simple. The impact is profound.
Pull up a chair. Open the circle wider. Let the welcome become real.
Tell us in the comments about your experience at a Mary Foster Parmer Invite Welcome Connect Workshop