Launch of the Interwoven Congregations Network!

As a friend, partner, donor or other supporter of Interwoven Congregations, I want to share an exciting moment with you.  In the past week, we have launched a new product that will tranform our work for racial justice and healing -- and we'd love for you to be a part of it!

Introducing the NEW Interwoven Congregations Network!

The Interwoven Congregations Network is a place where people of faith from across the country (and literally across the world) can gather in community,  access an array of antiracism resources, and then  collaborate and mutually encourage one another in our efforts for racial justice and healing.   

Why the Interwoven Network? 

We believe people of faith may face two sets of challenges.  First, there is major pushback against efforts for diversity, equity and inclusion and other forms of racial justice in our society today.  Thankfully, many faith communities still have a hunger for racial justice.  However:

• Many of us have a limited understanding about the systemic nature of racism and its ongoing impacts;

  
  

• Our worship spaces continue to be largely segregated, dividing us further along the lines of race;

  
  

• Many congregations are unsure of how to go about advancing racial justice;

  
  

• We all can struggle to sustain our efforts for racial justice.

Interwoven's Response. 

Interwoven Congregation's response to these challenges is threefold:

• Provide in-person and online consulting and events;

• Develop the online Congregational Toolkit; and

• And now, launch the new Interwoven Congregations Network.  

Launching the Network has gotten us talking about trees. 

And redwoods, specifically.  They are the tallest trees on the planet, but contrary to what you might think, their root systems don't go deep, they go wide!  The trees develop an interlocking root system and it is those linkages which enable these towering trees to withstand the wind, heavy rains and snow, and any other storms that may come.

That's precisely what we're seeking to accomplish through the Interwoven Congregations Network -- an interlocking network of congregations that mutually support, encourage and strengthen each other for the work for racial justice.  And then Interwoven Congregations is fertiizing this space with special tools and resources that all network members can access. 

Who can join the network? 

As our Interwoven Congregations name suggests, we specialize in helping faith communities be agents for racial justice and healing.  That said, we welcome everyone who wishes to work for racial justice and healing to join the Network. 

People can join the network three ways: 

Individuals.  First, everyone joins the Network as an individual.  It's free for individuals to join the Network.  We do ask all individual Network members to make an annual donation to Interwoven.  We suggest $25 per year ($10 per year for seniors / students) but you decide what's right for you!   If you can support the Network with a greater donation, please do!  If you're unable to donate at this time, come on in and be our guest!  Individuals can sign up here.

Congregations.  Congregations can also join the Network and gain access to a dedicated online meeting space -- their own "Congregational Hub" -- where members of the congregation can meet up to coordinate their racial justice efforts.  Congregations that have a partnership with another congregation(s) SHARE their space, making it a hub for collaboration and organic relationship building between the faith communities.    The annual membership fee for a congregation is $250.  Congregations that join before September 30, 2025 get their first year for $100. (It's the founding special offer!) The Congregation's dedicated hub is set upon receipt of payment.  (Note: Any congregation that desires to work for racial justice but is unable to donate at these levels can join and make a donation according to their ability.  We also encourage any congregation that has the resources to donate MORE to do so as a way to support other, less-resourced congregations.  Congregations can sign up here.

Networks of Congregations.  Dioceses, Presbyteries, Conferences and other denominational jurisdictions; seminaries; ministerial alliances; racial justice coalitions and other related interest groups can join and receive their own dedicated space on the Interwoven Network.  Member churches, mosques, synagogues and other members can gather in the dedicated Network hubs to meet, deepen relationships, and organize all their efforts for racial justice!   Note that we have created a two-tier membership levels for networks.  For larger denominational networks (Dioceses, Presbyteries, etc.) the annual membership fee is $1,000 -- or $500 for networks that sign up before September 30, 2025.  For smaller networks (i.e., ministerial alliances, racial justice coalitions), the annual membership fee is $100 -- or $50 for networks that sign up before September 30, 2025. Networks can sign up here.   

 Organizational Partnerships.  On an invitation-only basis, Interwoven welcomes select organizations whose missions are also to promote racial justice and healing to join the Network.  All organizational Partners receive a dedicated space in the Partner Hub where they can showcase their services for all Network members.  Unlike the Congregation Hubs which are restricted to the member congregations, the Partner Hubs are open to all Network members.  There is no fee for organizational Partners to join the Network, but we do invite Partners to make an annual donation to Interwoven and encourage them to extend special discounts to Interwoven Network members.  If you're interested in being an organizational partner or would like to suggest an organization that Interwoven invite to join as a partner, let us know!

What Does the Network Do?

The Network has a series of spaces where people can gather, meet, collaborate and find resources. 

• The Water Cooler.  This is where to start!  You can see everyone who has joined the Network, start up a conversation, see recent posts, and make note of upcoming racial justice events on the Network and beyond.

  
  

• The Congregational Toolkit.  This is a collection of tools and resources curated by Interwoven Congregations to help congregations learn about systemic racism; build relationships across the divide of race;  take action against systemic racism; and then sustain them in the work!  Have a tool or resource you think should be included?  Let us know!

  
  

• Congregation Hubs, Congregational Network Hubs & Partner Hubs.  As noted above, these are spaces where congregations, networks of congregations and organizational partners of Interwoven Congregations have their own hubs.  These are "closed" for the member congregations and congregational networks so their members can build relationships and collaborate on racial justice projects. The partner hubs are OPEN to all Network members and offer more resources to everyonen on the platform. 

• Discussion Group Hubs.  People who would like to  participate in a racial justice discussion group can sign up here.  There will be one-time, single event discussion groups as well as groups where people gather for weekly, monthly, or quarterly to build relationships, deepen their antiracism knowledge, and prepare to take action!  Sign up to join a group!   

• Topic Hubs.  Are you interested in a particular topic of racial justice?  Join a Topic Hub where you can share in a discussion thread about restorative justice, reparations, AI and racial justice, and other racial justice points of focus.  Plug into the Topic Hubs that most interest you!   You can also request a new Topic Hub if there's a racial justice subject you believe should be added.  

• Geo Hubs.   These are neighborhood conversations -- spaces where people who live in certain cities or regions (or just have an interest in what's going on in those areas) can join in and follow conversations about racial justice.  At the moment, there are Geo Hubs in areas where Interwoven has active partners like Richmond, VA, Charlotte, NC, and Kansas City.  The Network is also international as we have members from the U.K., the Netherlands and Africa!  If you would like to have a Hub for your city or region, make the request!  As soon as 10 people from that area sign up, we'll set up their custom Geo Hub!

Who's behind the Network?

The Interwoven Congregations Network has been developed by Interwoven Executive Director Pat Jackson and the members of  the Interwoven Governing Board (above) and the Advisory Board (below).  We also gratefully acknowledge the invaluable input of friends of Interwoven who have given us substantial feedback as we've launched the platform. 

How do I learn more?

You can learn more about the Interwoven Congregations Network through:

• The Interwowen Website.  You can find additional information about the Network at the Interwoven website. 

• Zoom Info Sessions.  Interwoven Executive Director Pat Jackson also hosts regular group Zoom conversations to talk about the Network -- what it is for people considering joining and how to maximize it for those already on the platform.  You can join at these times:

  
  

  • First Mondays at 7 p.m. -- the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. EDT.

    
    

  • Tuesdays at Two -- every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

    
    

  • Need another time?  Schedule a Zoom or cell call with Pat  Pat is happy to do a live demo of the site for individual faith communites, session, antiracism teams, or any other small group interested in joining. 

p

How do I join?

You can join the Network in the following steps:

• Everyone.  Everyone joins as an individual member.  You can sign up here.

  
  

• Congregations can sign up here.   

  
  

• Networks of Congregations can sign up here.

  
  

• Organizational Partners.  This is an invitation-only opportunity, but you can request to become an Organizational Partner on the Network here.

How can I support this work?

 If you feel the work for racial justice is important today, you can support this work by Interwoven Congregations two ways:

• Join the Network!

  
  

• Make a donation.  As noted, we ask everyone to make a modest donation when they join the Network as individuals. But we also invite you to make a special donation today to further undergird the overall work of Interwoven Congregations.   Launching this Network is a lift -- and you can help put some added muscle behind the platform with your generosity today.  Thank you! 

A Closing Note

President Kennedy, on a brisk inauguration morning employed a turn of phrase that would inspire generations.  "Ask not," he said, "what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."  

I hope that you can see how the Interwoven Congregations Network can help you -- as an individual, as a congregation, as a network of congregations, or as an aligned partner organization -- to further your own work for racial justice and healing.  I hope you have a sense of what you can "get out of the Network." 

But I also would invite you to consider what you can give -- how your presence and activity on the Network, in this time of  racial justice backlash, can be a signal to other people and other congregations that the march for justice goes on.  That we do not accept a retreat into isolation, antipathy, and hopelessness. 

Working for racial justice is integral to our authentic practice of faith.

We are in this for the long haul.

We are stronger together.

I hope to see you on the Interwoven Congregations Network!

Peace,

Rev. Pat Jackson

Interwoven Congregations