The charm and convenience of New Orleans’ storied streetcars weren’t lost on an adventurous group of Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference participants who had arrived a day early to explore the city.
As the diverse group of conference leaders and attendees from around the country rode the historic St. Charles streetcar line together, they were visibly moved as they approached the magnificent façade of the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, which opened its doors on to greet them by hosting a welcome reception, complete with traditional Mardi Gras beads for each guest.
“In welcoming participants in the Stewardship Kaleidoscope Conference to New Orleans, we wanted to share the hospitality of the local church and give thanks for the work of the greater church that helps resource the local church where vital ministry happens,” said the Rev. Chris Currie, senior pastor at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, who attended the conference with several staff colleagues. “In a time of polarization and toxic online discourse, having opportunities to build bridges, share in each other’s lives face to face, and support one another in our service to Jesus Christ is who we are called to be as Christ’s church.”
Themed “Stewardship: The Art of Resiliency,” the 2025 conference was held Sept. 22–24 at the Sheraton Canal Street, New Orleans.
“The hospitality at the reception was wonderful, and I had the chance to meet a lot of different Presbyterians from across the denomination,” said Luci Duckson-Bramble, director of Development for the Presbyterian Historical Society in the Interim Unified Agency of the PC(USA), who co-led a conference workshop with PHS’s records manager, David Staniunas. “Being there was a reminder of the connectedness of the PC(USA), and it’s always good to hear how we’re serving congregations and the broader communities.”
Drawing leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and other ecumenical partners, Stewardship Kaleidoscope is designed to ignite generosity in faith-based communities, give practical tools for cultivating generosity in congregations, expand the leadership capacity of those who lead stewardship initiatives, and cultivate adaptive approaches for funding Christ’s mission.
“It's a challenging time to be the church right now,” said the Rev. Sandra Moon, vice president of Church Finances & Property and Adaptive Initiatives for the Presbyterian Foundation. “In a time of deep social and political upheaval, and frequent natural disasters — to which New Orleans is no stranger — the 2025 conference theme, ‘The Art of Resiliency,’ is especially timely.”
Moon, who served as Stewardship Kaleidoscope operations chair, resourced and supported the all-volunteer conference planning team together with the event co-chairs, Stefanie Marsden, relationship manager for the Texas Presbyterian Foundation, and Caralee Wheeler, development program associate for the Presbyterian Foundation.
Because 2025, which marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the region’s — and the people’s — resiliency was always top of mind.
And while each of the preachers and speakers addressed the conference theme through the lens of their own context, experience and expertise, the Rev. Jean Marie Peacock — who was Vice Moderator of the 216th General Assembly (2004) — reflected on resiliency and stewardship in the context of New Orleans and the recovery efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to leading a plenary session, Peacock also offered a workshop titled, “Missional Ministry in Your Own Backyard.”
Peacock’s was one of some 35 workshops that in-person participants would be attending during the three-day conference, all while gaining invaluable insights from the speakers and preachers and enjoying unique opportunities to connect with other conferees, not to mention the conference leaders as well.
“When I saw that Alonzo Johnson was one of the preachers at the conference, I made sure to sign up,” said Theresa Purnell, a ruling elder at the Oak Lane Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, who was at Stewardship Kaleidoscope for the first time.
Purnell shared that Johnson, who coordinates the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People Program, is a former pastor of the Oak Lane Church.
Johnson, a prominent PC(USA) leader and powerful preacher, led worship on the conference’s opening day. In addition to Johnson and Peacock, the featured keynoters and preachers were the Rev. Dr. David P. King, the Rev. Dr. Corey Nelson and the Rev. Dr. Becca Ehrlich.
Emily Enders Odom, Former Associate Director of Mission Communications, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (Click here to read original PNS Story)
Let us join in prayer for:
Laura Bryan, Manager, Financial Aid for Service, Interim Unified Agency
Lucy Bryant, Online Service Client Relations Specialist, Operations, The Presbyterian Foundation
Let us pray:
Dear Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Help us to continue doing your work and advancing your kingdom. Allow others to see the love we have for you through our service. Amen.
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