The Acompañamiento 2026 Conference

This event offers annual conferences the opportunity to send a dedicated team committed to building capacity for this work within their annual conference. Each team will be equipped to cultivate, equip and support at least ten local congregations to become acompañamiento congregations.  These congregations will be asked to embody solidarity, hospitality, and justice by walking intentionally alongside immigrant congregations and their communities.  Our hope is to develop a capacity of at least 250 acompañamiento congregations across the country.  

The leadership development will provide a comprehensive and practical formation experience, including: 

• A theological framework of acompañamiento rooted in our Wesleyan tradition and commitment to justice 

• The methodology of El Plan: Perceive – Discern – Collaborate

• An overview of the current political landscape involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), including recent developments and implications for ministry 

• Best practices for allyship, such as intentional intercultural engagement and implicit bias training 

• The Church as sanctuary: concrete steps to create safer spaces within our buildings, including understanding legal rights related to property and interactions with ICE and CBP 

• Guidance on how to safely confront, verify, and respond to ICE/CBP activity in our communities, including building trusted local networks. 
  
  GCORR has reached out to all annual conferences and Bishops in identifying and commissioning a team of persons to be involved in this conference and we are looking forward to this event.