What is the application deadline?
June 15, 2026
When does Cohort #3 start?
August 19th is Cohort #3’s orientation over Zoom.
What are the in-person commitments?
Participating congregations will send three leaders to two gatherings in Alexandria.
- The first gathering is October 15-17.
- The second gathering is April 8-10.
These gatherings last from Noon on a Thursday through Noon on a Saturday. Outside of these two gatherings, there will be a monthly virtual connection starting in August 2026 and a Building for Hope staff member will visit you at your facility before the second gathering.
How many congregations will be in Cohort #3?
We have space for up to 14 and a few spots remain open.
What work is required of our congregation?
Participating congregations must be ready to invest time in seriously considering and re-thinking their use and stewardship of their facility. This entails not just attending the two gatherings but also attending monthly virtual connections and doing assigned work within your congregation.
What is the assigned work?
Building for Hope partners with Rooted Rood to provide the Good Futures Accelerator curriculum to participating congregations. You will be required to complete this work with a broader team (think 8-12 people) in your congregation and will be assigned times to do the seven sessions that corresponds with the rhythm of the first year of the cohort. Additionally the pastor of the congregation will receive one-on-one coaching from a coach provided to you through our partnership with the Center for Healthy Churches.
Who from our congregation should come to the two gatherings? Does it have to be the same people to both gatherings?
Each congregation will send their lead pastor and two lay people. It is also permissible for a congregation to send two staff members and one lay leader. The participants should be the same at both gatherings. Participating congregations need to send the names of their participants to Ellis by August 15.
Where do we stay for the gatherings? What will we be responsible for when we come?
B4H will arrange for your hotel stay at Hotel Heron, a 30 second walk away from our gathering space. B4H provides all meals from lunch on Thursday through lunch on Saturday.
If we’re traveling from far away, can we come a day earlier?
Yes, but you must coordinate any early arrivals with Ellis by August 15.
What is the meeting space like for Building for Hope gatherings?
Building for Hope gatherings take place at Old Town Community Church. Sessions are held in the sanctuary, meals are eaten at the church building, breakout conversations are held in meeting rooms.
What if I need ADA access?
Our facility has an elevator and we are ready to accommodate any ADA-related needs. We will also work with the hotel to ensure those who need ADA rooms are placed in one.
What will this cost our congregation financially?
There is no cost. Participants are responsible for getting to and from Alexandria for the two gatherings, but the entirety of the Building for Hope program is covered thanks to the generosity of the Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. Scholarship funds are available for churches who need assistance in traveling to Alexandria for the two gatherings.
My congregation doesn’t have a permanent pastor. Can we still participate?
Yes, it is still possible to participate. Not having a permanent pastor does not make a congregation ineligible to participate. It is a gift to have strong lay leadership who move congregations forward during times of leadership transition. The B4H team will work with you in the application period to discuss what this could look like for your team.
I understand that the first year entails the two gatherings, monthly virtual connections, and work within our team. What does year two entail?
In the second year of the cohort the B4H team will remain in contact resourcing you as your put your plans into action. We continue to provide coaching for the pastor, quarterly connections for the broader cohort, and subject-specific mentors to help you most effectively progress.
What type of church should apply?
Building for Hope has served congregations that see hundreds of people on a Sunday and congregations that see a dozen on a Sunday. Participating congregations have been Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopalian, and have come from the west coast, Midwest, and mid-Atlantic. The geographic and denominational diversity of the cohorts has been a gift to those participating.