201st Convention at the University Place Hotel in Portland, Oregon
Friday, June 27 – Tuesday, July 1, 2025
In-person registration is open until May 15,
Virtual registration is open until June 15 on swedenborg.org
By Rev. Dr. Jim Lawrence
Members and friends of the Swedenborgian Church, we are happily planning to gather again in a lovely conference hotel setting that is also associated with a college: University Place Hotel and Conference Center adjacent to the lovely Portland State University campus in downtown Portland right by the Willamette River. Again, this year we will provide robust virtual support for all business sessions and worship services, as well as many of the educational events (Mini Courses). We warmly welcome people to join us in-person or online.
This year our convention for in-person attendees will offer the easiest accommodations we’ve had in decades since all activities (lodging, meals, business sessions, and event services) will be in the hotel building.
Our theme is “Spiritual Innovation for a Changing World” as we move into the Year of the New Jerusalem in our cycle of annual themes.
Keynote Address
Spiritual Innovation for a Changing World: The New Church Vision
By Rev. Rich Tafel.
Rich Tafel is a Swedenborgian pastor, bridge-builder, and thought leader dedicated to healing divides in our society through spiritual insight and practical action.
As pastor of Church of the Holy City in Washington, DC, and a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Rev. Tafel has spent his life bringing people together across political, religious, and cultural lines. He developed the Cultural Translator training to help leaders navigate conflict and build coalitions rooted in deeper understanding.
In both his ministry and public life, Rich integrates faith with service, having worked in government, education, and global health. He also is the co-founder of initiatives that connect social impact investing with real-world change.
Rev. Tafel continues to teach, speak, and lead at the intersection of spirituality, public leadership, and civic renewal—living out a Swedenborgian call to serve the common good through love and wisdom in action. He also is the chair of the Council of Ministers.
Read all about Convention 2025 in the full issue of the April/May 2025 Messenger
Register for Convention Here: https://swedenborg.org/events-activities/annual-convention/
Meet Jim Lawrence
Rev. Dr. Jim Lawrence is the president of the Swedenborgian Church of North America. He was the dean of the Center for Swedenborgian Studies for 21 years prior to being elected President in 2022.
