Be Still and Be Renewed: Registration Opens for NAES/ELEA 2026 Conference
Registration is now open for the NAES/ELEA Biennial Conference 2026, taking place November 18–20, 2026, at the JW Marriott L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, California. Centered on the theme, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), this national gathering invites leaders in faith-based education to pause, reflect, and grow together in community.
This biennial conference brings together school leaders from across the country for a rich time of learning, worship, and connection. Highlights include keynote speaker Dr. Lisa Miller, a professor, clinical psychologist, and acclaimed author, as well as preaching at the conference Eucharist by Presiding Episcopal Bishop Sean W. Rowe. Participants will also have access to more than 60 peer-led workshops, along with pre-conference opportunities focused on headship, chaplaincy, and early childhood education.
Grounded in our shared calling to form young people in faith, this gathering reflects a deeply Lutheran understanding of vocation and community—equipping leaders to serve their schools and ministries with renewed purpose and trust in God’s presence.
Participants will also engage in a hands-on service project with Homeboy Industries, offering a tangible expression of faith in action.
For those connected to Lutheran schools, this is an especially accessible opportunity. ELEA members receive the same registration rates as NAES members, expanding access to this broader ecumenical community of educational leaders.
Additionally, the first 20 ELEA members to register will receive a free copy of The Spiritual Child by Dr. Lisa Miller. To receive the book, participants should:
Register for the conference
Forward their confirmation email to gabrielle@elcaschools.org
Share a photo on social media expressing their excitement for ELEA
Early-bird registration rates are available through September 18, 2026, so early registration is encouraged.
To learn more and register, visit:
www.biennialconference.org
This promises to be a meaningful time of renewal, connection, and growth—an opportunity to be still, and to listen for God’s voice together in the midst of our shared work.
