Rest. Renewal. Inspiration. Experience CWTA at St. Olaf College
Rostered ministers, church musicians, faith formation leaders, deacons, lay leaders, and ministry partners across the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to attend the 2026 Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (CWTA), taking place July 20–22, 2026, on the beautiful campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.
After record-breaking attendance in 2024, CWTA returns with a renewed commitment to offer a high-quality, affordable conference for ministry practitioners and by ministry practitioners—designed to nourish vocation through worship, learning, community, and rest.
Nourishing Vocation Every Time, Age, and Place
In rhythm with its 2026 theme, the conference will focus on:
Nourishing Vocation Every Time – Embracing Sabbath rest and stewardship of life; caring for self and others.
Nourishing Vocation Every Age – Strengthening intergenerational ministry and faith formation across life’s journey.
Nourishing Vocation Every Place – Grounding ministry in local community, global context, and care for all creation.
Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox and the Nourishing Vocation Projects, participants will engage innovative theological work alongside signature musical experiences that have long shaped CWTA’s identity.
What Participants Experience
Those who attend consistently describe the conference as refreshing, rejuvenating, and renewing. CWTA offers:
Inspirational daily worship
Practical, tested ideas for worship and faith formation
Spiritual practices to sustain ministry at home and in congregations
Active engagement in the arts
Dinner church experiences
Networking with ministry partners from across the country
Rest and renewal for the work ahead
A pick-up choir will form under the direction of Dr. Anton Armstrong, offering participants the joy of collaborative music-making.
CWTA welcomes participants from across denominational contexts and congregational sizes, including pastors (first-call and seasoned), deacons, church musicians, youth and family ministers, lay leaders, artists, outdoor ministry professionals, seminarians, and congregations reimagining their vocation.
Why This Matters for Our Synod
Across Arizona, southern Nevada, St. George, and the Navajo Nation, our congregations are navigating change, complexity, and new possibilities for ministry. Lutheran theology reminds us that vocation is lived out in daily life—in Word and Sacrament, in service, in community, and in care for creation. Conferences like CWTA create space for Sabbath rest, theological depth, artistic imagination, and practical tools that strengthen local ministry.
If you are seeking renewal or fresh ideas to bring back to your congregation, CWTA offers a meaningful opportunity for growth and accompaniment.
Learn More and Register
Full program details and registration information are available at:
You can also follow updates on Facebook at “St. Olaf Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts.”
If you have questions, email cwta@stolaf.edu.
We encourage congregations to consider supporting rostered ministers, musicians, and lay leaders in attending. Please share this invitation widely within your ministry networks.
