The Collaborators Conference
for the Flourishing of Nonviolent Christianity
is an annual event fostering learning, empowerment,
and community.
This conference is presented by The Raven Foundation and Theology & Peace.
Who is Collaborators Conference for?
- Seekers
- Believers and doubters
- Pastors
- Christian educators
- Students of religion or theology
What can I expect from the Conference?
The Collaborators Conference combines keynotes, panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities to empower you with actionable tools and resources to help make positive changes in your community and strengthen your faith.
This year’s highlights include:
- A premiere of Kevin Miller’s documentary J.E.S.U.S.A. exploring the relationship between Christianity and American nationalism and the violence that often emerges from it.
- A performance by acclaimed Christian musician and 2019 Raven Award winner Audrey Assad.
Who is presenting at the Conference this year?
Keynote speakers and panelists include members of the mimetic theory community and nonviolent Christianity movement who are actively enacting change in their spheres of influence. Confirmed keynote speakers for the 2020 conference include…
Kevin Miller
Award-winning filmmaker, author, and educator, and the director behind the documentary J.E.S.U.S.A.
David Dark
Christian author, who teaches at the Tennessee Prison for Women, Charles Bass Correctional Facility, and Belmont University where he is assistant professor in the College of Theology.
Julia Robinson Moore
Historian and religious scholar, is associate professor of Religious Studies and Faculty Affiliate in the Department of History and Africana Studies at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Tickets available now.
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m not a scholar or a pastor? Can I still attend?
Yes! The Collaborators Conference is for anyone who wants to make a difference in their community through mimetic theory and nonviolent Christianity! This includes (and is not limited to) seekers, believers, doubters, pastors and ministry workers, Christian educators, and students of religion and theology.
Is the Conference available online?
The Collaborators Conference will be recorded and made available to attendees online through the Raven Foundation so you can have access to the keynotes and panels to give you resources and tools you can use!
If you are unable to physically attend, we will also be offering a livestream passes to view the conference live online! Stay tuned for more details!
What is the conference refund policy?
75% percent registration refunds are offered on a case-by-case basis.
Given the uncertainty of the developing COVID-19 situation, if the live event must be canceled for the safety of attendees and to follow government guidelines, the Collaborators Conference will become an online summit. You will receive a 75% registration refund and be given total access to the online summit.
Are meals/housing included in the registration price?
The meals are included in the registration price. You will enjoy two lunches, two dinners, and two receptions.
Lodging in not included in the registration price. On campus housing is available. Many other housing options are within walking distance of the conference center.
How is the conference addressing COVID-19?
The hosts of the Collaborators Conference are taking the necessary measures and precautions to create a safe and healthy environment for the event. Our intention is to keep the conference attendance small to foster a more connected and safe experience for attendees.
Given the uncertainty of the developing COVID-19 situation, if the live event must be canceled for the safety of attendees and to follow government guidelines, the Collaborators Conference will become an online summit. You will receive a 75% registration refund and be given total access to the online summit.
What is mimetic theory? And why is it so important for the nonviolent Christianity?
Mimetic theory is the biggest idea to hit the social sciences in the last sixty years! Mimetic theory is a way of thinking that turns conventional wisdom about some pretty essential facts of life on its head:
- Our desires are not original or unique to us but are acquired through imitation.
- We come into conflict because we are alike, not because we are different.
- God has nothing to do with violence.
For more on mimetic theory and nonviolent Christianity, check out this post by Raven Foundation Co-Founder, Suzanne Ross.