APCE Annual Event offers Spanish-language opportunities for faith formation leaders
Gathering is set for Jan. 21–24
The Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) invites Spanish-speaking volunteers, educators, pastors, and ministry leaders to participate in its 2026 Annual Event, which will include Spanish-language translation and opportunities for workshops in Spanish online.
The event will take place in Pittsburgh from Jan. 21–24, with the theme “Bridging the Gap: Love God. Love Self. Love Neighbor.” Each day of the conference will focus on a different aspect of love: how to love God, how to love self and how to love neighbors. Plenary and worship leaders include the Rev. Theresa Cho, the Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana, the Rev. Paul Roberts, Rabbi Evan Moffic and the Rev. Daniel Heath.
Annual Event online in Spanish
APCE will also offer a Spanish-language online event from Jan. 21–24. This format will include Spanish translation for four worship services, four plenary speaker sessions, nine workshops in Spanish and community-building time with other participants. Access to recordings for all worship services, plenary sessions and all nine of the workshops is available to registrants after the conference. Translation services will be offered through the PC(USA)’s Global Language Resources coordinated by Stephanie Vasquez.
"All of the included sessions will be interpreted or led by native Spanish speakers," according to Miatta Wilson, associate for Christian Formation at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). A partnership between APCE and the PC(USA) allows a reduced cost of $15 per person for the Spanish online event. Workshop leaders include PC(USA) Ruling Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri, the Rev. Marissa Galván-Valle and the Rev. Danilie C. Hilerio-Villanueva, along with the Rev. Liz Testa of the Reformed Church of America.
Beyond professional educators
Historically, APCE primarily served certified Christian educators in multi-staff congregations. However, today's ministry landscape demands leaders who can teach, nurture and empower disciples of all ages — often with fewer resources and smaller staff.
Today, the event attracts nearly 600 attendees each year, serving diverse contexts that include children's, youth and adult ministry leaders; pastors with Master of Divinity degrees and commissioned lay pastors (representing nearly 40% of recent attendees); volunteers stepping faithfully into leadership; and leaders in emerging or multilingual ministries.
Thom Cunningham, executive director of APCE, said that “APCE equips everyone who forms faith — in every context.” This philosophy reflects the organization’s evolution to serve a broader community of ministry leaders.
Workshops and learning opportunities
While opportunities to attend worship, plenaries, and several workshops are available through the online event for Spanish and English speakers, there are even more opportunities for those attending the event in-person in Pittsburgh this year.
Participants in the in-person English language event will be able to select from more than 80 workshops led by experienced practitioners and scholars. These sessions will address the real challenges facing congregations, offering cutting-edge formation practices for children, youth, adults, older adults and intergenerational discipleship.
The workshops will provide practical tools leaders can use immediately; insights into digital, hybrid, multilingual and inclusive ministry; strategies for thriving in lean-staff environments; and renewed confidence and joy in the work of Christian formation.
Register for APCE’s 2026 Annual Event in person or online.
Register for APCE’s Spanish-language Annual Event.
You may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.
