The popular contention that ‘the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer’ is a troubling notion to many people – and you may have wondered: How do Christians begin to address the pervasive issue of economic inequality?

In January, 2015 Trinity Institute will sponsor a conference called Creating Common Good in which informed voices from several disciplines will wrestle with this issue.  The goal is to provide hopeful, practical tools that you can use in your community to make a positive economic impact.

Part of this conference will include a first-ever partnership with ChurchNext that will produce online courses on conference topics that anyone can take. These courses will be released November 2, 9, 16, 23. Each online course will include video presentations, quizzes, discussion questions and downloads. They are suitable for a four-week Advent study.  Instructors for the online courses include: The Most Rev. Justin Welby (Archbishop of Canterbury), Bishop Julio Murray (Bishop of Panama), Rachel Held Evans (Evangelical author), and Nicole Baker Fulghum (Children’s advocate).

“For many years Trinity Institute has sought to be more than a conference, to be an agent for transformation,” said Bob Scott, Trinity Institute Director, “That’s why we’re committed to providing formation resources for use in local faith communities, and why it’s so exciting to be working with ChurchNext. We’re blessed with a powerful and thought-provoking group of speakers, and the cutting-edge work ChurchNext is doing with the pedagogy and delivery of e-courses will help to bring them to an even wider audience. The interactivity among the ChurchNext e-course, our website, and the January live conference provide multiple ways to enter and become engaged with one of the great justice issues of our time.”

ChurchNext founder Chris Yaw added, “This is a terrific way to share the assembled wisdom of this conference with the world. We are thrilled to be on board with this event.”

These courses will take an average learner about 45 minutes to complete. No special software is required. Individual courses are $10 and unlimited monthly subscriptions are $15. ChurchNext congregational subscribers will be able to begin offering these courses to their congregations on their release dates, November 2 (Income Inequality with Bp. Murray), 9 (Christian Responsibility with Rachel Held Evans), 16 (Public Education with Nicole Baker Fulghum), and 23 (Payday Lenders with The Most Rev. Justin Welby).

 Trinity Institute is an annual conference, now in its 44th year, that equips clergy and laypersons for imaginative and catalytic leadership. Trinity Institute conferences present emerging and inclusive theological perspectives and engage participants in inquiry, dialogue, and reflection. Participants from all faith traditions are welcomed. ChurchNext creates online Christian learning experiences that shape disciples. Along with our partners we are devoted to helping people grow in their Christian faith, improve their lives, and better the world.