The Ember Gathering

Reclaiming the Sacred, Igniting the Future

February 27 - March 1, 2026 | Oakland, California

Note: This is a new and experimental gathering. If we don’t reach our community size goal by October 31, 2025, we’ll move the event to October 2026 to ensure the best possible experience for everyone. If the new date doesn’t work for you, you’ll be able to request a full refund.

We refuse to let others define what following Jesus means for us.

If you've ever felt like you don't belong in traditional religious spaces... if you're healing from spiritual trauma... if you're tired of Christianity being hijacked by empire and exclusion... this gathering is for you.

The Ember Gathering is a three-day spiritual retreat for seekers, dreamers, and builders of a new kind of faith community. We're creating something sacred that centers love over fear, liberation over control, and radical belonging over conformity.

✨ What Makes Ember Different

Faith That Builds: We honor deconstruction, but we don't stop there. Come rebuild something beautiful with a community that gets it.

Radical Belonging: LGBTQ+ affirming, anti-racist, and specifically designed for those who've been pushed to the margins of religious spaces.

Healing-Centered: A trauma-informed space where your questions are welcome, your doubts are sacred, and your journey matters.

Justice as Spirituality: We dismantle oppressive systems while healing our own spirits—because liberation is both external and internal.

Real Community: Connect with others navigating similar journeys of faith, identity, and spiritual growth.

🗳️ You Help Shape the Gathering

Your voice matters from the moment you register. Ticket holders get voting power on key aspects of the gathering—from workshop topics and snack selections to worship elements and community activities. This isn't just a conference you attend; it's a community you help create.

Community-Driven Decisions Include:

Workshop and breakout session topics
Snack preferences
Worship style and music choices
Saturday afternoon excursion options
Community guidelines and activities

Because radical belonging means everyone has a voice in building our sacred space together.

🌟 Your Three-Day Experience

Friday Evening - Opening Night

Gather for worship, powerful speakers, communion reimagined, and campfire conversations that will ignite your soul.

Saturday - Full Immersion

Morning: Inspiring speakers and intimate breakout sessions at Oakland's beloved New Parkway Theater
Afternoon: Choose your adventure—explore Oakland with locals, visit Muir Woods redwoods, or connect with LGBTQ+ Christian elders
Evening: Transformative worship experience and community celebration

Sunday - Closing Service

Join Oak Life Church for a powerful closing service, followed by a community brunch that feels like the church fellowship you always dreamed of.

🎤 Storytellers (Aka: Speakers)

Sarah Quint - Mattaponi Housing Director, former pastor, and indigenous voice decolonizing faith through housing justice and spiritual care for unhoused neighbors.

Keri Ladouceur - Pastor, teacher, and bridge-building peacemaker cultivating liberative faith spaces of mutuality and flourishing for all people.

Trey Ferguson - Minister, author of Theologizin' Bigger, and podcaster creating honest, joyful conversations on Black faith and holy disruption.

Drew Hart - Professor, author, and activist teaching antiracist theology and helping communities move from complicity to active solidarity.

Tamice Spencer-Helms - Author of Faith Unleavened, theologian, and fierce advocate for dismantling white supremacy in Christianity while healing from religious trauma.

Brian Recker - Former evangelical pastor, author of Hell Bent, and powerful voice helping people discover faith beyond fear and exclusion.

🎤 Vibe Setters (Aka: MC)

Nya Abernathy - World Building Mystic, host of The Ember Gathering, and creator of welcoming, inclusive spaces for radical belonging.

Nick George - Black Daydreaming Griot, poet, and teacher weaving culture, identity, and spirituality through performance and verse.

📍 Oakland Venues

Oakstop (2323 Broadway) - A creative workspace that perfectly captures Oakland's artistic energy, just 3 blocks from BART
The New Parkway Theater (474 24th St) - Oakland's beloved "picture pizza pub" with cozy couches instead of theater seats

Both venues are fully accessible and designed for authentic community building.

💝 Who This Is For

✅ Former evangelicals finding their way to healthier faith
✅ LGBTQ+ Christians seeking affirming spiritual community
✅ Progressive believers ready to go deeper in justice-centered spirituality
✅ Spiritual seekers exploring Christianity outside traditional frameworks
✅ Anyone healing from religious trauma or church hurt
✅ Church leaders wanting to learn about inclusive ministry
✅ Allies supporting marginalized faith communities

👨‍👩‍👧 Families at Ember

We know that faith, healing, and community aren’t just individual journeys—they ripple through our families too. While The Ember Gathering is designed primarily for adults, families are welcome to be part of the sacred space we’re creating.

Here’s what that means:

For safety reasons, no unaccompanied minors will be allowed.
Teens (ages 13–18) are invited to join the full Ember experience with a $99 ticket.
Kids 12 and under are welcome to attend for free, but they still need a ticket. Please note: we will not be offering childcare, special programming, or designated seating areas for children.

We trust you to discern what participation looks like for your family, and we’ll do our best to make sure everyone feels they belong in our shared sacred rebellion.

🌈 Why Oakland?

Oakland's radical spirit and creative energy make it the perfect backdrop for our sacred rebellion. Easily accessible by BART from San Francisco and beyond, with incredible food, culture, and community that embodies the justice and creativity we celebrate.

Getting There: Oakland International Airport (30 mins) or San Francisco Airport (45 mins via BART)
Stay: We recommend Airbnbs throughout Oakland's diverse neighborhoods

⚡ Important Details

When: February 27-March 1, 2026
Registration Deadline: February 1, 2026
Refund Policy: Full refunds minus fees available up to 60 days prior
Weather: Mild Oakland winter (58-63°F days, pack layers)
Accessibility: ADA accessible venues, ASL volunteers welcome, trauma-informed programming

Not Included: Meals and hotel accommodations are not included with your ticket.

Questions? Email ember@nu.foundation

🎯 Ready to Join the Sacred Rebellion?

Space is intentionally limited to create intimate community. Early registration recommended.

Register now and help us build the inclusive, justice-centered faith community this world desperately needs.

Hosted by Nu Foundation - building networks of inclusive, anti-racist, Jesus-loving, social justice-oriented communities.

#ember26 | @ember_gathering | embergathering.fun

🔥 "We are not just resisting and deconstructing. We are creating something new." 🔥

Ember Gathering '26

Choose your tickets

Early Bird (discounted from $199) ticket

Youth (age: 13 - 18 must be accompanied by an adult) ticket

Child (age: 0-12 must be accompanied by an adult) ticket

Normal ticket

Donations

Support our Host Organization nuFoundation