Year of Evangelism 2026

Across the diocese, congregations are already practicing evangelism in ways they may not always recognize as evangelism. Churches are showing up at neighborhood events, farmers’ markets, and marches. Volunteers are offering water, prayer boards, meals, music, and conversation. Clergy and lay leaders are listening to stories of grief, hope, and longing in their neighborhoods. Youth and young adults are asking big questions about faith and justice. 

These are holy things–meant to be shared.  

At Diocesan Convention in November 2025, Bishop Susan announced the theme: The Year of Evangelism for 2026. This is not a single diocesan campaign. It invites congregations to ask simple but profound questions:

Where is God already at work among us? How are we being invited to share that story? What would it look like for all of us to take faithful risks?

Sharing faith with courage often requires support and practice. During the Year of Evangelism, formation opportunities in EDSD, such as the Leadership Academy and the Episcopal Communicators Conference, will help clergy and lay leaders grow in confidence and clarity. 

To begin this shared work, the Year of Evangelism will open with an invitation to listen deeply. On Wednesday, January 21, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego will welcome The Rev. Stephanie Spellers for a diocesan gathering centered on her book Church Tomorrow?, hosted by EDSD and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Del Mar. Drawing on conversations with Millennials and Gen Z adults who identify as “Nones” and “Dones,” Rev. Spellers invites us to reflect honestly about how younger generations are experiencing meaning, belonging, and the sacred. What could their witness teach us about the future of Christian community? (Register for this event here). 

At Leadership Academy this Spring, one of the three tracks focuses on Evangelism and offers encouraging, practical ways for anyone who wants to grow more confident in sharing their faith. Following along the pathway of Gather, Transform, and Send, this track explores evangelism as something lived–a posture of openness, hospitality, and attentiveness to God’s work. In these three interconnected classes, participants will reflect on how we invite others into the life of the Church, deepen our own discipleship, and go forth to share God’s love in ways that feel genuine and faithful.

Leadership Academy is designed as a supportive learning space, and the Evangelism track is no exception. These sessions are especially well-suited for clergy and lay leaders who want encouragement, language, and practical tools for naming faith with greater ease. You do not need prior experience—only a willingness to listen, learn, and try something new. Whether you are curious about evangelism or have been quietly practicing it for years, this track offers a chance to grow alongside others, gain a fresh perspective, and leave feeling equipped and hopeful.

The Episcopal Communicators Conference, coming to San Diego in April, offers a powerful opportunity to grow in sharing the Good News with clarity, creativity, and care. At its heart, the conference is about helping the Church tell its story well—learning how to articulate faith in ways that are faithful, compelling, and grounded in real life. Through workshops, labs, and shared conversations, participants gain practical tools for storytelling, digital ministry, visual communication, and evangelism shaped by relationship rather than rhetoric. For anyone seeking to communicate the Gospel with greater confidence and imagination, the conference provides both skill-building and encouragement, reminding us that sharing good news is not about perfection, but about presence, honesty, and hope. (Register for the Episcopal Communicators Conference here).

Evangelism does not look the same in every community. And it is not meant to. Throughout 2026, evangelism across EDSD will grow in diverse and creative ways. Through congregational storytelling and testimony shared in worship, newsletters, and online spaces; neighborhood-based ministries rooted in presence, service, and relationship; storytelling that meets people where they already are; invitation seasons that encourage congregations to welcome friends, neighbors, and family; and partnerships and collaborations that reflect God’s work beyond church walls we will walk together to share the good news of Christ already at work in our diocese.  

How will you live into the Year of Evangelism?