Perkins Fall Convocation 2026 brings conflict engagement training to Frisco
DALLAS (SMU) – Registration is open for the 2026 Perkins Fall Convocation, an annual gathering that brings faith leaders and scholars together to engage with timely questions in ministry and theology.
This year, Perkins School of Theology at SMU will focus the convocation on conflict engagement, partnering with the Department of Human-Centered Interdisciplinary Studies at SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development to provide church leaders with practical tools for navigating difficult conversations and conflict within their congregations and communities.
The one-day convocation will be held Nov. 9 at Grace Avenue United Methodist Church in Frisco, Texas, from 8:30 a.m. to 5pm.
“Conflict is an unavoidable part of ministry, but how we engage it can make a profound difference in the life of a congregation,” said Bryan P. Stone, Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean of Perkins School of Theology. “By focusing this year’s Fall Convocation on conflict engagement, we want to give church leaders practical tools to approach difficult conversations with greater understanding and help their communities move through disagreements in constructive, transformative ways.”
Clinical Professor John Potter and colleagues from SMU Simmons’ Dispute Resolution program will lead hands-on learning sessions exploring the behavioral science of conflict and approaches that can lead to positive outcomes.
For more than two decades, the Dispute Resolution program at SMU Simmons has prepared professionals in negotiation, mediation, leadership coaching and conflict engagement through an interdisciplinary approach rooted in the social and behavioral sciences.
Throughout the one-day intensive, teaching sessions will transition into guided activities that give participants opportunities to apply what they learn to situations they may encounter in congregational life.
“We've designed this training for church leaders and their leadership teams to learn and practice skills around the table, preparing them for wider tables and deeper discussions for their unique contexts,” said Assistant Dean of Lifelong Learning, Church Relations and Alumni Engagement Bart Patton. “This will be engaged learning at its best, highlighting the intersection of theory and practice.”
The convocation is open to church leaders across denominations. Participants may register individually or attend with colleagues, allowing ministry teams to develop a shared approach to engaging conflict within their congregations.
Registration is limited to 80 participants, with options for individuals and ministry teams:
- Single seat: $125
- Half table for three: $300
- Full table for six: $500
Registration closes Nov. 2.
SMU Perkins School of Theology, founded in 1911, is one of five official University-related schools of theology of The United Methodist Church. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with The Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.