2026 Regional Theme: Rooted & Rising
On January 5th 2026 in a letter to the region of Tennessee, Regional Minister Rev. Kevin McNeil has announced that the 2026 theme for the region will be “Rooted & Rising.”
The following is an excerpt:
“As we enter 2026, I am pleased to share our regional theme is Rooted & Rising.
This theme emerges from the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:6–7: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the faith… overflowing with thanksgiving.” These words speak powerfully to who we are and who God is calling us to become.
To be rooted is to be grounded deeply in Christ—formed by Scripture, sustained by prayer, shaped by love, and strengthened by our shared identity as Disciples of Christ. In a world marked by uncertainty and rapid change, our roots matter. They anchor us in God’s faithfulness and nourish us with hope.
To be rising is to respond to God’s call with courage and imagination. It is to trust that the Spirit is still at work—raising up leaders, renewing congregations, and calling us outward in mission, justice, and witness. Rising does not mean abandoning what grounds us; it means growing from those roots into new life and faithful action.
In 2026, Rooted & Rising invites us to hold these truths together. We are called to deepen our spiritual lives while stepping boldly into God’s future. We are called to care for one another while engaging our communities with compassion and purpose. We are called to be grounded in Christ and lifted by the Spirit.”