• Clergy, congregational leaders, and individuals from any denomination who are ready to join a movement within the church to provide practical, pastoral and prophetic action to prevent and respond to gun violence.

• Clergy, congregational leaders, and individuals from any denomination who are passionate and committed to this work, yet need a community of support and/or some new skills.

• Survivors of gun violence who seek a way to turn grief into healing and action.

For the lessons of the Atwood Institute to have the most effect in your area, we encourage you to find at least 2-3 people from your community (congregation, Presbytery, metropolitan area, region, etc.) to attend together, so that you can learn together, and then go back en-couraged and ready to lead in your community.  Register HERE.

No!  All are welcome.  Involvement in a particular denomination is not necessary to attend, but please understand that we will specifically focus on leveraging the Christian community in the gun violence prevention movement.

The Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage will train clergy and lay leaders in practical, pastoral and prophetic Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) ministry skills that have impact in our current political context. 

We will provide training on: preaching and teaching about gun violence; discussing gun violence in your congregation; strategies to manage opposition; responding to trauma and gun violence emergencies; fostering courage and resilience in congregations and clergy for long-term involvement; and engaging congregations and communities in practical and prophetic Gun Violence Prevention actions, such as secure gun storage and state-level advocacy training.  

The Atwood Institute will offer hands-on training for Gun for Gardens events, and all participants will have the opportunity to transform a gun into a garden tool.

Many of the resources on which we will rely at the Atwood Institute can be found in the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Gun Violence Prevention Congregational Toolkit.

If a small group is registering from a single organization (or congregation), a single registrant can register as a “company” and pay for multiple individuals.  

Use this page to register as a company.

How much does this cost?

Costs include registration, programming, lodging and meals per person for the Atwood Institute from September 24-27, 2025. There is a commuter option, as well.

**Participants are responsible for their own travel to/from Massanetta Springs in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, two hours from Washington, DC.

Registration Options:

Commuter – $300.00 (Includes meals. Does not include lodging.)

Double Occupancy/Shared Bathroom – $475.00 (Includes all meals, double occupancy lodging and programming fees. You will share a bathroom with one other room.)

Single Occupancy/Shared Bathroom – $540.00 (Includes all meals, single occupancy lodging and programming fees. You will share a bathroom with one other room.) (**Few single occupancy rooms available; register asap.) 

In addition to the fees noted above, you will also need to arrange and pay for transportation from your location for all members of your party. 

See this page for helpful travel information.

See this page for helpful travel information.

Thanks to help from sponsors, we do have scholarship assistance. Apply here.

Please note: in an effort to ensure that all in need can receive some assistance, we cannot fully pay for any single individual to attend.  Scholarships will be used to cover costs associated with Massanetta Springs only.  No transportation costs will be covered by scholarships.

We encourage you to talk to your church, presbytery, diocese, synod or other church entities to inquire about scholarship funds that might be available for peacemaking or local mission work.

Clergy: we encourage you to use your study funds for the Atwood Institute.

See this page for specific information about lodging on campus.

Breaking bread together is a fundamental part of Christian fellowship and community building.  Important conversations happen, relationships are formed/strengthened, and our bodies and souls find nourishment in this simple act of sitting together at table for meals.  You can find specific information about dining at Massanetta Springs here.

If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know what they are when you register.

Please let us know what kind of accommodation you need when you register.

Yes!  Massanetta Springs offers a variety of lodging options.  See this page for a list of activity options for those who are not registered for Atwood Institute or who wish to participate in activities offered around our planned conference offerings and workshops.

Thank you!  Please make your donation here.

We’d love to meet you, local folks!  Please join us on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 7 PM for our opening night to launch the James Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage!

The keynote address will be delivered by Reverend Sharon Risher, pastor, activist, sought-after speaker, and author of For Such a Time as This: Hope and Forgiveness after the Charleston Massacre.  Plan to stay for the Q&A and reception to follow.

Come for an evening that promises to ignite courage and action within our churches.

If you have questions that are not addressed here, please contact us at gvp@presbypeacefellowship.org.