SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: SHARE YOUR STORY AT CONVOCATION 2025

We are offering six people the unique chance to share a personal story with The BTS Center’s Convocation community. Our vision is to feature people of diverse identities, backgrounds, and perspectives. You do not need any formal storytelling experience to participate. Our partner, Stellar Story Company, will curate the stories and provide participants with individual coaching. Stellar’s award-winning coaches support emerging and professional storytellers for various speaking situations, from national media programs to local advocacy events. 

As a participant, you will benefit from:

• Six to eight hours of professional storytelling coaching. Coaching includes guidance on craft and delivery, elevating your natural storytelling and presentation skills.
• A special community-building experience with five fellow storytellers. 
• Rich connections and conversations with Convocation participants following your story presentation. 

All selected storytellers will be invited to attend Convocation for free and will have their lodging covered on Thursday night.

STORY IDEAS 

Do any of these questions spark personal memories? Submitting a story idea does not obligate you to participate. The BTS Center will select a short list of candidates, and Stellar will speak with people casually about their story and answer any questions about the coaching process.  

• Stories of ecological conversion:  What specific personal experience awakened you to our interdependence with the natural world? What defining moment shifted your concern about climate change into action?  What experience highlights a spiritual transformation along your ecological conversion journey?
• Stories of courage and perseverance:  Deepening our connection to the ecological world and advocating for meaningful change often challenges our beliefs about ourselves and others. What situation tested your beliefs or biases? When did you stretch beyond your comfort zone and take a risk? When did you learn an unexpected lesson about courage and perseverance in a climate-changed world?
• Stories of leadership and communal embodiment:  Embracing an ecological interdependence mindset or addressing climate change is an individual and collaborative effort. When did your spiritual community embody its commitment to the environment and creation care? What have you learned about communal leadership in a climate-changed world?  

Submit your story idea by August 1, 2025

Stellar Story Company will contact potential storyteller candidates in August to discuss ideas further. While we wish we could include everyone, our goal is to feature a variety of people, experiences, and perspectives. If you are not selected, there will be time to share your story casually during Convocation and participate in an online storytelling workshop later in the fall..

Please contact Associate Director, Rev. Nicole Diroff, at nicole@thebtscenter.org with any questions.