Beyond the Summit is a campus and young adult ministry conference co-sponsored by LuMin and the Gather Network, taking place June 23-26, 2026 at the University of Denver.

Together, we’ll explore what it means to encounter God beyond the mountaintop—in the ordinary, difficult, and overlooked places of young adulthood and campus ministry. Join keynote speaker Cole Arthur Riley as she invites us into practices of paying attention, honoring our embodied experiences of joy and grief, and discovering dignity in the work of descending well. Together, we will strive to find God not just in the highs, but in the diverse rhythms of daily life.

You can also expect:

• Worship & Prayer throughout the conference
• Workshops on relevant topics for campus and young adult ministry
• Gather Track programming for young adult ministry leaders
• Networking opportunities with colleagues from across the country
• Community building and time to learn from local ministries and visit Denver landmarks

Contact Us

Got questions? Contact Brooke Helfers, Conference Administrator at conference@luminelca.org Partial and full scholarships are available to those with financial need. Please email Brooke for more information.

Registration is Closed.

Please email conference@luminelca.org with questions.

Registration Cost is $300

Conference Transportation Form

Please complete this form by clicking the link above if you’d like to coordinate rideshares with other conference participants that arrive/depart around the same time as you!

Theme

Beyond the Summit: encountering God in ordinary, difficult, and overlooked places

In the shadow of the Rockies, we’ll explore what it means to encounter God beyond the mountaintop – in the ordinary, difficult, and overlooked places of young adulthood and campus ministry. Join Cole Arthur Riley as she invites us into practices of paying attention, honoring our embodied experiences of joy and grief, and discovering dignity in the work of descending well. Together, we will strive to find God not just in the highs, but in the diverse rhythms of daily life. 

Venue & Practicalities

Join us at the University of Denver! Getting to campus from Denver International Airport is straightforward—you can take the RTD A Line train downtown followed by light rail or rideshare. Or, we’ll provide an online spreadsheet ahead of the conference to help coordinate rideshares, making travel easier and more affordable for everyone.

Conference housing is available in Nagel Hall, where you’ll have a private single room in a suite shared with 3-4 other attendees. Bathrooms are shared within each suite, creating a comfortable and collegial atmosphere. Between sessions, take advantage of Denver’s vibrant culture—explore world-class museums, enjoy the thriving craft brewery scene, and take in stunning mountain views. We look forward to welcoming you to the mile-high city!

Keynote Speaker

Cole Arthur Riley

Cole Arthur Riley is writer, poet, and author of the instant New York Times bestsellers This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us (Penguin Random House, 2023) and Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human (Penguin Random House, 2024). Arthur Riley is also the creator of Black Liturgies, a space that integrates spiritual practice with Black emotion, Black literature, and the Black body; and a project of The Center for Dignity and Contemplation where she serves as Curator. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, Guernica, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. Arthur Riley lives in Ithaca, NY.

Tuesday

• 2:00 p.m. Registration Open
• 4:30 p.m. Opening Worship
• 5:30 p.m. Social Time
• 6:30 p.m. Dinner
• 7:30 p.m. Social Time

Wednesday

• 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
• 9:00 a.m. Keynote
• 10:00 a.m. Coffee & Networking Tables; Cole Arthur Riley Book Signing
• 10:30 a.m. Gather Track
• 11:00 a.m. Workshops
• 12:15 p.m. Lunch by Region
• 1:30 p.m. Midday Contemplative Prayer
• 2:00 p.m. Conversation with Cole Arthur Riley
• 3:15 p.m. Free Time & Dinner on Own
• 6:00 p.m. Gather Network Dinner & Trivia
• 8:00 p.m. Episcopal Cohort Gathering
• Free Time

Thursday

• 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
• 8:30 a.m. Plenary Workshop w/ Sarah Weaver
• 10:00 a.m. Coffee & Networking Tables
• 10:30 a.m. Gather Gtrack
• 11:00 a.m. Workshops
• 12:15 p.m. Lunch
• 1:30 p.m. Gather Track
• 1:30 p.m. LuMin Board Meeting & Awards
• 1:30 p.m. Episcopal Cohort Meeting
• 3:30 p.m. Workshops
• 5:00 p.m. Closing Worship
• 6:30 p.m. Closing Dinner

Friday

• 7:30 a.m. Breakfast & Departure

New to campus ministry? Join us for a day and a half of community building and essential preparation at the LuMin New Staff Onboarding. This preconference gathering is designed to help you launch your campus ministry work with confidence and connection.

You’ll hear from experienced colleagues on key topics including student ministry, board development, and financial sustainability. Beyond the practical insights, you’ll have meaningful time to connect with other new practitioners – building relationships that will support you throughout your ministry journey.

New Staff are invited to arrive in Denver on Sunday evening. An optional dinner for those who have arrived will be provided that evening. Programming will start on Monday morning and end midday on Tuesday, allowing for some down time before the conference starts that afternoon.