CEN’s events and gatherings bring Christian school leaders, teachers, boards, and communities together to learn, reflect, and grow.
These gatherings are a key way formation, governance support, accountability, and partnership are lived out in community.
They create space to step back from immediate pressures, think clearly, discern faithfully, and renew commitment to Christ-centred education over the long term.
Schools that participate consistently in CEN gatherings are better positioned to notice emerging issues early, learn from the experience of others, and develop shared language across leadership and governance roles.
Leaders return with tested ideas, practical tools, and clearer questions. Decision-making improves. Governance conversations are better informed. Resilience strengthens over time.
Perhaps most importantly, leaders and board members experience belonging within a movement that shares their theological commitments and institutional realities.
CEN gatherings are designed to support leaders at different moments and levels of responsibility.
National gatherings bring the movement together around long-term questions of faithfulness and sustainability. These events strengthen collective identity and shared purpose.
Each state hosts conferences, combined network meetings, local workshops, and state-specific initiatives. These gatherings provide relational continuity and contextual relevance, often supported by long-standing relationships with State Executive Officer (SEO)s.
Role-based networks operate throughout the year, including for:
Research-focused gatherings, including the National Institute Educating for Hope Research Symposium, Young Christian Thinkers Symposium, and research colloquia, support the intellectual and theological depth of Christian education.
Delivered in partnership with the National Institute for Christian Education, these events form part of a wider research and publishing ecosystem that includes postgraduate study, applied research, and CTJ – Christian Teachers Journal.
International study tours and cross-network collaborations provide exposure to global practice. These experiences are approached with discernment and evaluated through biblical conviction rather than trend adoption.
CEN events and gatherings are delivered nationally and within each state through conferences, networks, forums, symposiums, retreats, and study tours.
Membership provides access, priority invitations, and reduced pricing for many gatherings. Some events, particularly national conferences, study tours, and selected retreats, are offered via registration and ticketing.
Gatherings are not standalone experiences. They are intentionally integrated with CEN’s formation, governance, and advisory work. Themes introduced at conferences are reinforced through professional learning pathways, board tools, and ongoing support from State Executive Officers, ensuring learning carries into practice.
Upcoming events, gatherings, and networks can be explored through the CEN upcoming events calendar.
Members may also speak with their State Executive Officer (SEO) to identify gatherings aligned with their role, responsibilities, and current season.