Host a Watch Party for the 2026 Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit
Invite your community to gather in person for Bill McKibben’s keynote on September 29,
with Faith in Place providing promotion, registration support, and technical guidance.
Download the Watch Party Toolkit to Learn About the Opportunity
What Is a Watch Party?
A Watch Party is an in-person community gathering where local attendees come together at your site to watch and discuss the Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit keynote address live via Zoom. This year’s keynote will feature Bill McKibben, author and founder of Third Act, on the evening of September 29, 2026.
Hosting a Watch Party is a meaningful way to bring people together in your community for reflection, learning, and conversation around environmental awareness, sustainability, and justice.
Why Host a Watch Party?
Hosting a Watch Party gives your congregation, organization, or community space a chance to welcome people into a shared experience centered on environmental and spiritual leadership. Your site becomes a local gathering point where attendees can watch the keynote together, connect with one another, and take part in a facilitated discussion afterward.
By hosting, you help expand access to the summit and create a more local, relational experience for participants in your area. Faith in Place will also promote your location as a designated Watch Party site and provide tools to support your outreach and planning.
What Hosts Commit To
Provide a welcoming space for guests with AV capability, including a screen or projector, speakers, and reliable Wi-Fi.
Attend a tech rehearsal in September.
Recruit and invite guests from your community.
Set up and host the event on the evening of September 29, 2026.
Ensure at least one tech-savvy person from your organization participates in the rehearsal to test sound, video, Wi-Fi, and the Q&A process.
If your budget allows, offer simple snacks and drinks for guests.
What Faith in Place Provides
Promotional materials, including a flyer template for your location.
A promo toolkit with a bulletin blurb and sample social media post to help you invite your community.
Registration management and a running list of confirmed attendees sent to you in advance.
Technical support, including a rehearsal window in September.
Discussion facilitation questions available as a printable PDF and slide for use during the event discussion.
Paper and digital sign-in sheets for use at the door.
You bring the space and local welcome; we help with the tools, coordination, and planning support.
Event Details
Date: Monday, September 29, 2026
Speaker: Bill McKibben, author and founder of Third Act
Format: In-person gathering with a shared livestream and facilitated discussion
Goal: Approximately 50 guests per site
Guests will register through the main Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit registration process and select your Watch Party site. Faith in Place will send you confirmed registration information so you can prepare for your event.
Planning Timeline
Starting in July
Faith in Place will begin promoting your site as the designated Watch Party location for attendees in your area. You will also receive a customized flyer, newsletter blurb, and sample social media copy to help you recruit from your own community.
Early September
Faith in Place will collaborate with you to share event details and instructions with your guests. You will also receive updated registration information so you can plan for attendance.
September Tech Rehearsal
At least one tech-savvy person from your organization should attend the rehearsal session. During this time, you will confirm sound and video from the livestream, test the screen or projector and Wi-Fi, and practice submitting a Q&A question.
September 29: Host the Watch Party
Welcome guests, stream the keynote, and facilitate the discussion using the materials provided by Faith in Place.
Sample Agenda for September 29
4:45–5:30 p.m. CT
Set up your space to host the event.
5:30–5:50 p.m. CT
Welcome guests as they arrive, have them sign in using the provided sign-in sheet, and allow time for people to mingle and visit any local sponsors if applicable.
5:50 p.m. CT
Invite guests to take their seats, share welcoming remarks, and allow in-person sponsors to greet the audience if that fits your site.
6:00–7:00 p.m. CT
Stream the keynote session live. Guests will receive instructions for how to submit questions during the Q&A.
7:00–7:30 p.m. CT
Facilitate discussion using the printable discussion questions or projected discussion slide.
7:30 p.m. CT
Close the event.
7:30–8:00 p.m. CT
Clean up and depart.
Ready to Sign Up?
Complete the Watch Party Host Sign-Up Form to let us know your site is interested in hosting. Once you sign up, Faith in Place will follow up with planning information, promotional materials, and next steps.
Complete the Watch Party Host Sign-Up Form
Questions about hosting, planning, or your site setup? Email Elena or reach out to Kira with technical questions about AV setup and livestream needs.
Thank You for Considering Hosting
Thank you for your interest in opening your space to host a Watch Party for Bill McKibben’s keynote as part of the 2026 Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit. By welcoming community members into your space to gather, watch, and engage in thoughtful discussion, you help advance environmental awareness, sustainability, and justice in your community and beyond.
We deeply value your partnership and appreciate your generosity, leadership, and commitment to this work.