TGC 2026: What to Anticipate at the Gospel Coalition’s Defining Conference Year

The Gospel Coalition’s 2026 conference promises to be a pivotal gathering for evangelical leaders, thinkers, and practitioners committed to theological depth, unity, and mission-driven faith. As the coalition enters its third decade, TGC 2026 brings renewed urgency amid shifting cultural dynamics, theological realignments, and a growing call for cohesive, biblically grounded witness. Attendees from across denominational lines will converge to explore critical questions: How do we sustain biblical integrity while engaging a pluralistic world?

What frameworks best foster intergenerational unity without compromising doctrine? And how can the church reclaim relevance through intentional community and global mission? With a lineup of distinguished speakers, immersive sessions, and live case studies, TGC 2026 delivers not just insight—but actionable direction for a faith hungry for renewal.

Organizers have crafted a program structured around five core pillars: Doctrinal Clarity, Mission Among Nations, Church Planting & Leadership, Cultural Engagement, and Intergenerational Unity. This multidimensional approach ensures participants engage with both timeless theology and immediate practical challenges. As stated by TGC’s conference director, “This year’s conference is less about conferences—it’s about transformation,” emphasizing a shift toward transformative dialogue rather than passive listening.

Each strand is designed to bridge theory and practice, encouraging attendees to leave not only inspired but equipped with tools to advance gospel-centered ministry.

Doctrinal Clarity: Anchoring Faith in Scripture

Central to TGC 2026 is a deep commitment to biblical authority and theological precision, reaffirmed through a series of keynote addresses and workshops focused on core doctrines. Speakers including leading Systematic Theologians and historical theologians will unpack issues such as justification, sanctification, and the doctrine of grace, navigating contemporary critiques while grounding arguments in historic orthodoxy.

“TGC 2026 confronts the creeping relativism threatening evangelical coherence,” said Dr. Michael Horton, keynote speaker and renowned biblical theologian. “We’re not rehearsing old divides—we’re equipping believers to defend the faith with conviction and care.” Session formats include interactive deep dives into confessions such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Formula, empowering participants to articulate and defend their beliefs in increasingly secularized spaces.

Special roundtables will address misunderstanding of grace in light of legalism, and the relationship between covenant theology and modern church structures—topics critical for uniting diverse evangelical sub-communities.

Authors and scholars will also present new reflections on marginalized theological voices within the tradition, affirming both doctrinal boundaries and ecclesial humility. With a dedicated “Scripture Alive” workshop track, participants will practice integrating exegesis with preaching, learning how to transform biblical passages into powerful cross-cultural proclamation.

This focus on doctrinal integrity reflects a broader strategic pivot: TGC aims to counter fragmentation by grounding renewal in biblical truth, ensuring revisions come not from cultural trends but from faithful engagement with Scripture.

Mission Among Nations: Bridging Theology and Global Impact

Understanding mission as central to Christian discipleship, TGC 2026 devotes extensive attention to strategies that unite evangelism, justice, and cultural engagement. A flagship track, “Mission as Missional Communities,” explores how local churches can act as living multiplication centers, drawing from global best practices while contextualizing mission to North American realities.

“TGC 2026 rejects the outdated model of ‘mission to’ in favor of ‘mission with’—where churches partner actively with global sister churches and marginalized communities,” explained Rev. Dr. Joycelyn Dickerson, a leading missiologist and session facilitator.

“We are redefining effective ministry through relational partnership, not top-down transfer of methods.” Participants will engage with case studies from synodal networks in Latin America, East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, learning how contextual worship, vernacular theological education, and collaborative Edinburgh-style planning can strengthen cross-cultural mission.

Special workshops on digital mission and refugee ministry highlight adaptive approaches to emerging challenges. The conference also launches a new “Global Companionship Pipeline,” enabling U.S.

pastors and lay leaders to form sustainable relationships with partner churches worldwide. These initiatives underscore a renewed emphasis on relational integrity over transactional outreach, reinforcing TGC’s vision of a globally connected, theologically solid evangelical movement prepared to advance the gospel wherever it is needed.

Church Planting & Leadership: Building Equipped, Resilient Communities

TGC 2026 dedicates significant focus to church planting and leadership development, recognizing these as foundational to lasting spiritual transformation.

The conference features a dynamic “New Church Launch Lab,” where pastors-in-training and emerging church founders share real-world journeys—from securing sites and funding to fostering organic community growth.

“Planting a church is not just about buildings or programs—it’s about nurturing leaders who embody biblical integrity and missional creativity,” noted Dr. Matthew Barrett, a leading church planter and session panelist.

“The lab will demystify the process, empowering others to replicate successful models grounded in residual faithfulness.” Interactive labs will guide attendees through essential phases: strategic networking, contextual worship design, sustainable financial planning, and multi-generational engagement. Case studies from unreached regions illustrate how leaders balance cultural sensitivity with doctrinal rigor—critical wisdom for those tasked with building the next generation of vital, evangelical communities.

Equally emphasized is leadership training tailored to diverse contexts.

A “Women in Church Leadership” symposium addresses barriers and opportunities, promoting inclusive yet biblical models of service. Meanwhile, youth leader forums cultivate spiritual resilience and creative ministry tools, ensuring the next generation is both theologically anchored and culturally fluent. This dual emphasis on planting and leadership underscores TGC’s belief that sustainable mission requires not only visionary vision but viable, missional discipleship.

Cultural Engagement: Speaking Truth with Relevance

In an era marked by polarization and rapid cultural change, TGC 2026 prioritizes dialogue that equips Christians to engage society without compromising biblical values. The “Culture & Congetición” strand brings together theologians, social scientists, artists, and activists in a bold challenge: how can the church speak truth effectively in a world shaped by postmodern skepticism, identity politics, and ideological conflict?

“Too often, faith is siloed from culture—or worse, silenced,” said Dr.

Kevin DeYoung, theologian and session lead. “TGC calls us back into the conversation, not by retreating, but by redeeming how we engage—through art, policy, storytelling, and prophetic witness.” Special sessions tackle urgent themes: the gospel in a post-truth era, racial and gender reconciliation informed by Scripture, and the ethics of technological advance. A flagship panel, “The Church in the Public Square,” features urban theologians, public intellectuals, and policy experts debating faith’s role in governance, education, and social justice—reframing witness as integrated, incarnational, and deeply relational.

Innovative formats blend academic insight with practical tools: “Counter-Culture Thinking” workshops and “Cultural Apologetics Bootcamps” equip participants to argue biblical truth in secular universities, community forums, and digital spaces. Case studies from mainline denominations, evangelical startups, and missional NGOs demonstrate real-world applications, proving cultural engagement rooted in doctrine can inspire transformative social impact without sacrificing theological fidelity.

Unity & Diversity: Toward a Coherent, Connected Evangelical Future

While theological depth and mission focus dominate agenda lines, TGC 2026 underscores an undercurrent of urgency: uniting evangelicalism amid fragmentation without eroding essential beliefs.

Through deliberate programming, the conference fosters space for honest dialogue across denominational, generational, and ideological divides—biefferming differences while highlighting shared commitments to grace, truth, and transformative discipleship.

“We’re not building consensus by reconcealing divisions—we’re building it by reckoning with them,” affirmed TGC’s senior director of programming, Dr. Lydia Thompson.

“This conference is a safe container where true confrontation leads not to division but to deeper conviction and collaborative courage.” Panel discussions intentionally include voices from Reformed, Evangelical, Anglo-Catholic, and emerging orthodox traditions, creating a mosaic of faith expressions united in core doctrines but open to contextual wisdom. The “Voices of Unity” storytelling series features personal testimonies of reconciliation across theological lines, modeling how gratitude and humility can transcend partisan strife.

This intentional focus on bridge-building reflects a broader shift: TGC 2026 recognizes that global evangelical strength lies not in uniformity, but in disciplined diversity anchored in shared orthodoxy.

By cultivating spaces for empathy and mutual learning, the conference equips participants to lead churches that honor both tradition and innovation—providing a blueprint for a renewed, resilient evangelicalism ready to fulfill its mission in the 21st century.

As the calendar approaches, anticipation builds: TGC 2026 promises not merely another conference, but a catalytic moment where theology meets mission, tradition meets innovation, and division yields to deep, constructive unity—delivering resources and relationships that will shape evangelical practice far beyond the event itself.