Loving God, Self, and Neighbor. Lessons from APCE 2026

Last week, Andy Morgan represented First Presbyterian at the 2026 (APCE) Association of Partners in Christian Education conference in Pittsburgh. The APCE gathering brought together pastors, educators, and lay leaders from across the U.S. and Canada around the theme “Bridge the Gap: Love God, Love Self, Love Neighbor.” This year’s conference was also shaped with the help of Meredith Loftis, whose leadership and vision helped guide the planning and focus of the event.


A plenary session led by Paul Timothy Roberts Sr., President of Johnson C. Smith Seminary, invited participants to reflect on how we come to know and love God through lived experience, grace, and relationship. His reflections encouraged educators to consider how these encounters shape not only personal faith, but also the way faith is formed and shared in community.


Andy was invited to lead two workshops that directly engaged the conference theme and offered practical tools for ministry. In “Won’t You Be My Digital Neighbor: AI, Ethics, and the Call to Love,” co-led with Dr. James Currier of the University of Pittsburgh, participants explored how emerging technologies intersect with Christian ethics, discernment, and care for neighbors in a digital age. In a second workshop, “Welcoming All Our Neighbors,” Andy partnered with Rev. Lauren Slingerland of Westminster Presbyterian Church to share accessible, cost-effective strategies for supporting neurodiverse learners and creating more inclusive learning environments.


The insights, conversations, and practices Andy brings back from APCE will continue to shape First Presbyterian’s approach to faith formation, helping our church love God more deeply, care for one another more intentionally, and extend thoughtful hospitality to every neighbor.