CPG in Action: From Publication to Participation

A Forbes feature. A Nautilus Book Award. Public conversations, webinars, and community engagement. This summer, Church Publishing Incorporated (CPI) authors brought the ideas in their books beyond the page and into public conversation, turning publication into participation.

Catherine Meeks, PhD, author of Bridging the Rivers of Difference, was featured in Forbes for her call for solidarity across communities and meaningful dialogue in a polarized society. She carried those themes to New York City, joining civil rights leaders Nell Gibson and former Church Pension Fund board member Diane Pollard at St. Mark’s for a lively discussion on reconciliation and the intergenerational work of creating lasting change. In a talk with the Rev. Zack Nyein at St. Bart’s, Dr. Meeks discussed racial healing and the importance of treating every person as a beloved child of God deserving of dignity and respect. At the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Very Rev. Winnie Varghese, Dean of the Cathedral and author of One Single Act, moderated a conversation with Dr. Meeks on bridging divisions and empowering communities to create lasting change.

Others are extending the reach of their work in new ways. Joshua Maria Garcia, Episcopal seminarian and author of A Tranquil Body, shared with Episcopal News Service how TikTok and the contemplative practices featured in their book are helping make faith accessible to a new generation of seekers. At the same time, Stephen G. Post's Pure Unlimited Love received a 2026 Silver Nautilus Book Award for Personal Growth and Self-Help, an honor that recognizes books that illuminate the spiritual journey, nurture wisdom, and inspire deeper connection to the self and the wider community.

At Virginia Theological Seminary, the launch event for Have Mercy: Following Jesus in Politically Perilous Times, brought together contributors, clergy, lay leaders, and readers for an evening of conversation and reflection. The book represents the culmination of the Have Mercy Initiative, which has engaged the Church through essays, a five-part webinar series, and a major public forum including the inspiring words of Mariann Edgar Budde, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Together, these resources are helping congregations and individuals translate gospel values into action.

Through books, events, media engagement, public conversations, and digital outreach, CPI continues to provide faith communities with the resources they need to meet this moment with hope, compassion, and conviction.

Comments? Questions? Concerns? CPG is listening. Please reach out to us at corpcomm@cpg.org

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