CWR CONFERENCE 2024

KEYNOTE: HEIDI SCHLUMPF

Heidi Schlumpf, senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter and former NCR vice president and executive editor, will deliver the keynote address, “Telling Stories of Change in the Church,” at the 2024 CWR Conference in Chicago.

Heidi has more than three decades of experience covering religion, spirituality, social justice, and women’s issues and has authored or edited three books: Elizabeth A. Johnson: Questing for God; The Notre Dame Book of Prayer; and While We Wait: Spiritual & Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt. At NCR, Heidi has carried out in-depth coverage on the influence of money in the church as well as on politics, sex abuse, women’s issues, racism, young people in the church, and on women religious. Before coming to NCR, she served as managing editor of U.S. Catholic magazine and as a reporter at Chicago’s archdiocesan newspaper and at secular newspapers in California and Wisconsin. Heidi’s work has also been published by CNN Opinion, Sojourners and The Huffington Post.

Heidi taught journalism as an associate professor of communication at Aurora University in Illinois. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she also earned a Master of Theological Studies from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary at Northwestern University, where she studied with feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether.

Storytelling is always important, but narrative is especially essential during times of change because it can not only reflect the present but shape the future. In “Telling Stories of Change in the Church,” Heidi will address vital questions including: What are the stories we are telling during this time of immense change? How are women religious’ stories being told? How can women religious’ voices contribute to these crucial conversations today? With her 35 years of journalistic experience, Heidi will share the stories shaping the conversations today in the church, our country, and world.

Keynote: “Telling Stories of Change in the Church”
Wednesday, October 9 • 9–10:15 a.m.

Photo: Heidi Schlumpf

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