The Church Properties Initiative’s annual conference returns March 17 - 18th, 2026. Now in its fourth iteration, and moved to the springtime, the upcoming event places a special emphasis on the topic of housing affordability.

Keynote speaker Chuck Marohn, founder and president of Strong Towns, will anchor a varied program of case studies, technical sessions, lightning talks, academic papers, and topical presentations bringing together national and international leaders working at the intersection of faith and housing.

Session Topics

In addition to a keynote address and three plenary sessions, jampacked concurrent session tracks will allow attendees to participate in targeted discussions on the following themes:

Case Study Showcase

Faith leaders, designers, and developers will detail successful church property development projects and highlight innovative models for achieving sustainable affordability.

Design

A series of presentations on design, from building- to neighborhood-scale, will illustrate the Church’s power to anchor beautiful, sustainable communities across a wide range of contexts.

Strategy & Masterplanning

Advisors will address the planning and discernment phases of church property development projects and will share examples of big-picture thinking for long-term impact.

Integral Ecology

Several presentations will contextualize Church land holdings within created ecosystems that support natural and human flourishing.

Lightning Talks & Academic Papers

These varied blocks will give participants a chance to hear short, thought-provoking presentations from emerging leaders as well as research presentations from academics.

Transaction Design & Risk Mitigation (presented by Notre Dame Law School)

Intended for professional managers of church property, these technical sessions will showcase legal strategies for effective structuring of church property development projects.

Schedule Overview

The formal conference program is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17th, through 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18th. Attendees arriving on Monday, March 16th, are warmly invited to an informal welcome reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

Monday, March 16th

4 pm                                 Registration Opens (McKenna Hall, 2nd floor)

6 - 8 pm                            Informal Welcome Reception (McKenna Hall, 2nd floor)

Tuesday, March 17th

8 - 9 am                            Breakfast (McKenna Hall, 2nd floor)

9 - 10:15 am                     Plenary Session: What Does the Church Have to Do with Housing Affordability? (McKenna Hall, 2nd floor)

10:45 am - noon               Concurrent Sessions (McKenna Hall)

Noon - 2 pm                      Lunch (Smith Ballroom at Morris Inn)

2 - 3:15 pm                       Concurrent Sessions (McKenna Hall)

3:45 - 4:45 pm                  Plenary Session: Perspectives on an Emerging Policy Movement (McKenna Hall, 2nd floor)

5:15 - 5:45 pm                  Mass (Basilica of the Sacred Heart)

6 pm                                 Cocktail Reception (Corbett Family Hall, 8th floor)

7 pm                                 Banquet Dinner and Keynote Address (Corbett Family Hall, 7th floor)

Wednesday, March 18th

8 - 9 am                           Networking Breakfast (McKenna Hall, 2nd floor)

9 - 10:15 am                    Concurrent Sessions (McKenna Hall)

10:45 am - 11:45 am       Plenary Session: Transforming the Culture of Housing Development (McKenna Hall, 2nd floor)

11:45 am - 2 pm                    Boxed Lunch & Concluding Experiences TBA

Logistics

Registration: Register Here

Lodging: .Our room block at the Morris Inn is now fully booked. We have opened a second room block at the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites on Angela Blvd., around a 10-15min walk from McKenna Hall. To take advantage of this reduced conference rate, please book by clicking here.

Additional lodging options that are within walking distance of the University include Ivy Court, Embassy Suites on Eddy Street, and Airbnb/VRBO rentals in the Harter Heights neighborhood south of campus. 

Dining: The conference program includes an option reception on Monday night, light breakfast Tuesday morning, a keynote and award dinner on Tuesday night, and light breakfast on Wednesday morning. Dining hall passes will be provided for lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Transportation: South Bend International Airport (SBN) is five miles from Notre Dame's campus, and receives flights from several major carriers including United, Delta, American Airlines, and Allegiant. South Bend is also just a two-hour drive east from Chicago's O'Hare and Midway Airports (ORD and MDW). Please note: While Chicago is in the Central Time Zone, Notre Dame is in the Eastern Time Zone. Information on campus parking can be found here.