A small-group grant by the CAAC for ministry teams participating in the 2026 Mental Health Conference.
Common Table is a pilot initiative connected to the April 2026 Mental Health Conference, inviting pre-existing ministry teams to participate in the conference through shared, communal viewing. Rather than engaging the conference as isolated individuals, teams gather around a common table in trusted relationships to listen together, surface shared questions, and discern concrete implications for their ministry contexts.
Common Table is designed for groups that want a low-barrier, relationally grounded way to engage the CAAC Mental Health Conference as a shared learning experience. Apply by March 9 for priority consideration!
What Your Team Receives
Selected groups will receive a $250 grant to support a Common Table gathering.
Because this is a pilot program, funding is limited.
Funding may be used to cover:
- Hospitality costs (food and beverages) that support sustained, meaningful engagement
- Compensation for staff or participants’ time
- Local travel or meeting-related expenses
- Other modest costs that help your team gather and participate well
Who Common Table is For
Common Table is for ministry teams, church staff, campus ministry teams, and faith-based organizations that already have an existing group and want to participate in the conference together. Groups should plan for at least five participants from a shared ministry, organizational, or institutional context.
Gatherings may be in person or virtual. If fully virtual, participants will attend via Airmeet and Common Table groups will be given exclusive breakout rooms to facilitate discussions.
What We Ask in Return
Common Table is meant to be practical and doable. In exchange for the grant, participating groups commit to a small set of shared practices that help the CAAC learn from your experience and improve future programming. Download reflection questions.
Groups must do the following:
Gather
Gather a group of at least five people from your shared context.
Attend
Attend at least four sessions together (plenary talks, workshops, panels, or a thoughtful mix).
Reflect
Write a 1- to 2-page (single space) collective reflection report. The CAAC may publish these reports on Imagine Otherwise.
Respond
The group organizer must complete a post-conference survey.
How to Apply
Use the form at the bottom of the page to apply. If you have questions, please reach out to hello@ourflourishing.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until pilot funding is allocated.
Applications must include your group’s context and why Common Table would be valuable for your team. Please also indicate which conference sessions you anticipate watching together and why they are relevant to your current ministry questions.
Please Include:
Group name (for example: church staff team, small group, ministry team, or organization)
Estimated number of participants
A short description of your ministry or organizational context
A brief rationale for how the conference and the grant align with your mission
If your group is 5–10 participants: a roster with names and 1–2 sentence bios for each participant (larger groups may summarize rather than list every participant).
Why We Are Doing This
Common Table helps the CAAC strengthen the bridge between conference content and the lived realities of ministry. Your team’s reflection will help us understand what resonates, what is missing, and what kinds of cohort-based formation might best serve Asian American faith leaders in the years ahead.
Over time, we hope Common Table will become a simple, repeatable practice that supports ministry teams in building shared language, resilient care, and wise leadership in their local settings.
Apply Now
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Common Table groups need to be virtual, or can they be in person?
Common Table gatherings may be either virtual or in person. Groups are welcome to gather in the same physical location, such as a church, ministry office, or home, or to participate virtually using one registered participant’s Airmeet link. Fully virtual Common Table groups will be provided access to exclusive breakout rooms to facilitate discussion or gather at virtual lounges.
Groups who have registered to attend the conference in person at Biola University may also apply for the grant. Such groups will have opportunities for discussion in person during breaks.
Can a Common Table group meet both in person and virtually?
Yes. Groups may choose a hybrid approach, depending on what best serves their context. The central requirement is that participants share a common learning experience by watching and engaging at least four conference sessions together.
Can a Common Table gathering take place at the conference location at Biola University?
Yes. Attendees of the conference in person at Biola University may gather as a Common Table group, provided they meet the minimum group size and shared-session requirements.
How many people are required for a Common Table group?
Each Common Table group must include a minimum of five participants who ideally share a common ministry, organizational, or institutional context.
How many conference sessions must our group attend together?
Groups are expected to attend or watch at least four of the same conference sessions. These may include plenary sessions, workshops, panels, or a thoughtful combination of session types.
When should Common Table discussions take place?
Discussion timing is intentionally flexible. Groups may choose to meet for discussion immediately after a session, during designated breaks such as lunch, at the end of a conference day, or at another agreed-upon time that supports meaningful conversation. We recommend allowing at least thirty minutes for discussion connected to the sessions you attend together.
Do discussions need to happen during the conference dates, or can they occur afterward?
Discussions do not need to be completed by the final day of the conference. Groups may meet after April 11 to reflect on the sessions they watched together. However, we strongly encourage live engagement during the conference when possible, as it enhances shared experience and communal discernment.
Will conference sessions be recorded for later viewing?
Yes. All conference sessions will be recorded. Recordings will be available on the Airmeet platform shortly after the conference concludes and may be used by Common Table groups in place of live viewing if necessary.
When is the group reflection due?
Participating Common Table groups are asked to submit their one-page collective reflection within two weeks of the conference. For the 2026 conference, reflections are due by April 27. Or if asynchronously viewed, please reach out to David Chao for an alternative submission date.
Can one person or organization host more than one Common Table gathering?
Yes, it is possible to host more than one Common Table gathering, such as a synchronous group during the conference and an asynchronous group using recordings afterward. Each distinct group must meet the minimum participation requirements and submit a separate application for funding.
What is the purpose of the reflection and post-conference survey?
Reflections and surveys help the Center for Asian American Christianity learn how conference content connects to the lived realities of ministry. This feedback directly informs future programming, including the development of cohort-based and longer-term formation initiatives.
When will grant funds be dispensed to Common Table groups?
$250 will be dispensed to each group upon receipt of an acceptable post-conference report.
