Sign-up here to participate in one of the Salon Gatherings
Who We Are
Whether you’re new to The Table or have been part of this community for many years, we are grateful to be in this together with you. We practice our faith at The Table by rooting our lives in grace, growing in faith, reaching in love, and giving generously. We long to be a place where God’s love is for all and to practice God’s radical hospitality by ensuring room for everyone at The Table.
The Context in Which We Find Ourselves
Our global denomination — The United Methodist Church — is urgently experiencing upheaval in many forms; membership and financial health have declined to a critical point, and a major rift over God’s call for a fully inclusive community continues to unfold in complicated ways. This denomination is, to some extent, characterized by administrative practices that are rooted in centuries-old hierarchical systems which are straining to adapt to our changing contexts.
We Are Not Alone in Facing The Challenges of today
Those of us within the mainline Protestant denominations are…living through a period of collapse. We are experiencing the slow-burning, gradual disintegration of vast theological institutions that many of us both cherish and critique. This was taking place long before the pandemic, which has surely accelerated it…If in previous eras the shortcomings, contradictions, and failures of institutions were downplayed, denied, or just accepted as a normal part of life in an imperfect world, people today are quick to judge. There is a social and cultural reckoning taking place that many would agree is long overdue. Hard truths are being told, and previously ignorable facts are being exposed. Public trust is eroding not just in “the church” or “organized religion” but in a wide range of institutions including the medical system, Congress, organized labor, the American Presidency, the media, corporations, and the Supreme Court (Gallup).
Salon gatherings have helped communities face “turning points” in the past
The first salons can be traced to the early 17th century when French aristocrat Madame Catherine de Rambouillet’s salon room became an intellectual hub for the Parisian intelligentsia to discuss social, political, artistic, and literary topics. These salons were lively gatherings that evolved into a safe place to debate, collaborate, learn, and expand one’s perspective.
Please join us for a Salon gathering in May
Details on Salon Gatherings
Salon Gatherings will take place both virtually & in-person from 6:00pm-7:45pm on May 1, May 15, & May 22. Members of our Administrative Board will host virtual Salon Gatherings online at thetable.live & in-person Salon Gatherings at Table Farm (23rd Street & Anita Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95822). For those meeting in-person at Table Farm, please sign-up to bring a salad, wine, or dessert to share. Our hosts will provide pizza & cold water.
*Please note, there are no restrooms available at Table Farm.