Roots, Faith and Identity: People and Communities Living on the Land
The conference theme: ‘Roots, Faith and Identity: People and Communities Living on the Land’ reflects the deeply embedded nature of faith and history in Europe. As we face an increasingly complicated global situation and wrestle with questions of identity and relationships with land and each other, the conference aims to provide opportunities to share our stories as we build relationships and walk through life together as an international and ecumenical community.
Inviting the world to Sibiu and the wider region of Transylvania – whether in person or remotely – will offer conference participants an opportunity to experience the deeply rooted nature of history and identity in Romania, while also introducing participants to a wide variety of cultures, ethnicities, languages and churches. Through keynote speakers, panel discussions, tours and small group workshops on different topics, IRCA 2026 in Sibiu promises to encourage and inspire people who are passionate about rural ministry as we listen, learn and share together.
The main conference will start on Monday, 20 July 2026 and finish after breakfast on Saturday, 25 July 2026.
Pre & post-conference tours, village visits and preaching opportunities are in the planning process and more information will be available later in 2025. Those who are interested should plan to arrive in Romania by the 17 July (for pre-conference trips) and depart on or after the 28 July (for post-conference trips).
GETTING TO SIBIU
There is an international airport in Sibiu which welcomes flights from various airports across Europe. Additional routes have been announced and will start in August and October 2025. Sibiu airport is a 10 minute drive from the Academy and once we know about arrival times, transport will be arranged.
There is also an international airport in Cluj-Napoca which is around 2.5 hours from Sibiu. If there are several people arriving in Cluj on the same day, we will arrange transport to the Academy; however, it may require waiting at the airport for several hours while everyone gathers.
TRAVEL VISA REGULATIONS
If you need a visa to travel to Schengen area countries in Europe, please check the visa regulations, application requirements and necessary supporting evidence through your nearest Romanian embassy or consulate.
SPEAKERS / GROUP DISCUSSIONS
The conference in Sibiu 2026 will have two invited keynote speakers (TBC) as well as panel discussions with global and regional representatives. If you would like to participate in one of the panels (on ‘Cultural Identity and Faith’ or ‘Training & Equipping for Ministry and Mission in Rural Places’), please let us know.
There will also be workshops on different topics relating to our theme, where we will meet in ‘family groups’ of 15-20 people from different regions or backgrounds. If you are willing to act as a host / facilitator for a family group, let us know.
FIELD TRIPS DURING THE CONFERENCE
There are provisional plans for field trips / outings to various locations during the conference.
A visit to the nearby historic village of Sibiel, touring their museum of icons in glass, visiting an Orthodox church and sharing in a traditional meal with music and entertainment.
Tours of a restored fortified church (led by the Fortified Churches Foundation)
A tour around Sibiu, showcasing the history, peoples and languages of Romania, as well as exploring the central church.
REGISTRATION FEES
The conference registration fee is €700 (euros), which includes accommodation, meals and transport during the main conference (20-25 July). We have a maximum capacity of 80 participants.
Bursaries to assist with registration fees may be available on a case-by-case basis.
Pre/Post Conference tours and village visits are not included in the registration fee and will have a separate registration and cost, available later in 2025.
ACCOMMODATION
There are both single and double-occupancy rooms available at the Academy, so if you are willing to share and/or have someone you would like to share with, please indicate this on the registration form.
If you would prefer to stay in a hotel, we can provide a list of recommended places in the local area.
**Please note**: The Academy is accessed via stairs and there are stairs between the rooms, main level and dining hall. The church next door, which we plan to use for main sessions as well as worship and prayers during the week, has ground level access. If you have limited mobility or require additional accessibility provision, please contact us as soon as possible so we can explore possibilities with you.
ON-LINE / HYBRID PARTICIPATION
There are various reasons why people may not be able to travel to Sibiu and we will do our best to provide ways for people to participate, through live video streams, Zoom or accessing recordings and resources through our website and on Facebook. You may want to host a ‘live’ IRCA Satellite conference in your local church (following the Sibiu timetable) or an IRCA ‘Sequel’ conference a few months later using the resources available online.
If you are unable to travel to Sibiu but you are interested in joining us online, a registration page will be available in June 2026.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Expressions of Interest are invited from those who would like to be considered as a participant for this conference. Selection will be made with a preference for people already connected to IRCA as well as ensuring the widest mix possible of rural church people from around the world.
Please note that there are already more Expressions of Interest from people in Africa and Asia regions that we have spaces to allocate.
Click here to make your submission.
