It would be so much easier if leadership came with an instruction manual. The truth is that leadership is more an art than a science, more a call than an assignment, and in this era of ministry, more challenging than ever before.
Hope Partnership’s Leadership Academy won’t provide all the answers to how to guide your congregation more effectively through transformation and/or into new ministry. However, it will equip you with a variety of invaluable tools that will help you develop a vision, mission and ministry roadmap for your particular situation. And, most importantly, it will help to empower you as a leader to take the important first steps toward realizing God’s promise for your congregation.
August 23, 2015 is the registration deadline for the upcoming Leadership Academy on September 21-25 in Indianapolis. This Academy’s keynote speaker is new church leader Julian DeShazier, who will share his wisdom around “Courageous Leadership” and preach at evening worship. Expert Hope Partnership staff and other facilitators will lead workshops and other sessions on social media, multi-culturalism, missional development and more. Presenters include:
Rev. Sharon Watkins (General Minister and President of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) – Opening night speaker focusing on our Identity as Disciples and Our Future as Disciples of Christ
Rev. Julian DeShazier (Senior Pastor of University Church in Chicago, IL; award-winning musician and songwriter, known to many as “J.Kwest”) – Guest preacher and presenter that will enlighten those in ministry about the necessity of diversity of talents and gifts, as well as share his story of how God continues to move in phenomenal ways every day in the local church.
Tom Morse (Executive of Mission Interpretation and Education at Global Ministries) – workshop presenter of Social Media 101, a guide to effectively using social media in ministry development
Rev. Charlie Wallace (newly appointed Pastor at Zionsville Christian Church; former Minister of New Church with Hope Partnership) – plenary session focused on demographics and their importance in ministry focus and planning
Rev. William Rose-Heim (newly appointed Regional Minister for Greater Kansas City; formerly the Northwest Area Minister in Mid America for more than 15 years) – plenary speaker on Pastoral Care of the Self and Family
Rev. Diane Spleth (Senior Pastor at Allisonville Christian Church; extensive background in local church ministry) – workshop presenter covering topics regarding signs of A Healthy Church
Hope Staff – plenaries and workshops covering the Foundational classes of: Mission, Vision, and Leadership
NBA Track – Social Entrepreneur track, coordinated by the National Benevolent Association, for leaders seeking to develop entrepreneurial skills essential to leadership of social service ministries. (Contact Ayanna Johnson Watkins, awatkins@nbacares.org, for more information about this track.)
Interim Track – Disciples Interim Ministers track for leaders who seek to lead congregations in transition
Special Lunch Presenters – Cherilyn Williams (Assistant Vice President of Disciples Marketing and Communications)
Multiple staff members of the Pension Fund – on hand to answer questions about Pensions, Accounts, and Financial Planning
This fall’s Academy for lay and clergy leaders includes six tracks:
- New Church 1.0 for new planters;
- New Church 2.0 for planters who have already participated in planter training, but who would like to dive deeper into the training experience;
- Disciples Interim Ministers track for leaders who seek to lead congregations in transition;
- Transformation 1.0 for leaders preparing to lead their congregations through transformation;
- Transformation 2.0 for leaders who are prepared for the next level of training in transformational leadership; and
- Social Entrepreneur track, coordinated by the National Benevolent Association, for leaders seeking to develop entrepreneurial skills essential to leadership of social service ministries.
