Executive Skills for Church Leaders
This popular week-long continuing education event for pastors and church leaders explores how concepts from an MBA program can be applied to the arena of congregational life. Register here for this 5-day event, 1/9/2023-1/13/2023 at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center.
Back after a three-year Covid hiatus, this very popular program from California Lutheran University offers a week of continuing education in which faculty from the School of Management explore and discuss how concepts from management and finance can be applied to the complex environment of congregational life and ministry.
In the complex environment of congregational management, we all can use new tools for ministry. Each day, we explore a different theme.
Topics covered:
Legacy and Planned Giving Concepts
Human Resources
Brave Fundraising in Uncertain Times
Contemporary Leadership Challenges
DAY 1: LAYING A FOUNDATION FOR STRONGER MINISTRY FUNDING
Lisa Higginbotham, facilitator
Session Overview: Course participants will learn how to better understand donors and accomplish fundraising goals. This session will pay particular attention to the topic that plagued (nearly) every professional fundraiser for the past 10 months: meeting fundraising needs during a global pandemic. Workshop participants will receive insight on types of innovation that is possible in fundraising where in-person activities are significantly restricted. Among other key takeaways from the session will be the critical role of stewardship in fundraising.
DAY 2: HUMAN RESOURCES: HIRE TO RETIRE
Hari Date, facilitator
Session Overview: The world of HR has changed and is no longer just about hiring people and paying people. It’s about finding the right people, growing and nurturing their talents, recognizing/rewarding and shaping them to be the best version of themselves so through them, your congregation can deliver the best service to their members. We understand that it’s hard to be the leader in a church while hiring, firing and giving feedback. It’s about technology, it’s about processes, policies, pay, benefits, job fit and job growth. it’s about competition both internal and external. It’s possibly the most important organization in a company or congregation. Come and join a conversation about HR today. What’s taking place in the workplace? What do you need to know to be successful? What are your “human” “resources” expecting and how can you meet them where they are?
DAY 3: BRAVE FUNDRAISING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
Regina Biddings-Muro, facilitator
Session Overview: Course participants will learn how to better understand donors and accomplish fundraising goals. This session will pay particular attention to the topic that plagued (nearly) every professional fundraiser for the past 10 months: meeting fundraising needs during a global pandemic. Workshop participants will receive insight on types of innovation that is possible in fundraising where in-person activities are significantly restricted. Among other key takeaways from the session will be the critical role of stewardship in fundraising.
DAY 4: CONTEMPORARY LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES
Christopher Njunge, facilitator
Session Overview: This course focuses on the development of the core competencies and skills needed for effective managerial leadership at all levels of your congregation or context. Church Leaders will reflect on and participate in activities covering the following themes: The meaning of leadership and the leadership potential ourselves and others; the differences between leading and managing; the basic elements of applied leadership; learning from crisis management and developing situational awareness; and how personality influences leadership and relationships within organizations and congregations.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Join us for a week of continuing education as professionals from the world of management provide guidance and insight relevant to church leaders. This event is open to leaders from all denominations.
Pastors
Deacons
Bishops
Synod Staff
Professional Leaders
Faith Leaders
This executive skills for church leaders retreat is co-sponsored by California Lutheran University.
WHEN
Monday – Friday, January 9-13, 2023
COST
Price per person:
One person, private room : $1,250 per person
Two people, two in a room : $1,070 per person
Three people, three in a room : $925 per person
Four people, four in a room : $875 per person
Commuter, incl. program, lunches, dinners, snacks : $775 per person
Price includes: Five days of programming, four nights lodging and 12 meals (4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners).
Guests may arrange with Spirit in the Desert to arrive early and depart late for an extra fee. Contact Spirit in the Desert at 480.488.5218 or email info@spiritinthedesert.org.