Things I loved, that connected with me:

• Hotel—hope you can come back here next year, despite your growth and crowded room.
• Hanging out with other XPs. Networking with other XP’s. Sharing ideas with other XPs. The opportunity to network with others in small group discussion
• Good content in workshops
• Free books! Good food!
• Case Studies were new and different way of learning
• Ken Sande gave helpful insight and advice
• David’s discussion of Joseph was on target. Thank you.
• Balance of table discussion with lecture
• Very well planned plenary sessions. Lectures were focused, not rambling
• Excellent lunch provided connection time
• Desire to bring peacemaking to my relationships
• The challenge to follow the Sabbath rest!
• How well “the broken path” impacts my life right now
• Great, helpful guys at my table. Our table talks were great
• Pastor Mark was excellent; I enjoyed his insights and practical perspective. Your interview with Mark was tremendous
• Ken Sande’s breakdown of conflict resolution was very good
• Hearing the XP/SP interviews
• Balance of schedule
• David’s overview of characteristics of an XP’s life and need for humbleness
• The practical topics covered
• The interviews—to hear how other churches structure the SP-XP relationship
• Mark and Roger were excellent. So was
• Joseph study
• Really enjoyed candid interviews
• Hearing what other churches are doing
• Interviews w/case study participants
• Hearing various perspectives during large group discussion
• The second case study contains issues seen in my congregation.
• The small group discussions provided great insight
• The presentations were on point (including interviews)
• The conflict resolution principles are outstanding
• I need to define “One day in seven”
• Need a sabbatical policy
• David’s talk, very personal and it made sense
• Great to be at a table with similar folks
• Discussion on conflict was stimulating and challenging
• David’s closing talk right on target
• Ken Sande’s talk—so helpful
• Being able to ask fellow XP’s questions about matters I am working on
• Peacemaker process—great! Loved the brochure explaining tools and the summary brochure
• XP & SP talking about personal relationship vs professional relationship
• People from my area
• Problem solving discussion
• Conflict resolution session by Ken was excellent!
• Broken Path was inspiring
• Case Study on Conflict
• David on Spiritual Journey
• Being able to pre-read Case Studies so discussion was more effective
• Flow of the day, content and discussion
• Good spirit in the room and around the table
• Honest open expression from speakers using real life stories
• I love the prayer for the pastors
• David’s “Executive with Spiritual Leadership”
• Lunch discussions
• Things were paced well—day was full
• Dermody seemed very real to me
• SP-XP team interviews
• Emphasis on Gospel in solving conflict
• My table discussions (great stuff)
• David’s talk was awesome
• The candor of Sabbatical church guys!
• Realizing I’m not alone in what I do
• Being challenged in my thinking
• Case Study #1 very practical take-aways
• David’s Broken Path devotional “AWESOME”
• Man, I need a sabbatical! (with or without a policy)
• The realness of the speakers
• Hearing both sides of SP/XP in discussions
• Meeting other Senior Pastors
• Very effective combination of lecture/Q&A
• Ken’s biblical and tender heart
• Speaker’s vulnerability
• The vibe in the room
• Other XP roles are more similar to mine than different
• Mark – Great communicator, great humor, great candor!
• Loved the noon interviews with Sr. Pastor/Executive Pastor!
• David Fletcher—Great stuff on Joseph!
• Helped me make some sense out of my past experiences.
• Connecting with other urban pastors
• Learning from those who have more experience than I
• I appreciated David’s honesty
• Knowing there is a group of people to share XP experiences with
• Others experience same challenges and issues
• SP/XP sharing about how they work together
• Love to have the SP/XP interaction/discussion from the front
• Peacemaker case study was excellent
• David’s study of Joseph really spoke to my heart and my mind. For the last two years, Joseph has been my constant study.
• The clear presence of the Holy Spirit in and amongst us
• Walk-away tools
• Very smooth—good flow—not overwhelming; good mix of learning styles
• Too many to list!
• Felt very welcome and accepted “where I am” from the beginning
• Appreciated the ongoing correspondence prior to conference
• Ken’s heart for people is a necessary foundation for the role of any XP! Wonderful.
• Beautiful heart and love for people.
• Relationship and trust is necessary for a pastor to feel confident enough to take a sabbatical. So build relationships
• Materials/handouts
• The struggles, case studies
• Impromptu interaction with speakers
• Continually encountered applicable “take aways”
• David, your passion to make our lives better – thank you!
• XP Title Workshop was well constructed and relevant; was tailored to my position, transitioning into XP role
• The SP Track was very helpful and insightful
• Violent Assault roundtable was great
• David’s SP session – good variety of topics
• Open Q&A with Jim in Multi-Site was very helpful
• Mentoring and evaluating my ability to mentor so many – balance
• Very approachable seminar leaders
• All three workshops were very relevant and applicable
• Interaction with peers was priceless
• Free books
• Total project cost – 50% greater than construction cost
• Steve Macchia - Caring for the Soul – I had a breakdown three years ago—flew to the U.S. for help. Heard “many” XPs on this road – would consider this as a Keynote
• Milfred Minatrea crystallized things for me
• Andrew Behm’s workshop – “Holy crap! I’ve got liability issues”
• Feitl workshop very helpful—clarified Job
• Description questions and confirmed that my gifts fit this position
• Sandbox concept
• Women in mixed ministry – ideas on how to positively influence growth
• Mentoring – Dr. Nathan Baxter – Great examples
• Biblical basis – great to see XP traits in Bible
• Blueprint to adopt school – outstanding tool!!! Scott Hanson – Great insights on ministering to a school
• Great to get actual tools to take back
• The forum with Warren was great
• Caring for the XP Soul
• Roese—appreciated enthusiasm, drew people out
• Take-Home sheets from Nathan Baxter.
• Nathan Baxter on competencies
• Women’s Issues – Great resource leaders
• I liked having so many good workshop choices
• I felt affirmed and a part of something, less invisible than before—plus, lots of great ideas and insights
• Choice of workshops – breadth
• Wayne Smith – Halftime really reminded me and affirmed me
• Practical tools everywhere at every turn
• Good openness in the XP Soul session
• Wonderful conversations with people around the country
• Multi-site workshop – we’re in the middle of it—very helpful
• Interviewing workshop with David Lyons – fantastic
• That God and his gospel are relevant for an XP
• Hearing from other Sr. Pastors on a wide variety of issues—sharing ideas and potential solutions – Always beneficial to network

Other comments

• This has been very helpful, thus far. I am only four months into this position
• Still processing … thank you so much!
• Awesome—thanks!
• Great seminar—this directly addresses the responsibilities and challenges I face day to day. I’m grateful I found this seminar!!
• Thanks. I have been in this XP role for one month. I am here to learn
• I enjoyed the “Broken Path” from David Fletcher. Could you send me the Power Point?
• God continues to put XP candidates in my path and table
• First conference since becoming the XP at our church. Attended a conference in Phoenix two years ago that helped me make a decision toward an XP pathway. Thanks for your ministry!
• Love the interview model instead of having lectures
• I really appreciate XPastor for putting this type of conference on. It is good to get together with others who understand
• Really enjoying this
• For those who arrive a day before, maybe a dessert social that night to get acquainted.
• Thanks for what you do!
• Awesome
• Thanks. Good job overall
• 1st time attendee. Great to be in a large group of XPs, focusing on XP role and real life experiences
• Thanks so much—first time attendee
• Have a dinner case study
• Very well put together and organized. Thank you for your investment of time and energy!
• Conference is very well organized
• Thanks so much for a great day
• This has been very edifying and helpful
• Appreciate the time and attention you give to XPs—this is a developing field and I feel strong that your impartation is expediting this and helping to change the face and perception of churches
• I’m truly excited about the excellence of this seminar (not surprised though)
• Thanks—the excellent work is self evident
• Would be happy to talk with anyone about my “broken” journey. Not sure I have any neat wisdom to share, but I am thankful for any networking among XP’s. Thanks for doing this!
• Excellent—more than satisfied
• Excellent
• Appreciate your passion to provide growth and development for XPs
• Very worthwhile day
• Sabbatical discussion and presentation well done, though not applicable in our setting, at least at this time
• Very positive experience
• This conference is very timely to me and where I am right now on the broken path
• Thank you for the feedback on our website!
• Peacemaking—extend or bring Ken back to talk on peacemaking between churches and peacemaking in reconciliation
• Possibility of looking through as many of our sessions through spiritual lenses. Business skills are critical, however, with so many individuals coming over with secular backgrounds, there may be a tendency to overlook the spiritual component of being an Executive Pastor. “Have you learned the broken path?”
• Thank you for the Broken Path!
• David, in your experience, I am guessing you’ve found during the years that more XPs do not have Seminary degrees?
• The conference was very informative and gave me many items to take away. It will take me a while to digest it all and turn it into an action plan that will help me serve my church
• Thanks, David, for all the great prep and attention to detail. Terrific presentations ministered to my mind and soul. Lord willing, I will be back!
• Thanks for a great XP Seminar!
• Great conference—Thank you!! Worth the time!

Future subjects

• Stephen Macchia – Caring for the Soul - I had a breakdown three years ago—flew to the U.S. for help. Heard “many” XPs on this road – would consider this as a Keynote
• One potential guest speaker could be Richard Hammar, CPA and Attorney with A/G. (Church law and tax report, etc.)
• Also, Church security huge issue today
• Also, address dealing with support staff and business administrators with NACBA
• I’d love a discussion on different organizational models. The bigger our staff becomes, the more complex the org.
• Generational leadership/relationships—from a senior (age 54) leader—growing in working with younger leaders
• Thanks for including women’s issues this year. Great!
• “Developing a Physically fit/healthy Pastoral Staff”—How can an XP assist a staff in physically bettering themselves, thus being preventative/proactive with their health and thus becoming more productive
• If Barna’s “Revolution” predictions are accurate, what should churches do to prepare for the “great escape” ]that is beginning? (from organized churches)

Things I would like to change:

• Put screen and David on a foot high platform
• Add an evening session?
• Maybe have 1 case study and add 1 lecture, or leave 2 case studies and have one evening lecture?
• Move tables—If we had “switched it up” at bit
• I would have liked to connect with others. We had breakfast, all discussions and lunch with the same folks
• More interaction with Ken Sande
• Would have liked a “simple” formula for peacemaking; concepts were helpful but didn’t make the process easier
  Going to need a bigger room next year, FYI
• I would have us change tables at lunch so we can meet more people
• Too much sitting time
• Give more specific questions to answer in small group discussion (to avoid rambling discussions)
• Add a worship time together – very brief but powerful
• Since there are so few women here, I’d like to have had some help in putting us together. (I arranged a dinner by meeting people in the women’s restroom!)
• Maybe break-up small group and large group, some on each day, not a huge deal
• A bit more time for small and large group discussion
• Add one or two workshops to the afternoon
• Nothing—format, pace, content, flow all worked!
• Several people are exploring XP-ship. We need connection. Awkward with seating of those inquiring; felt those of us, out of place
• I should have enrolled early enough to read the case studies
• Mix workshops with large group
• 15 minutes of praise and worship would be a great way to start
• More time with executive teams—how they interact with others on staff
• Just the right length—consider being done at 3:30
• I would add a 3rd case study and go until 5:00 p.m.
• Time was very tight in afternoon
• Would have loved to attend the Policy
• Governance session
• Perhaps one more day. Some seminars I’d like to get to—no time
• David, we really need a church security session—I can share if you like or you can bring in a church security consultant
• Address to group how-tos of working with a church staff without being an “ogre.” Many XPs are High D in personality and need to hone their people/grace skills (having worked under a number of these before going to a church as an XP
• “Three Keys to Building” too short
• I missed the free book! Be more intentional here
• Wish I could get notes from all workshops
• Have workshops spread over two days
• Offer the XP 101 workshops so they “ALL” could be taken at this conference instead of next year
• Technology track or technical (website, admin., tools and methods
• Would like a seminar on dealing with staffing conflicts