Female XP Forum

XPastor is pleased to announce this special forum designed by our friends at Leadership Network

Leadership Network would like to invite you to a Female Executive Pastor Forum, February 2-3, Dallas TX. This forum will immediately preceed the XP-Seminar, so women can attend both events!

The goal for this roundtable-size gathering is peer learning from a very specialized group. You will exchange insights about your experiences and what you would like to learn from others in the room.

From our conversations with female pastors and ministry leaders, we at Leadership Network found an eagerness to connect with other women who lead in this unique role. We have also found a desire to freely discuss issues such as:

• how to strengthen their partnership with the senior pastor
• how to shape the culture of the church
• how to find appropriate tools for staff development
• risk taking
• and more!

The agenda will be set by you a week or so beforehand, in terms of the specifics you want to talk about. Leadership Network’s expert facilitaters will lead the peer networking process that LN has refined over many years of experience.

Criteria

• Your church’s weekend attendance is 1,000 or larger
• You report directly to the senior pastor
• You are your church’s closest staff match to the idea of executive pastor/minister/director.

Workshops

“All three workshops I attended were very relevant and applicable”

“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”

Dr. Nathan Baxter—Mentoring Resources for the XP

XP-101

Nathan, XP of Liberty Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma, will help you as an XP learn the fundamentals of mentoring.  In just one hour, you will receive a year’s worth of work.  Nathan will help you identify your “big assignments” for developing yourself as a mentor. He will help you formulate a path of personal study and growth by identifying the major areas XPs must refine.  He will also be giving a tour of the latest and best mentoring resources available. Read the 2005 case study on Liberty Church.

Dr. Nathan Baxter—Using the Birkman® Tool to Grow Staff

Nathan will discuss how the Birkman Indicator® Tool has helped him grow his staff. He has taken hundreds through the Birkman and will share his thoughts at a breakout lunch on Thursday. You will be able to see sample reports from the powerful Birkman Indicator® Tool and hear examples of how XPs have used it to revolutionize the leadership culture of their church.

Dr. Nathan Baxter—Forum of Medium-Sized Churches

Nathan, XP of Liberty Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma, will lead this open forum. This forum is a regular favorite of every XP-Seminar. Now in its 4th year led by Nathan, this is a terrific time to talk with others of medium-sized churches. “Bring your questions and issues for our discussion.”

The great aspect of this forum is that you can meet with XPs from churches in your size range. You can talk through issues that are common to your size of church and develop lasting relationships with other XPs.

“My conversations with Nathan Baxter were great!”

Andrew Behm—From Corporate America to Full-time Ministry

Andrew is the XP of Fellowship Bible of Winchester, Virginia. He led a lunch workshop at the 2008 XP-Seminar and was extremely well received. His article, From Corporate America To Full-Time Ministry: My First 6 Months As An Executive Pastor, was also well received by the XPastor community.

Before he became an XP, Andrew came to the 2007 XP-Seminar with his Sr. Pastor. He returned in 2008 as the XP and David interviewed them at the Wednesday lunch.

The transition from corporate America to full-time ministry is filled with challenges and opportunities. Those who enter ministry via the business world have a lot to offer but there is also much to learn. It is important to realize that there are many basic business practices that are utilized by churches. Yet, churches operate in a very unique culture, vastly different from personal experience. The challenge and opportunity is to utilize experience of strategic planning, project implementation and team-building. This needs to be done in such a way as to be an excellent example of efficiency, quality and productivity. It must be done in a manner that captures the special character and qualities that define “who we are and what we are called to do” as Ambassadors for Christ.

Dr. Warren Bird—Ten Surprising Insights from a Survey of Executive Pastors

Warren is the Director of Research and Intellectual Capital at Leadership Network, a former pastor and co-author of 19 books.

In this workshop, we will cover Executive Pastors as a distinctive breed. “What do XPs identify as the main sources they use to learn and grow in their role? Where do XPs struggle most? What books have XPs read recently that they find helpful to the job? What are their main time-usage blocks, and does that change with church size and complexity?” These and other issues were covered in a January 2009 Executive Pastor survey conducted by Leadership Network, in partnership with XPastor.org.

The survey findings will be distributed at the XP-Seminar and discussed in this workshop.

Duane Britton—Leading from the Top Down: The Mixing of the Roles of a Boss and Spiritual Guide with the XP

Duane is the Senior Pastor of DOVE Christian Fellowship-Westgate of Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

The confessions of a transformed Senior Pastor on the difficulties he faced in learning how to be a boss and spiritual guide without coming across as dictatorial to his staff. A Senior Pastor is looking for cooperation, support, and mutual respect as he tries to build a team while the XP is looking for latitude, recognition, and individuality. How can the Senior Pastor build a relationship with the XP where the XP feels that the Senior Pastor has shared his heart with him? Where the XP feels that they are a valued part of the management team? The role of managing a staff is not all joy but by using a few principles, the Senior Pastor can create harmony such as an orchestra conductor creates harmony among the various musicians.

Mike Buster—Cutting Utility Costs in Half

Vital XP Interests Track

Mike is the XP of Prestonwood Baptist Church of Frisco, Texas. Did you see the Newsweek article about Mike saving $80,000 in utility bills for Prestonwood? It’s not every day that an XP makes Newsweek! We are so pleased to have Mike: this is the workshop that he was unable to present in 2008. This workshop will present practical tips and suggestions on how to cut your utility bill and make your church campus more “green.” Keep the “green stuff” in the bank and help the environment too—not a bad combination!

Stacey Campbell—Catalyst 101

XP-101

Stacey is the XP of Christ Community Church of Greeley, Colorado. Catalysts dare to take chances and think differently. “No” is never an answer to a question, only “what if …” Catalysts tend to look at the horizon and plan for the future. They dream of how people and systems and culture can be improved, streamlined and re-imagined.

Everyone is a catalyst to some degree, in some area of their life or ministry! So how do you leverage what you have and grow those areas so you can maximize your influence with leaders, ministries, and your overall church culture? In other words, how do you become a stronger catalyst that enables creativity, innovation, and freedom to occur around you? This workshop will give you the tools to more effectively be the catalyst God designed you to be!

Mark Carey—The First Years with Your First XP
Mark is the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church of Winchester, Virginia. Mark came to the 2007 XP-Seminar with a prospect XP. Mark had found his XP candidate from within his congregation and felt confident that Andrew was the right person for the role. He returned for the 2008 XP-Seminar with Andrew as the XP. David took the opportunity to interview them at the Wednesday lunch.

The task of finding the right XP can be challenging! It is even more so when it is the first XP for the Senior Pastor and the church. There are many issues that need to be considered when choosing an XP, such as:

• Is it someone with ministry or corporate experience?
• Are they from within or outside your church?
• What is their Spiritual Gift make-up?

But the most important factor that needs to be determined is if the personalities of the Senior Pastor and XP are compatible. If the personalities are in conflict, it can be disastrous. But if they are compatible, it can be extremely productive and beneficial for the partnership as well as the church. It is important to remember that potential can be developed and skills can be refined but a harmonious relationship is the foundation to success. This workshop is a great time to talk about what traits make an XP and SP compatible.

Rob Cizek—How to Have Difficult Conversations

Great Staff Track

Rob is the Executive Pastor of Northshore Community Church of Everett, Washington. Tough conversations. Nothing defines a leader quite like his or her ability to have the difficult talk. Handle tough situations well and watch your leadership capital increase. Handle them poorly and you may soon be out the door. Few things are more risky and problematic. However, tough conversations also present a powerful opportunity for growth and discipleship. In this session we’ll explore the best practices for having difficult talks … conversations that result in positive outcomes for the staff members you lead.

Rob Curry—C.L.E.A.R. Planning: Moving Your Ministry Plan Beyond Ideas and Talk

Last year Rob moved from his Executive Pastor position in Ewing, New Jersey to be the XP at Cypress Bible Church just outside of Houston, TX.  Rob brings knowledge and experience from the area of Organizational Development. This seminar will explore five vital elements in creating and carrying out your church’s strategic plan:  Catalyst, Listening, Evaluation, Action, Repetition

Roger Dermody—Sabbaticals

Great Staff Track

Roger is the XP of Bel Air Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, California. At the 2008 XP-Seminar, Roger and his Senior Pastor, Dr. Mark Brewer, were our featured guests on Sabbaticals.

Bill Egner—Hiring Practices from Two Pace-Setting Churches

Great Staff Track

Bill is the XP of Christ Chapel in Fort Worth, Texas. His case study will be featured in the morning. He has done extensive research on two significant churches in the nation. Both of these churches have influenced hundreds, if not thousands of churches. Whether mentioned in TIME magazine or Christianity Today, with massive positive impact, they have changed the religious landscape in America. One “influencer church” has a highly organized system based on “best business practices.” The other “influencer church” has a unique spiritual emphasis in the hiring process (we can’t release the church names until his research is completed this fall).

This afternoon workshop is designed for those who desire to go deeper into the case, to discuss the issues at length with the author. What is your hiring practice? Which of these “influencer churches” are you more like? Bring your questions for an intriguing session to discuss how pace-setting churches hire staff.

Bob Feitl—3 Keys to a Successful Building Project

Vital XP Interests Track

Bob, XP of Richland Bible Church of Richland, Michigan, asks “Thinking about a building project? …already started one?” This workshop will give you practical tools and strategic principles that you can begin to use next week. Taught by an XP with 20 years of experience as an architect and construction manager, this session will focus on how to set up, organize and empower your team to get the building you need on time and within budget.

Bob Feitl—Aligning XP Title, Job & Expectations

XP-101

Bob, XP of Richland Bible Church of Richland, Michigan, asks, “So, you are new to the role, it’s not quite what you expected and you’re trying to figure out how to make sense of it.” You need to balance leadership with managing, administration with pastoring, your Senior Pastor’s expectations with yours and everyone else’s … and have a job description that reflects that well. Facilitated by an XP with 20 years experience in three churches of 1,500 to 4,500; together we will hammer out ways to bring clarity and understanding to this job that often requires more finesse and balance than any other on the team.

Dr. David Fletcher—The 5 Functions of an XP

XP-101

David, Founder & Host of XPastor, and XP of Grace Covenant Church of Austin, Texas will cover the basics of the 5 Functions. Every XP is strong in certain areas, do you know your leadership strengths? From David’s research of hundreds of XPs, he developed the 5 Functions.

There are 5 Functions to leading and managing a church—Administrator, Catalyst, Mentor, Minister and Overseer. To get a handle on the 5 Functions, more than 2,300 people have taken David’s free XP-Indicator. This workshop is foundational for new XPs and those who want to review the basics of what an XP needs.

“5 functions—would be very effective as a break-out small group with new XPs”

Dr. David Fletcher—The SP & XP Relationship

Senior Pastor Track

David, Founder & Host of XPastor, and XP of Grace Covenant Church of Austin, Texas will lead this workshop for SPs & XPs. “We will discuss the hallmarks of great working relationships.” David has worked as an XP in two churches and seen the dynamics of great SP-XP relationships. This roundtable discussion is specifically designed for SPs and will come from the perspective of an XP.

The Senior Pastor Track is an opportunity for SPs to examine and discuss leadership and management issues in the church. Considering an XP? Have a great XP or need to hone a relationship? Then this track will give you the chance to hear from established leaders, hear from peers and introduce your own ideas and questions.

David teaches doctoral classes at Dallas Theological Seminary and chairs the Doctor of Ministry department at the Evangelical Theological Seminary of India. This puts him in touch with leaders throughout the United States and the rest of the world. Be prepared to look at “macro” and “mega-cultural” issues that are changing the church—and how SPs and XPs together can be effective in reaching the world.

Tami Fletcher & Nancy Williams—For Wives Only

Tami is the wife of an XP and the Executive Assistant of XPastor. She has also worked as an Executive Assistant in two churches. Nancy has mentored women for many years and is the wife of a church elder. In the movie Apollo 13, the experienced wives of astronauts gave the new wife some advice on how to deal with the press: “Just say that you’re ‘pleased, happy, and proud’” … even though that’s not what they were feeling on the inside. As Pastor’s wives, there are times when we feel the same way. Who is it safe to share our hearts with during difficult times—either in our personal lives or in the lives of our congregations? This workshop—or actually a time to talk and pray with other wives over coffee—will look at developing safe relationships, either inside or outside your congregation, so that when hard times come, you won’t be alone.

Brad Leeper—Resourcing Ministry in the Midst of a Recession

Vital XP Interests Track

Brad is a Senior Strategist of Generis Partners. Based on experience and affinity, Brad is drawn to innovative, growing churches and the challenges of helping them expand practically and spiritually. As a Generis Senior Strategist, he is well served by his experience as a consultant to churches across the nation, a staff leader in resource development for local ministries, a Campus Director for Campus Crusade for Christ, and his role as church elder in his own 4,000-member home church, Perimeter Church in Atlanta.

“Fundraising workshop was so helpful!”

Gregory Love—Preventing Child Sexual Abuse at Your Church

Thursday breakout lunch

Gregory is a lawyer who specializes in matters related to child sexual abuse and is a partner in the law firm Love & Norris.  He is also a Founder and Director of MinistrySafe through which he assists ministries in the design and implementation of child sexual abuse safety systems.

Child sexual abuse is a reality in our society, and on the rise.  Not surprisingly, sexual predators seek access to children in places where protective barriers are low.  Today, the church presents a prime target for abusers because most churches have few, if any, protective barriers in place.  Often, the Executive Pastor is the person tasked with the responsibility of developing the church’s response to this challenge. This session will provide the XP with information about sexual abuse, sexual abusers, abuser characteristics and the grooming process.  The session will also evaluate current measures employed by churches compared to the measures a churchshould implement to protect children from sexual abuse.

David Lyons—Hiring: What is Fit and Gifting?”

Great Staff Track

David is the Founder and President of MinisterSearch. While placing hundreds of people into ministry positions, David has seen the centrality of fit and gifting. Is one more important than the other? Can we compromise because “we know that person,” or “he or she is an insider” or “their gifts are just so strong that we … ?”

If you are going to hire staff in the next 12 months, then this workshop with David will help you. He has led workshops at each of the previous XP-Seminars, to rave reviews. Bring your questions for the discussion portion of the workshop as well.

“The breakout session with David Lyons on Staffing was tremendous”

Phill Martin—360 Reviews

Great Staff Track

Phill is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Association of the NACBA. Empowering staff to minister at their highest level is a critical role of every XP. Every week, ministers may be told what they did and didn’t do correctly last week, but meaningful feedback is often missing. Ministers are left to filter through all the data that bombard them on a daily basis to develop a sense of self-awareness and to plan for personal and professional growth.

Jeff Pelletier—Maximizing Return On Ministry: A Metric-driven Approach to Measuring Effectiveness

Vital XP Interests Track

Jeff is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Fellowship Technologies, a provider of 100% web-based Church Management Software.

Jeff believes firmly in the principle that “you can’t improve what you don’t measure.” Businesses track many different metrics in order to measure their success. Churches should also track metrics to help determine which ministries, activities, and efforts are working well and which are not. Measuring the results, and listening to the needs of the congregation, can lead to invaluable insights on how to improve and refine ministry efforts. But what sort of metrics should be tracked and how? And, how do these metrics fit into the church’s overall data-management strategy? This workshop will take a close look at the critical ministry data points churches should consider measuring, and how best to collect and utilize them.

Dan Reiland—Making the Most of Your Leadership Profile

Great Staff Track

Dan is the Executive Pastor of 12Stone church and writes “The Pastor’s Coach” which is distributed to over 60,000 subscribers, www.injoy.com. This workshop takes an honest look at the differing profiles of local church leaders including non-leader, learned-leader, natural leader and born leader. Covering the aspects for each of these profiles we integrate characteristics, strengths, challenges and application for growth. The big idea is to “know thyself” as a leader and therefore tap into your potential to become a better leader. This workshop will deliver a practical tool that you can take home and work with your staff and key leaders as you develop them toward their potential.

Warren Schuh—Large Church Forum

Large Church Forum

Warren has served as an XP in two churches and in several leadership roles in non-profit organizations (such as Leadership Network). From his experiences, contacts around the country and gifts, he is ideal for leading roundtable discussions. This forum is a regular favorite of every XP-Seminar. Now in its 4th year, this is a terrific time to talk with others from large churches. Bring your questions and we will set the agenda for our time together.

“Warren’s morning session was fantastic”

“Warren’s large church forum was what I needed”

Warren Schuh—Governance for SPs & XPs

Senior Pastor Track

Warren has served as an XP in two churches and in several leadership roles in non-profit organizations (such as Leadership Network). From his experiences, contacts around the country and gifts, he is ideal for leading roundtable discussions.

The Senior Pastor Track is an opportunity for SPs to examine and discuss leadership and management issues in the church. Considering an XP? Have a great XP or need to hone a relationship? Then this track will give you the chance to hear from established leaders, hear from peers and introduce your own ideas and questions.

Paul Sewell—Knowing When it is Time to Leave

Great Staff Track

Paul is just leaving at the XP position at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia. Why? How do you know when it is time for you to leave? Paul’s life was transformed by Christ at Oak Hill Church of Griffin, Georgia. He stepped out of engineering and became Oak Hill’s first XP. He anticipated a long career of serving the church that impacted his life. Yet after five years, Paul knew that it was time to leave. Why? How do you know when it is time to leave? What indicators can you look for? How does God’s “calling” fit into the decision? Where do you go from here?

Paul Sewell—Personally Engaging in Christ’s Mission

XP Vital Issues Track

Paul is just leaving at the XP position at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia. Why? Because he took his personal engagement in Christ’s mission to another level. While XP at Oak Hill Church of Griffin, Georgia, Paul personally engaged in Christ’s Mission. He and Oak Hill were not satisfied to just write a check and offer up a prayer for missions. By personally engaging in Christ’s Mission, the church was transformed. How can your church go from supporting missions to personal engagement? What are the key principles? What is the leadership structure? How does the XP navigate the obstacles?

Dr. Brad Smith—Global Trends and the US Mega-Church

Brad is the President of Bakke Graduate University, past President of Leadership Network, and church-planter.

What is the best way to chart a path through increasing interest for your church to be involved in the local community, marketplace and the world? As President of Leadership Network and now Bakke Graduate University, Brad has facilitated leadership forums among US mega-churches and church leaders in 40 countries. This workshop will give you some perspective and ideas from what Brad has heard from these leaders.

Clint Smith—Top Challenges of the Young/New XP

Clint Smith is both the new and the young XP of North Church of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. What do you do if you are a new and/or a young XP? Being a Young/New XP can be difficult. During this workshop we will be discussing the top challenges that young and new XP’s face in ministry. The challenges include: developing a relationship with the Senior Pastor, earning the respect of those you are leading (even those older and wiser), holding your team accountable for success/failure, and learning your role.

Nicholas Smith—The Biblical Basis of the XP

XP-101

Nicholas, the XP of Bethany Baptist Church of Lindenwold, New Jersey, will share the biblical basis of the XP as revealed through the Scriptures. While the term “XP” is not seen in the Bible, the role and its work are seen. From Joseph to Elisha, the role is shown. This workshop will focus on the biblical work and calling of the XP. Some XP’s are meant for the 2nd position, while for others it’s a transition period to the Senior Pastor role. Whether the calling is to Senior Pastor or like Joseph remaining a 2nd chair leader, this workshop will be beneficial. Though young, Nicholas is a strong XP in a church of 18,000 members. Read the 2006 case study on Bethany Baptist.

Frank Sommerville—Legal Issues in the Church

Vital XP Interests Track

Frank is a nationally noted attorney, author and a CPA. This is a roundtable discussion on the current and pressing legal issues in your church. Bring your questions and issues! Frank led a legal roundtable at the 2007 & 2008 XP-Seminar and received high marks from the participants. This is a prime opportunity to discuss your issues with a nationally noted attorney.

“Frank Sommerville always does a great job—the legal issues small group was very good”
“Frank started by asking us what we wanted to discuss so that he met our needs.
Caused me to rethink many areas.”

Shery Surratt, Tammy Kelly & Missy Hannon—Leading From the Female Second Chair

Sherry serves as the Director for Women’s Initiatives at Leadership Network, where her passion for helping women reach their leadership potential shines through. She joined Leadership Network in 2008 with an extensive background in ministry, most recently serving as Central Support Pastor for Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Join us for a panel interview with Tammy Kelly (Ginghamsburg, Willow Creek and The Chapel) and Missy Hannon (Living Hope), two Executive Pastors who speak from experience in leading as a woman in the XP role. We’ll discuss topics ranging from how to strengthen your partnership with the Senior Pastor to shaping the culture of the church and growing in decision making confidence. You’ll have the chance to ask your burning questions in an open discussion format. All Executive Pastors welcome!

Phil Taylor—Church Planting & the XP

Vital XP Interests Track

Phil is the XP of Terra Nova Church, a church plant in Troy, New York. Read about his “Climbing Down the Ladder” and “Letters from the Front Lines of Church Planting. Whenever possible, Phil attempts to promote and serve the XP community within the Acts 29 Church Planting Network of which he is a member. Phil will lead this session with assistance from other pastors involved in church planting. Phil describes the workshop: “There are a growing number of Lead Pastors in church plants that are recognizing the need to partner with an Executive Pastor or someone with those skills. The XP in a church plant functions differently than in a larger, more established setting. This is due to a number of factors such as the initial size of the church, the entrepreneurial nature of church planting, the total lack of pre-existing systems, an undefined church culture, little or no staff and volunteers who almost all need extensive training. In addition, a church plant is a moving target. You build a system that works for your core group of 50, then you launch, grow to a 100 and your system is shot. So you build a new system and a year later you’ve doubled or tripled again, and the systems need to be trashed and rewritten. All of this happens with hardly any money and a staff of volunteers who are still a little fuzzy on the vision. Welcome to the world of church planting! Come to the workshop to discuss these and other issues related to the church planting XP.”

Jim Tomberlin and Jim Kuykendall:
Multi-Sightings—What’s on the Horizon?

Vital XP Interests Track

Currently over 2,000 churches across America have multiple venues or campuses with 30,000 predicted in a few short years. The strength of the multi-site strategy lies in its ability to adapt, innovate, develop, and replicate in any situation regardless of church size. This workshop will look at the breakthrough ideas and best practices that are propelling the multi-site movement forward and just might work in your church. Led by multi-site pioneers Jim Tomberlin of Third Quarter Consulting and Jim Kuykendall of Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas. Read the case study about Cross Timbers.

Joe Ward and Dave Arnold

Thursday Lunch—An XP Involved in the PEACE Plan

Joe Ward is the XP of Walnut Ridge Baptist of Mansfield, Texas. Joe has become passionate about the P.E.A.C.E. Coalition. Read about the P.E.A.C.E. Plan. “I am working with Dave Arnold in the DFW area to try to engage business people and church leaders to get this coalition going. The coalition desires to bring together one billion Christians to “attack the five global, evil giants of our day.” It’s great when an XP is passionate about direct ministry! Joe is bringing the Director of the P.E.A.C.E. Coalition, Dave Arnold. Dave is the former XP of Saddleback Church.

Josh Whitehead—The Challenges of Explosive Staff Growth

Great Staff Track

Josh is the XP of Faith Promise Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. His case study will be featured in the morning. Add this up: 30% staff growth for two years, a first time XP and under 30, reorganization and realignment of staff structure and compensation, very casual work environment and strategic use of consultants. Faith Promise Church has a strong vision and during his three years leading, Faith Promise has almost doubled in weekly attendance to 2800 people. This afternoon workshop is designed for those who desire to go deeper into the case, to discuss the issues at length with the author. Bring your questions for an intriguing session to discuss how Faith Promise Church has met the challenge of explosive growth.

Sponsors

For the fifth year as a sponsor, thanks to our friends at Generis Partners. True giving is a deeply transformative act. At Generis, we believe it’s less about raising capital and more about raising the spiritual consciousness of people. It’s about meeting churches where they are and helping them achieve their own true vision according to their unique culture. Whether that entails a video venue, multi-campus site, or raising a daunting amount of capital, Generis consultants are ready to share the Leadership’s risk—because they understand it. Brad Leeper and his counterpart, Gerald Farley have both served in church leadership roles and have real-life experiences to offer far beyond that of most industry consultants. Check out a great article from Brad Leeper: End-of-Year Giving Communication.

For the fifth year as a sponsor, thanks to our friends at MinisterSearch. Many have met David Lyons, their founder and president, at previous XP-Seminars and XPastor events. MinisterSearch empowers churches to have access to a larger, more qualified pool of candidates. They also help reduce the time spent searching for qualified and competent staff and increase the retention rate among pastors and ministers. David Lyons says, “As church leaders, it is critical to utilize all available resources as quickly as possible when filling a pastoral staff position. I have talked with countless pastors and lay leaders who, after months of searching for one or multiple positions, recognize that there must be a better way.” Whether you desire to fill a ministry position or find a new place of ministry, MinisterSearch can help.

For the third year as a sponsor, we welcome the Evangelical Christian Credit Union. The Evangelical Christian Credit Union (ECCU) is a trusted banking resource that shares your passion for kingdom impact. With ECCU’s wisdom gained from more than 40 years of experience serving evangelical ministries, we are helping churches in all 50 states increase their effectiveness through biblically based banking, financing, and investing services. Check out some great resources from ECCU: Borrowing and the Church, Data Security, Essentials of Fundraising for Churches, Financial Statements Matter, How to Look Like a Borrower, Liquidity: How Much Is Enough? Renting Versus Buying Your Church’s Facility, When to Build, or Not: Construction Projects Can Make or Break Your Ministry, When to Finance or Not: Is Your Ministry Ready for Debt and You’re a Church Treasurer: Now What?

We welcome GuideStone as a sponsor for the third year. GuideStone Financial Resources is one of the leading providers of retirement, life and health, investment management and executive planning services to the evangelical Christian community. Since 1918, we have enhanced the financial security of more than 180,000 individuals and reported over $10 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2007. GuideStone offers its clients access to Christian-based, socially-screened investment funds for retirement, endowment and operational assets. GuideStone’s insurance products offer rate stability, the largest network of health care providers in the U.S. and a comprehensive suite of plan options providing quality care and protection for our participants and their families. For more information about GuideStone, visit their web site at www.GuideStone.org.

For the third year, we welcome ServiceU as a sponsor. ServiceU specializes in web-based, event management solutions designed specifically for churches, nonprofits, schools, universities, festivals, and theaters. ServiceU offers three core products, EventU: Scheduling of events and resources by providing an online calendar; TransactU: Online donations, online payments, and online event registrations; and TicketU: Online ticketing and box office management. Founded in 1997, ServiceU is a trusted provider of online event management software to the nonprofit market.

For the first year, we welcome Fellowship One as a sponsor! Fellowship One is the leading 100% web-based Church Management Software solution, that helps dynamic churches of any size or denomination to effectively care for people, efficiently manage resources, and enable real growth. Fellowship One is used by ministries around the world ranging from new church plants to mega-sized, multi-site, churches.

Promotional Sponsors

For the fifth year as a sponsor, thanks to our friends at ChurchExecutive magazine. ChurchExecutive is a monthly how-to business information resource for 20,000 readers, reaching pastors, executive pastors and business administrators of larger and megachurches—throughout the United States.

For the fourth year, we welcome Leadership Network as a sponsor. Leadership Network brings together entrepreneurial leaders who are focused on similar ministry initiatives. The ensuing collaboration—often across denominational lines—provides a strong base from which individual leaders can better analyze and refine their individual strategies. Peer-to-peer interaction, dialogue and sharing inevitably accelerate participants’ own innovations and ideas. Leadership Network further enhances this process through the development and distribution of highly targeted ministry tools and resources—including audio and video programs, special reports, e-publications and online downloads. In addition, Leadership Network partners with two important publishers, Jossey-Bass and Zondervan to give leaders access to the thought leadership and best practices of effective 21st century churches.

This is my first conference since becoming the XP at our church. Attended an XPastor ‘Staffing Workshop’ in Phoenix two years ago that helped me make a decision toward an XP pathway. Thanks for your ministry!

Highlights

Case Study #1: Hiring Practices of Willow Creek and Fellowship Little Rock with Bill Egner from Christ Chapel of Fort Worth, Texas. Bill has done extensive research on two significant churches in the nation. Both of these churches have influenced hundreds, if not thousands of churches. Whether mentioned in TIME magazine or Christianity Today, with massive positive impact, they have changed the religious landscape in America. One “influencer church” has a highly organized system based on “best business practices.” The other “influencer church” has a unique spiritual emphasis in the hiring process.

Changing Hats: Moving from the Business World to the XP Role with David Fletcher. A lively discussion and interview with “newly-minted” XPs who came from the business world. All XPs can learn from the principles these folks will share.

Discussion: Mark Carey, Sr. Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church of Winchester, Virginia and his XP Andrew Behm will be featured. We will also have Mark Bolton, Sr. Pastor of New Community Church of Wexford, Pennsylvania and his XP, Curtis Songer.

David interviews Brian Snyder, Executive Pastor of Fellowship Alliance in Medford, New Jersey and Mike Boblit of ECCU. Fellowship recently acquired land and completed a master plan. Also, Mary Daciolas, Manager of Product Management at ECCU, will be interviewed on Remote Deposit Capture. It sounds technical but is a great way to save money and good ROI.

Case Study #2: The Challenges of Explosive Staff Growth with Josh Whitehead, XP of Faith Promise Church of Knoxville, Tennessee. Add this up: 30% staff growth for two years, a first time XP, reorganization and realignment of staff structure and compensation, very casual work environment and strategic use of consultants. Faith Promise Church has a strong vision and during his three years leading, Faith Promise doubled in weekly attendance to 2800 people. David Lyons of MinisterSearch helped with the staffing piece and David also will share his perspective on the growth.

Keynote Address by Bill Hendricks, President of the Giftedness Center. Bill has helped hundreds of people discover their unique giftedness and find the right place in business and the church. With great skill, he helps answer: Is this job right for me? Is it time for a change? Why don’t they use me? Should I hire this person? Is this person management potential? How can we hold onto our people? Can our team be more productive? Bill is a dynamic communicator in person and in print—read his blockbuster article written for XPastor, Good Fit/Poor Fit: How Can You Tell.

In the ballroom on the first floor, we will have lunch with affinity groups, seminar leaders or new friends.

Three break-out lunch options this year.

• Nathan Baxter—Using the Birkman Indicator to Grow Staff
• Gregory Love—Preventing Child Sexual Abuse at Your Church
• Joe Ward & Dave Arnold—An XP Involved in the PEACE Plan

4 Workshop Sessions

I’m truly excited about the excellence of this seminar