Attendees

• Dave Arnold, Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California
• Geoffrey Athey, Executive Minister, Fairfax Church of Christ, Fairfax, Virginia
• Scott Barfoot, Director Doctor of Ministry Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas
• Micah Barnum, Serve Pastor, Christ Chapel Bible Church, Fort Worth, Texas
• Tim Baugh, Executive Minister, Golf Course Road Church of Christ, Midland, Texas
• Dr. Nathan Baxter, XP of Liberty Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Justin Beadles, Senior Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Nacogdoches, Texas
• Andrew Behm, Executive Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church, Winchester, Virginia
• David Bixby, Executive Pastor, Austin Ridge Bible Church, Austin, Texas
• Matt Branaugh, Director of Editorial, Your Church/Christianity Today International, Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, Illinois
• Bob Brueggen, Executive Pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel, Davenport, Iowa
• Nathan Burns, Executive Pastor, Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri
• Stacey Campbell, XP of Christ Community Church, Greeley, Colorado
• Sam Carmack, Co-Pastor, Bear Valley Community Church, Colleyville, Texas
• Bill Carp, Executive Pastor, Miami Vineyard Community Church, Miami, Florida
• Steve Caton, Vice-President, Church Community Builder, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Bob Cavin, Executive Pastor, Mimosa Lane Church, Mesquite, Texas
• Scott Chapman, Senior Pastor, The Chapel, Lake County, Illinois
• Rick Clapp, Executive Pastor, Vanguard Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Dan Cupp, Executive Pastor, Forth Worth First Church of the Nazarene, Crowley, Texas
• Rob Curry, Executive Pastor, Cypress Bible Church, Cypress, Texas
• Desmon Daniel, Executive Minister, Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, Saginaw, Michigan
• Roger Dermody, XP of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, California
• Jim Dye, Senior Exceutive Minister-Administration, Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, Texas
• Matthew Eachus, Pastor, Temple Baptist Church, Waterford, New York
• Craig Eason, Worhsip Pastor, Village View Community Church, Summerfield, Florida
• Bill Egner, Executive Pastor, Christ Chapel Bible Church, Fort Worth, Texas
• Bob Feitl, Executive Pastor, Richland Bible Church, Richland, Michigan
• Scott Fischer, Executive Pastor, Temple Baptist Church, Waterford, New York
• Dr. David Fletcher, XP & Founder/Host of XPastor, The Chapel of Akron, Ohio
• Tami Fletcher, Executive Assistant of XPastor, Akron, Ohio
• Harry Fritzenschaft, Pastor of Operations & Life Groups, The Vineyard Church of Houston, Houston, Texas
• Larry Fullerton, Executive Pastor, Black Rock Congregational Church, Fairfield, Connecticut
• Bob Galley, Executive Pastor, Grace Community Church, Centennial, Colorado
• Alfonzo Garza, Associate Pastor, Cornerstone Church, Midwest City, Oklahoma
• Jim Gentry, Business Manager, McKinney Memorial Bible Church, Fort Worth, Texas
• Lesli Goetze, Slingshotgroup, San Clemente, California
• Paul Goodman, Executive Pastor, Grove City Alliance, Grove City, Pennsylvania
• Jack Guerra, Executive Pastor, Village View Community Church, Summerfield, Florida
• Fritz Hager, Executive Pastor, Bethel Bible Church, Tyler, Texas
• Michael Hayes, Executive Pastor, City Church San Francisco, San Francisco, California
• Steve Holt, Senior Pastor, Mountain Springs Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• John Hopper, Executive Pastor, BridgePoint Bible Church, Houston, Texas
• Brian Horn, Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries, First Christian Church, Santa Maria, California
• Brett Inman, Executive Pastor of Ministry, Christ Community Church, Tucson, Arizona
• Daniel Jackson, Executive Pastor, New Covenant United Methodist Church, The Villages, Florida
• Ron Keener, Editor of ChurchExecutive Magazine, Phoenix, Arizona
• Monty Kelso, Slingshotgroup, San Clemente, California
• Tony Kroening, Managing Director, SIMA Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
• Jim Kuykendall, Sr. Associate Pastor, Cross Timbers Community Church, Argyle, Texas
• Rodney Lara, Senior Pastor, Justin Memorial Baptist Chuch, Oak Park, Illinois
• Alan LeBlanc, Director of Business Administration, New Life Fellowship Church, Arlington, Texas
• Brad Leeper, Senior Stewardship Strategist, Generis Partners, Atlanta, Georgia
• Mark Lingerman, Administrative Pastor, Grace Community Church, Washingtonville, New York
• Donna Lively, Director of Insurance Solutions and Services, GuideStone Financial Resources, Dallas, Texas
• Yolanda Lopez, Executive Pastor, Bandera Road Community Church, San Antonio, Texas
• David Lyons, Founder and President of MinisterSearch, Lewisville, Texas
• Dr. Aubrey Malphurs, Senior Professor, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas
• Christopher Marinello, Business Administrator, Evangel Church, Scotch Plains, New Jersey
• Randy Marsh, Evangelical Christian Credit Union, Brea, California
• Mark McCormick, Executive Pastor, Wilshire Avenue Community Church, Fullerton, California
• Matthew McDaniel, Senior Pastor, Arlington Memorial Baptist Church, Akron, Ohio
• Mike Mckay, XP, Central Wesleyan, Holland, Michigan
• Alan Michael, XP, RockPointe Church, Flower Mound, Texas
• David Middlebrook, Attorney, The Church Law Group, Grapevine, Texas
• Dan Miller, Executive Pastor, Living Oaks Community Church, Newbury Park, California
• Nancy Moore, Senior Consultant, SIMA Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
• Rick Moore, Worship Arts Pastor, Word of Life Church, Springfield, Virginia
• Fred Neal, XP, Harvest Community Church, Kittanning, Pennsylvania
• David Nicholson, Elder, Fellowship Bible Church Arapaho, Dallas, Texas
• Jim Nutt, President, The Shepherd’s Staff, Dallas, Texas
• Scot Overbey, Executive Pastor, Faith Bible Church, Edmond, Oklahoma
• Dennis Park, Evangelical Christian Credit Union, Brea, California
• Dale Peak, Administrator, Reston Bible Church, Reston, Virginia
• Jeff Pelletier, Senior VP, Operations, Fellowship Technologies, Irving, Texas
• Robert Pettofrezzo, Administrative Pastor, Community Bible Church, Jackson, Wyoming
• Danny Posada, Executive Operations Pastor, Village View Community Church, Summerfield, Florida
• Derek Prezzano, Executive Pastor, Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, Smithtown, New York
• David Rafeedie, Executive Pastor, Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church, Steinach, Manitoba
• Lou Ranahan, Executive Director, Metropolitan Bible Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Glenn Reph, Executive Director of Bel Air Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, California
• Danny Roberts, Executive Pastor, North Richland Hills Baptist, North Richland Hills, Texas
• Erich Roehl, Executive Pastor, Neighborhood Church of Redding, Redding, California
• Ruth Roehl, wife of, Executive Pastor, Neighborhood Church of Redding, Redding, California
• Daniel Rolfe, Executive Pastor, Mountain Springs Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Eric Rojas, Executive Pastor, Christ Community Church, St. Charles, Illinois
• Jerry Royal, Executive Pastor & Minister to Families, First Baptist Church, Wichita Falls, Texas
• Guy Shafer, Executive Pastor, Fellowship of Joy, Grand Prairie, Texas
• Marty Shea, Senior Pastor, Village View Community Church, Summerfield, Florida
• Clint Smith, Operations Pastor, North Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Nicholas Smith, Executive Assistant Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church, Lindenwold, New Jersey
• Frank Sommerville, Attorney with Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, Arlington, Texas
• Curtis Songer, XP, New Community Church, Wexford, Pennsylvania
• David Tebeau, Administrator, Church in the City, Rockwall, Texas
• Mark Tidwell, Senior Executive Minister of Ministries, Oak Hills Church, San Antonio, Texas
• Jim Tomberlin, Consultant of Third Quarter Consulting, Scottsdale, Arizona
• Philip Turner, Church Administrator of Bethany Baptist Church, Lindenwold, New Jersey
• Paul Utnage, Executive Pastor, Montgomery Community Church, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Rick von Albrecht, Executive Pastor for Administration, Christ Community Church, Tucson, Arizona
• Mark Warren, Executive Pastor, Eastview Christian Church, Normal, Illinois
• Steve Watkins, Executive Pastor, Southern Hills Baptist Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Bill Webb, Associate Pastor, Administration, First Baptist Church, Richardson, Texas
• John Wells, Executive Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Marietta, Georgia
• Joey White, XP, First Baptist Church, Artesia, New Mexico
• Tim Whitehorn, Founder and CEO, ServiceU Corporation, Cordova, Tennessee
• Kelly Williams, Senior Pastor, Vanguard Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Bill Wosley, Executive Dirctor, Lake Forest Church, Huntersville, North Carolina
• Rick Wright, Senior Associate Rector, The Falls Church, Falls Church, Virginia
• Gregg Zackary, Senior Associate Pastor, Mobberly Baptist Church, Longview, Texas
• Tina Zackary, Mobberly Baptist Church, Longview, Texas
• Julie Zuefeldt, Administrator, Bear Valley Community Church, Colleyville, Texas

Schedule

Tuesday, February 2

Wednesday, February 3

8:00	Full Breakfast on Saving Money in Health Care, Sponsored by GuideStone
9:00	Stacey Campbell Welcome by Stacey Campbell, XP of Christ Community Church of Greeley, Colorado
9:15	Dr. David Fletcher Clint Smith Keynote on “Harvard Business School’s ‘Question Zero’ & the American Church Dysfunction” by Dr. David Fletcher with Application with Clint Smith, North Church, Going from a 30% Budget Reduction to a Surplus
10:00	Break
10:15	Rick Egbert Case Study “A Rural Church with Five Campuses & 5,000 Attendees” with Jim Tomberlin & Pastor Rick Egbert (Jim launched multi-sites at Willow Creek)
11:00	Scott Chapman Keynote by Scott Chapman Senior Pastor of The Chapel
11:45	Break
Noon	Lunch, Sponsored by ServiceU Always a great time at the Seminar! Interactive discussion with Senior & Executive Pastors. What does the Senior Pastor desire for the church? Get out of step with your Senior Pastor and prepare to pack your bags. The Senior Pastor is the one who casts vision, but the XP also has vision. What is the balance? Who is the “boss?” Included in the Seminar is this catered lunch. We will interview SP Kelly Williams and XP Rick Clapp from Vanguard Church and SP Steve Holt SP and XP Daniel Rolfe from Mountain Springs Church. Both teams are from Colorado, so put on your parkas and boots!
1:15	Break
1:30	Workshops: Session #1 (choose from a total of 25 workshops)
3:00	Break & Afternoon Snack
3:15	Workshops: Session #2 (choose from a total of 25 workshops)
4:30	Break for the evening. Take a new or old XP/SP friend to dinner!

Thursday, February 4

7:30	Full Breakfast on Church Finances Sponsored by ECCU David will interview David Tebeau, Administrator of Church in the City (formerly Church on the Rock, Rockwall).  Here’s a growing church doing some innovative things with handling their finances.
7:45	Continental Breakfast—coffee, breads & fruit (for those who missed the full breakfast)
8:45	Dr. David Fletcher Case Study “A Daughter Church on Life Support” by Dr. David Fletcher In the summer of 2009, the Pastoral Leaders and the Board of Trustees of The Chapel knew they had to make a decision. Years before, The Chapel had helped plant a daughter church, Valleyview Chapel of Wadsworth, Ohio. Valleyview had grown and their entrepreneurial pastor took out a mortgage and built a big building. Later, attendance fell and the pastor left. The Chapel stepped in to help the daughter church …
9:45	Break
10:00	Dr. Aubrey Malphurs Keynote on “Strategic Thinking for Troubled Times” by noted author, consultant & professor, Dr. Aubrey Malphurs
11:15	Break
11:30	In the ballroom on the first floor, we will have a catered lunch with affinity groups, seminar leaders or new friends. Or, pick up lunch outside the Ballroom, then go to the second floor for: Nathan Baxter—Using the Birkman Indicator to Grow Staff David Middlebrook—Your Bylaws Need to Change as Your Church Grows
12:45	Workshops: Session 3 (choose from a total of 25 workshops)
1:45	Break
2:00	Workshops: Session 4 (choose from a total of 25 workshops)
3:00	Conclusion (early enough for you to catch a flight home)

Workshops

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

The workshop leaders are a stunning collection of executives who speak from their areas of expertise. They talk to you as “one skilled leader to another.” This is your opportunity to discuss vital areas of ministry with seasoned leaders. The workshop leaders are both practical and skilled—they are “in the trenches” doing ministry.

Dave Arnold—The PEACE Connector: Expanding Your Missions Reach Without Expanding Your Budget

Dave is the former XP of Saddleback Church and now is a Pastor at Saddleback Church and Director of Strategic Relationships for the PEACE Plan. This workshop will explore the vision of PEACE and open the possibilities to mobilize your members to missions without expanding your missions budget. It is not your seating capacity but your sending capacity that determines the reach of your church. Ordinary people inspired by God’s love doing extraordinary things wherever they are. As your members are exposed to missions opportunities, they will undoubtedly want to get connected and learn more about how they can serve. As they are engaged and equipped, their commitment to missions and the church will deepen. Your missions-minded people are your most dedicated members as they see the church for what it is in the world … the Bride of Christ.

Dr. Nathan Baxter—Mentoring 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.

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.

“My conversations with Nathan Baxter were great!”

David Bixby

David Bixby—Thriving and surviving Facilities transitions in an uncertain economy

David is the XP of Austin Ridge Bible Church of Austin, Texas. Austin Ridge Bible Church opened three new buildings in April of 2009. David will facilitate a discussion on the stages and phases of transition from a single building campus to a multi-building campus. Pinching pennies in an uncertain economy may seem prudent in the moment, but a long-term perspective could prove more economically sensible in the long run.

Walk through some of the lessons learned with Austin Ridge as they completed and moved into a new office facility and two new youth buildings. If you are contemplating a project, or in the midst of construction, bring your strategies and challenges to the table.

Dr. Warren Bird—Healthy Churches that Spend only 30% of Budget on Staffing

Warren is the Director of Research and Intellectual Capital at Leadership Network, author and former pastor. The average church spends about 50% of its budget on staff costs. What if you could do the same quality and level of ministry but only spend 30% of your budget on staff for salary and benefits?

Warren has interviewed a number of churches that report a “lean staffing” approach to ministry, and will pass along what they’ve learned. Warren conducted a survey last year of executive pastors, co-sponsored with XPastor.org, and he also oversees the large-church salary survey project for Leadership Network—all available as free downloads. He has co-authored 21 ministry books, the most recent being Multi-Site Church Roadtrip (a companion volume to the 2006 Multi-Site Church Revolution) and Unleashing the Word (on reading Scripture aloud in church).

Stacey Campbell

Stacey Campbell—Catalyst 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!

Rick Clapp—Trying to Stay Together: Leading Your Staff and Church During Hard Times

Rick is the XP of Vanguard Church of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Vanguard’s heartbeat is to plant or help plant 5,000 churches over its existence, and Rick oversees all of Vanguard’s church planting initiatives.

Hard times are inevitable and are going to affect every church in America. Ecclesiastes 7:14 tells us, “Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.”

Vanguard Church is attempting to journey through tough times together. How has your church and leadership responded to the hard times of this past year’s economy? When funds are low and stress loads are high, what is your church leadership’s “mode of operation?” Has your church leadership adopted a plan to follow when hard times come? How do you lead your staff through the reality of financial change? Rick will share how Vanguard is leading its staff and church through hard times. He will show the 7 step process Vanguard follows in order to make up budgetary shortcomes, changes made in communication to the entire church body, and how Vanguard has adjusted in an attempt not to lay off staff and stay together.

Roger Dermody—Big Vision & Big Hurdles: The Challenge of Leading with Prudent Faith

Roger is the XP of Bel Air Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, California. We are in the midst of a global economic crisis, a national denominational crisis and on-going very real congregational needs. How do we as leaders of Bel Air thread the needle of faithfully following our sense of God’s call to bold new ventures? We are launching three new satellite campuses. Yet, at the same time, we need to make sure we don’t fly the proverbial “plane into the side of the nearest mountain?”

This interactive seminar will discuss the hits and misses experienced by Bel Air Presbyterian Church this past year, and learn from the shared stories and examples of other group participants.

Bob Feitl

Bob Feitl—Understanding the Roles of Overseer and Administrator

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.

Brian Horm

Brian Horn—Without an XP but Doing the Work

Brian is the Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries, First Christian Church, Santa Maria, California. Even though some tasks may not be in your job description, sometimes you’ve just got to roll up your sleeves and get to work! In a church that doesn’t have an XP, the Senior Pastor may need help and not even know it. He may be leading in areas where his giftedness and time is limited.
How can the Associate Pastor effectively transition into the Executive Pastor role? This interactive workshop will examine steps that can help establish trust with the Senior Pastor and establish a healthy ministry partnership. Brian Horn, this workshop’s leader, is currently building this culture in his church in California, helping his Senior Pastor become comfortable enough to hand over the reins of leadership.

Brad Leeper—Resourcing Ministry in the Midst of a Recession

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.

Brad’s workshops have received high marks in previous XP-Seminars. If you are going to be resourcing your ministry soon, then you will need to know how to raise funds for the construction! “Brad Leeper’s Fundraising Workshop was so helpful!”

Donna Lively—Mitigating Cost: Wellness, Waistlines, and the Right Plan

Donna is the Director of Insurance Solutions and Services for GuideStone Financial Resources.

Learn why the combination of employee benefit wellness initiatives, focus on employee health responsibility and the correct plan selection are important to the financial and physical health of your organization and discover strategies to successfully implement these programs. Learn why the simplest programs are often the most effective and the key components that every program must include.

David Lyons—Hiring: What is Fit and Gifting?

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”

David Middlebrook—Your Bylaws Need to Change as Your Church Grows

David is a nationally noted attorney and author, licensed to practice law in Texas, Colorado and the District of Columbia. His practice emphasis is focused on religious nonprofit organizations, with clients including all types of charitable, religious and educational organizations. David also is a registered Congressional lobbyist where he works on behalf of religious nonprofit organizations for the protection of religious liberties.

Jeff Pelletier—The Role of Technology in a ‘Do More With Less’ Environment

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

During turbulent and uncertain economic times, more people turn to the local church as a source of comfort and confidence. Attendance begins to rise, but unfortunately, giving may remain flat or even decline. The end result is the church is asked to do much more with far fewer resources. This workshop will highlight the role technology can play in helping to offset the resource imbalance created in a ‘Do More With Less’ environment.

Erich Roehl

Erich Roehl—The Budget Process: Having the Right People Determine the Right Investments in Ministry

Erich is the XP of Neighborhood Church of Redding, California.

This workshop will address what we learned in establishing a budget process (and there are many things!). We found what works for us (and continues to evolve). This will include an introduction to the Carver Policy governance, the role of staff and the role of board. Issues to consider are who should make the budget decisions and why, what about conflict of interest, how to streamline the expense approval process, how to get equal buy-in and accountability in financial decisions and how to maintain flexibility for unexpected expenses.

Eric Rojas—The 8 C’s to a Healthy Staff in a Recession

Eric is the XP of Christ Community Church of St. Charles, DeKalb & Blackberry Creek, Illinois.

In this session, we will look at how to build and maintain a healthy staff year after year. In a time like this we can’t give the financial support and advancement that we would like. Keeping your staff (of any size) healthy, happy and called is essential. Included in this session will be a look at the spiritual development of the staff, the hiring process in a recession, staff evaluation, staff recognition, goals, firing and lay-offs, morale boosters and busters and many more keys to a healthy staff.

Nicholas Smith—The 5 Functions of the XP

Nicholas, the XP of Bethany Baptist Church of Lindenwold, New Jersey, will share the biblical basis of the XP as revealed through the Scriptures. Though young, Nicholas is a strong XP in a church of 18,000 members. Read the2006 case study on Bethany Baptist.

This session will introduce the foundational characteristics of an Executive Pastor: Administrator, Catalyst, Mentor, Minister, and Overseer. During the hour, we will assist XP’s in finding which functions they are strongest in and how best to operate in them. For any Senior Pastors attending the session, we will help them discover what to look for in an XP.

Phillip Turner

Phillip Turner & Nicholas Smith—Thriving in the African-American Church

Reverend Phillip Turner serves as the Church Administrator of BethanyBaptist Church of Lindenwold, New Jersey. He partners with Bishop David G. Evans and assists in implementing the vision of the church, while also ensuring excellence in the operations of Bethany Baptist Church and Abundant Harvest Plaza.

This session will discuss the challenges in the African-American churches in the present recession. We will present proven solutions that will overcome the challenges of the environment. Tips will include meeting the spiritual and natural needs of the community. We will also discuss effective giving strategies during the recession.

Frank Sommerville—Legal Issues in the Church

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.”

Curtis Songer

Curtis Songer—How is New Community Church Surviving & Thriving?

Curtis is the XP of New Community Church of of Wexford, Pennsylvania.

Learn how a church moved from Surviving to Thriving in 4 short months. At New Community Church giving increased 15% during the last 4 months of 2009. What was even more shocking was that this increase in giving occurred on a significantly lower base of givers – attendance declined 11% during the same period. What happened? Were these shifts healthy? Can the attendance trend be turned around? And is the increase in giving sustainable? The answers lie in the fact that the traditional approach to surviving in a down-turned economy (a.k.a. cost reduction) is not enough to thrive.

Jim Kuykendall

Jim Tomberlin and Jim Kuykendall—Four Common Mistakes of Multi-Site Churches

The multi-site movement is transforming the church landscape across the nation. It is no longer a trend but has become the “new normal” for healthy growing churches of all sizes. Currently over 2,000 churches across America have multiple venues or campuses. Is it right for your church? If so, what are the common mistakes to avoid in going multi-site?

Learn from multi-site practitioner pioneer Jim Tomberlin and Jim Kuykendall. Jim Tomberlin implemented multi-site at Willow Creek and now runs Third Quarter Consulting. Jim Kuykendall is the XP of Cross Timbers Church in Argyle, Texas. Read the case study about Cross Timbers.

Paul Utnage—Working with Strong Personalities at the Top

Paul is the XP of Montgomery Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Executive Pastors often relate to prominent pastoral leaders whose personalities are so dominating that they create “cultural tsunamis” of their own.  Let’s face it, some people just have a strong personality—intense, yet perhaps even strong-headed, strong-willed, and strong-armed.  Often they aren’t aware of the waves they create as they swim through the normal wake of the church’s ministry.  If not confronted and loved by a healthy coworker—i.e. you, the XP—they may create dysfunctions, either sighed or shouted, that disrupt or hamper the church’s vision.

This workshop focuses upon principles of healthy relationships with strong personalities, especially with Senior Pastors and key associates. We’ll build some general principles that help us relate to these whirlwind leaders, and then focus upon a repertoire of principles for dealing with four specific strong personalities—the narcissistic pastor, the obsessive-compulsive pastor, the passive-aggressive pastor, and the shame-based pastor.

Steve Watkins

Steve Watkins—Risk Taking & Decision Making in a Tough Economy

Steve is the XP of Southern Hills Baptist Church, a pace-setting, growing church in the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

None of us are immune to this economy, but how are we faring on our missional journey? Are we staying true to our mission as a church? Are we still taking ministry “risks?” Are ministry “decisions” being weighed on how much it will cost, rather than the impact it can make short-term or long-term?

In this workshop, we will explore and share opportunities and vehicles to internally take steps to be great stewards with what God has blessed us with. We will also share ideas to release our ministries by not holding onto our resources so tightly that our church and community notices we are in a recession. It’s a time of faith; are we listening to God? If so, He will provide.

Sponsors

For the sixth 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.

For the sixth year as a sponsor, thanks to our friends atMinisterSearch. 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 fourth year as a sponsor, we welcome theEvangelical 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
• You’re a Church Treasurer: Now What?

We welcome GuideStone as a sponsor for the fourth year. GuideStone Financial Resources is one of the leading providers of retirement, medical, life and disability coverage, investment management and executive planning services to the evangelical Christian community. Since 1918, the organization has enhanced the financial security of more than 200,000 individuals and reported $8.8 billion in assets as of September 30, 2009. GuideStone offers its clients access to Christian-based, socially screened investment funds for retirement, endowment and operational assets. GuideStone’s medical programs offer rate stability, the largest network of healthcare providers in the U.S. and a comprehensive suite of plan options providing quality care and protection for our participants and their families. GuideStone’s insurance agency affiliate, GuideStone Agency Services, makes available full lines of property and casualty coverage as well as risk management education and tools designed with the ministry in mind. For more information about GuideStone, visit the organization’s Web site atwww.GuideStone.org.

For the fourth 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 second 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. Read the bio of Jeff Pelletier.

For the first year, we welcome The Church Law Group.  They focus on the specific legal needs of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, including numerous churches, ministries, faith-based organizations, and clergy throughout the United States. The Church Law Group is comprised of a talented and diverse group of acclaimed professionals sharing a singular calling and dedication to work with and further the successes of their clients.

Three members of the team are former Assistant District Attorneys, Felony Prosecutors, and one is also a distinguished former State District Judge. Several of our attorneys hold certifications from Cambridge University in Risk Management for Churches and Schools. Other attorneys in the group are trained specialists in the field of mediation. “The Church Law Group … restoring relationshipto the Attorney-Client Relationship.” Read the bio of David Middlebrook.

For the first year, we welcome Slingshot Group! Slingshot Group is devoted to helping churches discover worship and arts breakthroughs through Strategy, Structure and Staffing. Our team’s many years of experience in worship and arts ministries along with our nationwide network of relationships are leveraged to help churches reach new heights in worship ministry. We consult closely with churches to assess the current state of their programs, philosophy and approaches to worship through written and verbal feedback from staff and lay leaders. We then give specific recommendations, practical solutions and pathways for progress specifically designed for each church, including the identification of the best worship leaders and staff to fit their situation. We know from experience how critical it is to hire the right people whose experience, calling and style align with the church and its vision for the future.

Promotional Sponsors

For the sixth 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. Read the bio on Ron Keener.

For the fifth year, we welcome Leadership Network as a sponsor. Leadership Network is a Dallas-based nonprofit that seeks to accelerate the impact of 100X leaders. Leadership Network brings together innovative church leaders, creating an environment for collaborative discovery, dialogue and sharing. Leadership Network further enhances this process through the development and distribution of highly targeted ministry tools and resources—including video, podcasts, concept papers, special research reports, and e-publications. Resources are available as free downloads atleadnet.org/papers.

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. Learn more at leadnet.org/books.

“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!”