The pre-conferences begin on Tuesday, February 25 at 2:00pm CT and are open to everyone. These are generally role-based gatherings of lay and clergy leaders engaged in similar ministry. We encourage all attendees to take advantage of the intense-learning opportunity and deep networking available in these pre-conferences.

Note that some sessions are designed for and limited to individuals in a particular role (e.g., the Rector & Dean Pre-conference is limited to rectors, deans, priests-in-charge, interim rectors and others holding the senior clergy role in a congregation). Other pre-conferences are open to any attendee that wants to learn with and network among those with similar roles (e.g. the Vestry, Warden, and Lay Leader Pre-conference is open to all lay leaders with a call to work in senior leadership roles in their congregation). This year, the From Empowerment to Leadership Pre-conference is designed for any attendee who feels a call to join a pre-conference but doesn’t identify with any of the eight role-based pre-conferences offered.

Pre-conferences are a great way to get to know others in the church doing work like yours or with similar interests. The pre-conference cohorts join for learning on Tuesday afternoon and share a meal and conversation on Tuesday evening and finish their time together on Wednesday morning.

Lay leaders are crucial to the future of our congregations, with responsibilities that range from fiscal oversight and facility management to worship planning and clergy selection. This sacred work can often feel overwhelming. Just as clergy aren’t trained in finance in seminary, we sometimes expect lay leaders to arrive fully equipped to manage all aspects of a congregation—particularly when there is no full-time clergy.

This year’s Vestry, Warden, and Lay Leader Pre-Conference will begin with four expert-led sessions focused on key areas of parish management.

• Session 1 will cover budgeting, financial management, and fiduciary responsibility.
• Session 2 will address the maintenance and care of church buildings and physical facilities.
• Session 3 will explore your congregation’s community impact and the “halo effect” it creates.
• Session 4 will focus on clergy transitions and best practices for congregational leadership during these times of change.

The pre-conference will conclude with a facilitated roundtable discussion, offering an opportunity to reflect and share insights.

Attendees will return home with practical knowledge and tools that will strengthen their ministries. You will leave feeling empowered, hopeful, and ready to continue your vital work in the church.

Moderator:
Ms. Karen Kraycirik, Episcopal Parish Network Planning Committee Co-Chair, Houston, Texas

Speakers:
Ms. Laura Bush, Director, Citrin Cooperman; New York, New York
Ms. Jenny Herrera, Partner, Citrin Cooperman; Bethesda, Maryland
Mr. Bob Jaeger, President, Partners for Sacred Places; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mr. James B. Jordan, Principal, James B. Jordan; Atlanta, Georgia
Mr. William Keslar, President/CEO, Building Solutions; Dallas, Texas
Ms. Anne Schmidt, Consultant, Saison Consulting; Albuquerque, New Mexico

As the second-chair leader within your congregation—whether serving as a senior associate, sub-dean, vice rector, or vicar—you navigate the intricate dynamics of church leadership in ways that are often unseen but deeply impactful. Your role is essential to the health and success of your community, yet it comes with unique challenges and opportunities as you work within complex systems, collaborate with other leaders, and help drive your church’s mission forward.

This pre-conference gathering provides a dedicated space for senior clergy leaders like you to connect with peers from across the country and around the Church. Through facilitated learning sessions, candid conversations, and opportunities for mutual support, you’ll explore the vital role of second-chair leadership and gain fresh perspectives on how to enhance your effectiveness in this key position.

In this opening session, you’ll hear reflections from three diverse and dynamic church leaders, each of whom brings a unique experience of leading from the second chair. Together, they’ll share personal insights, hard-earned lessons, and strategies for thriving in roles where collaboration, influence, and navigating relationships are paramount.

Throughout this time together, you will:

• Engage in honest dialogue with fellow senior associates, sub-deans, vice rectors, and vicars, discussing shared experiences and challenges.
• Learn practical tools to strengthen your collaborative leadership and refine your capacity to support the overall mission of your congregation.
• Discover strategies for balancing the demands of leadership while nurturing your own sense of purpose and vision in ministry.

You’ll leave this gathering not only with new ideas to strengthen your local ministry but also with the confidence and skills needed to lead with intention and purpose from the second chair.

Speakers:
The Rev. Michael A. Bird, Vicar, Trinity Church NYC; New York, New York
The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Th.D., Dean Emerita, Seminary of the Southwest; Austin, Texas

As number-two clergy leader in your congregation, senior associates, sub-deans, vice rectors, and vicars navigate complex systems. You play a vital, but often not well understood, role in the leadership of your congregation.

In this second session, we’ll engage in fellowship – asking the panelists questions from the group as well as going deeper within smaller groups too.

Speakers:
The Rev. Michael A. Bird, Vicar, Trinity Church NYC; New York, New York
The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, Th.D., Dean Emerita, Seminary of the Southwest; Austin, Texas

Amid so much change and uncertainty, it is vital to be aware of the core vocational images that nurture our souls and give shape to the way we are present within our ministry contexts. Each of us is called to participate in the mystery of Christ’s own presence through our distinctive charisms, and we are challenged to find ways to listen to the living Spirit’s voice. Such continual discernment can ground us as we respond to the world’s needs, and we can more fully incarnate Christ’s compassion and peace in a struggling world. This presentation will encourage participants to honor the distinctive ways the Spirit is empowering them to share in Christ’s own life by the exploration of Biblical texts, symbols, metaphor, and spiritual imagination. Such practices of prayer are necessary to embody a resilient vocation marked by fidelity, courage, and peace.

This pre-conference is open to any and all clergy, no matter their formal title or role.

Speakers:
The Rev. Canon John Thompson-Quartey, Professor in the Practice of Church Leadership; Director of the
Episcopal and Anglican Studies Program, Candler School of Theology
The Rev. Dr. Stuart Higginbotham, Assistant Professor in the Practice of Spiritual Formation and Ministry,
Candler School of Theology; Rector, Grace Church; Gainesville, Georgia

Join your fellow parish administrators as we discuss the issues, topics, concerns, and questions you and others may have on a variety of topics. No one person can know everything, but together there is nothing we cannot solve. If you have a particular topic, issue, or question for the group, please email the moderator in advance of the conference at Jim.L@stdave.org.

Moderator:
Mr. Jim Lamm, Parish Administrator, St. David’s Episcopal Church; Austin, Texas

As traditional church funding models continue to evolve, the importance of robust, well-managed endowments has never been clearer. Endowments provide a lasting financial foundation that can sustain ministries for generations to come, but many churches and faith organizations find their endowment funds inadequate to meet both present and future needs. Whether you are looking to grow your current endowment or receive your first major gift, strategic steps must be taken to ensure these funds can support your mission long-term. At the 2025 Endowment Preconference, in partnership with the Episcopal Church Foundation, seasoned endowment experts will guide you through practical and innovative approaches to building and expanding endowment assets. Across two interactive sessions, participants will explore key strategies for attracting new endowment gifts, investing for long-term growth, and managing funds in a way that balances present needs with future sustainability.

Topics to be covered include:

• Adopting a Marketing Mindset: Learn how to effectively communicate your mission to potential donors and inspire new endowment gifts through targeted outreach and compelling narratives.
• Sustainable Investing for Growth: Explore how to invest endowment assets wisely, balancing risk and return while ensuring long-term financial security for your organization.
• Governance for Success: Understand the importance of establishing a strong governance framework that supports transparency, donor confidence, and open conversations about both today’s needs and tomorrow’s vision.

Join us for these insightful sessions to gain valuable tools, strategies, and inspiration for building a more secure and impactful financial future for your church. Whether you’re a small parish looking to start an endowment or a large organization seeking to grow your fund, this preconference offers essential insights to help you thrive.

Speakers:
Mr. William Jarvis, Managing Director, Bank of America
Ms. Sonia Kowal, President, Zevin Asset Management
Ms. Rebecca Lilly, Vice President, Morgan Stanley (Trustee of Lilly Endowment Inc.)
Ms. Anne Richardson, Senior Program Director for Investor Relations, Episcopal Church Foundation
Ms. Carsten Sierck, Director of Endowment Management, Episcopal Church Foundation

Speakers:
The Rev. Drew Henderson, Pastor, Brookdale Presbyterian Church; St. Joseph, Missouri

This year’s pre-conference for church communications is designed for communicators, church leaders, or staff who need to multitask. Whether you hold the reins for your parish’s communications or are seeking to build that capacity anew, come learn from the best in efficient, inspiring, creative and authentic church communications.

Sponsored by Episcopal Communicators, this session will offer expert guidance on how to invest in people, skill building, and equipment for effective church communication, with consideration for differently- resourced parishes.

Katie Allred, a nationally recognized expert in church communications, will anchor this programming featuring Episcopal Communicators leadership and local award-winning Episcopal communicators from the Diocese of West Missouri.

Additional speakers to be announced.

Speakers:
Ms. Katie Allred, Founder, Church Communications Group; Scottsdale, Arizona
Mr. Zachary Phillips, Communications Director, The Diocese of West Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri
Mr. Alan Yarborough, Board Chair, Episcopal Communicators; Church Relations Officer, Office of Government
Relations, The Episcopal Church; New York, New York

Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness…” Genesis 1:26

“There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

From Genesis to Galatians and beyond, the Bible tells us that God’s love and vision for the world are expansive and inclusive. However, the church has not always embraced the fullness of that message. We gather to celebrate the impactful ministry and leadership of women in The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. 

Join The Episcopal Church’s Office of Global Partnerships and partners from around the Anglican Communion for a conversation about how women have journeyed and transformed ministry, taking their rightful place with full agency to lead and teach.

We will explore the contexts and stories of women in the Bible and in our world today, naming joys and pains, looking at how far we’ve come as a global church and how far we still must go. Our time together will be grounded in theological reflection and brought to life through storytelling and fellowship, equipping us to ask new questions about how we create communities that truly seek to partner with God’s world to share the love of Jesus.

Speakers:
Coming Soon!

Make your plans today to join us in Kansas City for a joyful and hopeful experience together!
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