Tuesday, March 3 thru
Friday, March 6, 2026
Sheraton & Le Méridien Charlotte
2026 Annual Conference
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am. – 10:30am
Lead with Purpose. Grow in Community.
Join fellow clergy and lay leaders in our Pre-Conference sessions—focused cohorts designed to equip and inspire you in your ministry in the Church.
These gatherings allow you to share wisdom, explore strategies, and spark vision for strengthening and sustaining the Church’s work. Guided by experienced clergy, lay leaders, and ministry practitioners from across the Episcopal Church and beyond, each pre-conference speaks directly to the real challenges and opportunities of church leadership today. Each pre-conference is designed to strengthen you in your ministry role whether clergy or lay, paid church staff or volunteers.
This year, we’re excited to offer 7 pre-conferences for the following roles:
- Rectors & Deans
- Senior Associates, Sub-Deans, Vice Rectors, & Vicars
- Junior Associates & Curates
- Parish Administrators
- Volunteer Lay Leaders – Vestries, Wardens, Committee Chairs
- Lay Church Staff – Serving in parishes, cathedrals, or other Episcopal institutions (new in 2026)
- Diocesan Canons (new in 2026)
Explore the session descriptions and choose the one aligned to your role in the Church.
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Join Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe in a conversation exclusively for senior church leaders (rectors, deans, vicars, priests-in-charge, interim rectors)
Speaker:
The Most Rev. Sean Rowe, 28th Presiding Bishop & Primate, The Episcopal Church
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Reflections from the conversation with Bishop Sean and a discussion about courageous leadership.
Speaker:
Coming soon!
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Renew your leadership with purpose through conversation with colleagues in similar contexts.
This pre-conference offers a theologically grounded exploration of leadership, emphasizing resilience, adaptive capacity, and vocational clarity. Participants will engage with adaptive leadership theory to examine the dynamics of burnout, authority, and change. Through structured reflection and practical tools, you will cultivate a deeper understanding of leadership identity and develop strategies for fostering thriving communities in complex ministry contexts.
Speaker:
The Rev. Dr. Anne Stewart, Executive Vice President, Princeton Theological Seminary, Founding Director, Iron Sharpening Iron
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am – 10:30am
Time for individual and small group conversations among participants.
Facilitators:
The Rev. Caitlyn Keith, Associate Rector, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Columbia, SC
The Rev. Abi Moon, Senior Associate, Trinity Church in the City of Boston, Boston, MA
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am – 10:30am
Stepping into ordained ministry brings both excitement and complexity. This session is designed especially for curates and assistant priests who are navigating the early years of parish ministry — discerning their pastoral identity, developing healthy working relationships with rectors and parish leaders, and balancing the demands of preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. Seasoned clergy will guide the conversations, offering insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom for this formative season. Participants will come away with renewed confidence, realistic strategies, and a deeper sense of vocation for this stage of their ministry journey.
Speakers:
Coming soon!
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
This session will be a working session on why a church should have an up-to-date personnel manual, what should be in it, and how to use it as a vital tool in your ministry.
Speakers/Facilitators:
John Crow, SPHR – Career HR Executive, Senior Warden at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco & St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX
Jim Lamm, MBA, Parish Administrator, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am – 10:30am
This will be an open discussion on topics, issues, questions, challenges, and successes. The collective knowledge in the room will assist in giving advice, strategies, information, and a path forward for all in attendance.
Speakers/Facilitators:
Jim Lamm, MBA, Parish Administrator, St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am – 10:30am
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 Volunteer Lay Leader Pre-Conference recognizes that parish management can take many forms and that the roles and expertise evolve and change. Over two days, attendees will participate in five expert-led sessions that focus on key challenges that volunteer lay leaders face.
Some of these focus areas include:
- Budgeting and financial management
- Maintenance and care of church buildings and facilities
- 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.
Speakers:
Jenny Herrera, Partner, Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC & Partner, Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, Washington, D.C.
Bill Kesslar, CEO, Building Solutions, Dallas, TX
Anne Schmidt, Consultant, Saison Consulting, Albuquerque, NM
Christin Kinman, End User Sales Consultant (Mid-Atlantic Region), Allegion, Carmel, IN
Moderator:
Karen Kraycirik, Planning Committee Member, Episcopal Parish Network, Houston, TX
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am – 10:30am
This pre-conference is designed for lay church staff members who want to deepen their sense of vocation, strengthen their leadership, and build connections with peers across the Church. Together we’ll create a dynamic space for reflection, professional growth, and shared learning.
Our time will focus on three broad areas of leadership:
- Formation – Exploring Episcopal identity and claiming lay leadership as a vocation rooted in faith and service.
- Culture – Navigating priorities and boundaries with diverse stakeholders, and practicing tools for conflict resolution and managing difficult conversations with grace and clarity.
- Story & Practice – Learning how to craft strategic narratives and plans that foster collaboration across ministries.
Led by a team of seasoned lay leaders, this pre-conference blends structured presentations, interactive panels, and role-based breakout sessions. Participants will leave with:
- Practical tools to apply in their parish, cathedral, or institutional context.
- Fresh strategies for effective communication and collaboration.
- New language to broaden conversation and understanding of lay ministry.
A network of colleagues for ongoing support and inspiration.
Speakers/Facilitators:
Adam MacDonald, Director of Development, St. Thomas Church & Choir School, New York, NY
Lucas Thorpe, Chief of Staff, Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York, NY
Additional speakers coming soon!
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am – 10:30am
A representative from CPG will join participants for a conversation and time for Q&A. Participants will then split into position-specific breakout groups to discuss learnings from the pre-conference and networking.
Speakers/Facilitators:
Coming soon!
Tuesday, March 3 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Join Nathan Kirkpatrick from Saison Consulting for a facilitated conversation. Attendees will leave knowing others in similar roles from across the Church. These connections will ensure you leave knowing who to call when a question, opportunity, or challenge arises.
Designed for Canons to the Ordinary and those in similar positions of diocesan leadership.
Facilitator:
The Rev. Nathan Kirkpatrick, Principal, Saison Consulting; Durham, North Carolina
Wednesday, March 4 | 8:30am – 10:30am
Join Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe for a conversation exclusively for Canons to the Ordinary and those in similar roles.
Speaker:
The Most Rev. Sean Rowe, 28th Presiding Bishop & Primate, The Episcopal Church
Make your plans today to join us in Charlotte for a joyful and hopeful experience together!
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