Large Church Initiative Conference
Moving Beyond Your Comfort Zone and Stretching Your Church's Leadership Potential and Vision
by Jeff Jones*A God-sized vision is for Christianity to offer new life and new hope to as many people as possible. The Large Church Initiative Conference provides a great opportunity to learn how to move beyond your comfort zone and be challenged to stretch your leadership potential and your church’s vision to a new level. This year’s conference will be January 23-26 and hosted by the First United Methodist Church of Richardson, a congregation from our neighboring North Texas Conference.
This conference is designed for any congregation with weekly worship attendance of 350 or more. Featured speakers include Mike Slaughter, Clayton Oliphint, Lisa Greenwood, Olu Brown and more. Workshop subjects include “The Power of Multiplication,” “Leading Outside the Walls: Taking the Church 
to the Streets.” “Surviving and Thriving in the Long Pastorate,” “New Traditional Worship: Using a Worship TEAM Concept,” “More Than a Profile: Social Media Strategy for Your Ministry,” “Raising the Bar: Unleashing Generosity” and others. The opening dinner will be followed by a concert with Jars of Clay, Josh Wilson and Eric Michael.
to the Streets.” “Surviving and Thriving in the Long Pastorate,” “New Traditional Worship: Using a Worship TEAM Concept,” “More Than a Profile: Social Media Strategy for Your Ministry,” “Raising the Bar: Unleashing Generosity” and others. The opening dinner will be followed by a concert with Jars of Clay, Josh Wilson and Eric Michael.This year’s conference features two new tracks –Church Planting and Young Clergy. The new Church Planting track offers planters and prospective planters resources for planting a church or new worshiping community. The emphasis will be on starting churches that envision large growth or planting within a larger church through multi-site and new worshiping communities.
The new Young Clergy track is designed for clergy 38-years-old and younger and features a pre-conference day with Mike Slaughter and a panel discussion on “Wisdom and Insights That Will Maximize Your Ministry.” Other special opportunities for young clergy will also be available throughout the conference.
The Large Church Initiative Conference is sponsored jointly by the Large Church Initiative Committee and the General Board of Discipleship. More than 500 clergy, staff and lay people from around the country will participate in education, sharing, growth, self-discovery and vision.
The United Methodist Large-Church Initiativeprovides:
The United Methodist Large-Church Initiativeprovides:
- Opportunities for pastors and congregational leaders to exchange ideas;
- Opportunities for pastors, staff, and congregational leaders to learn new leadership skills;
- Opportunities for leaders to develop new ideas through discussion, study, and networking;
- Opportunities for leaders to work together to accomplish common goals.
*Jeff is the Director of Operations for the CTC Center for Evangelism & Church Growth. jeff@ctcumc.org