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A New Season of Leadership Development

Join ministry leaders from across the Southeastern District for a renewed season of encouragement, connection, and growth!
Our One Day Leadership Conferences have moved to the spring—a season of renewal and ministry momentum.

This year’s theme, “Speaking the Truth in Love” (Ephesians 4:11–16), calls us to grow together in unity and purpose as we serve the Church and one another.

Whether you’re a pastor, teacher, lay leader, or ministry volunteer, this conference is designed to equip and encourage you for your unique role in God’s mission.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

Location: Lutheran Church of St. Andrew
15300 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD

Cost: $25.00 per person

Keynote Speaker

Rev. Jim Henkell Ministry Executive, Pacific Southwest District (LCMS)

Speaking the Truth in Love

We believe in the inseparability of love and truth, but we don’t always behave like it. While confessing the Biblical connection between the two, some people seem to emphasize truth over love and others love over truth. Why does this tension exist? What is so difficult to grasp? Embracing this teaching is essential for our witness in the world — especially for those who desire to love others as God designed.

Rev. Jim Henkell serves as Ministry Executive for the Pacific Southwest District, encouraging and advising hundreds of ministry leaders. He has preached and spoken at nearly 200 events across the country with a creative, passionate focus on the Gospel. Pastor Henkell is a graduate of Concordia University (Irvine) and Concordia Seminary (St. Louis) with emphases in Biblical languages and homiletics. He is currently a doctoral candidate with a focus on Law/Gospel dynamics in Biblical preaching. Pastor Henkell served in the parish for 25 years, including 20 years at a Lutheran church and school in San Diego, California. He also served 10 years on the Board of Regents at Concordia University Irvine and as Chair of its Committee on Lutheran Identity and Mission.

Schedule

Breakout Sessions

Attendees will choose one session per round. Breakouts run from 1:00–1:45 PM and 2:00–2:45 PM.

Round 1 — 1:00 PM

Building Community Connections | Sanctuary Bishop Bill Harmon, Rev. Mark Hricko, Vicar Daniel Assefa A panel exploring how churches can foster healthy relationships with community organizations, schools, nonprofits, and civic leaders — and how those relationships strengthen both the church and the community it serves.

Oriented to Others: Baptized Posture in a Secular Age | Great Room Rev. Matthew Borrasso – Trinity Lutheran, Lexington Park, MD Christ is the one in whom all things hold together — including us, the world, and the people who inhabit it. This session explores how our baptismal identity orients us to live in Christ and for the world.

From First Visit to Active Engagement | Room 118 Rev. John Scott – Our Savior’s Way, Ashburn, VA A practical framework — Invite, Connect, Grow, Serve — to help leaders think clearly about how people move through the life of the church and what helps them take the next step.

Stronger Together: Church/School Partnerships | Classroom 1 Michelle Swain-Clauberg – King of Glory, Williamsburg, VA What does it look like for a church and school to truly move in the same direction? This session helps you name your shared vision and identify one clear next step to strengthen partnership and support families.

Building a Culture of Safety in Your Ministry | Youth Room Hannah Gillrup – SED Staff Child sexual abuse is one of the greatest risks facing ministries today — and one of the most preventable. This session equips leaders with the tools and practical steps to build a culture where children are protected and every adult knows their role.

Round 2 — 2:00 PM

Gospel-Dominant Culture | Sanctuary Rev. Jim Henkell – PSD Staff What if your ministry was described as resiliently hopeful, truly forgiving, Gospel-dominant? This session explores the impact of culture on leadership and ministry — and how leaders can shape it intentionally.

Built for More: Discovering the Heart of a Man on Mission | WellSpring Rev. Mark Moretz – Concordia Lutheran, Hagerstown, MD What happens when the Church takes seriously how God designed men — and actually does something about it? This session explores launching a men’s ministry rooted in identity, purpose, and servant-hearted mission.

Engaging Middle School Students in God’s Word | Room 118 Curtis and Kaitlyn Miller – Concordia Prep, Towson, MD Practical strategies and activities for helping middle schoolers better understand and connect with Biblical stories and teachings — in the classroom and in youth group settings.

Forming Multi-Ethnic Ministry and Partnerships | Classroom 1 Rev. Yared Halche – SED Staff Equipping leaders to form thriving multi-ethnic ministries through vision discernment, planning, implementation, and launch — drawing on exemplary SED and All Nations initiatives.

Strategies for Connecting with Youth | Youth Room Zach Hartman – St. Matthew Lutheran, Bel-Air, MD Concrete, actionable ways to make youth meetings more fun and more meaningful — growing strong relationships, delivering messages that stick, and building memories that last.

Registration

Bring yourself, bring your team, bring your ministry leaders—register today!

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