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2026 Leadership Conference (Charlotte, NC)
May 2
Register Here!
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.
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, May 2, 2026
Location: Ascension Lutheran Church
1225 East Morehead St, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $25.00
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.
Agenda
- 9:00–9:30 AM | Registration & Coffee
- 9:30–10:45 AM | Keynote Session — Rev. Jim Henkell
- 10:45–11:00 AM | Break
- 11:00–11:30 AM | Worship
- 11:30–12:00 PM | District Ministry Update
- 12:00–1:00 PM | Lunch & Fellowship
- 1:00–1:45 PM | Breakout Sessions — Round 1
- 2:00–2:45 PM | Breakout Sessions — Round 2
- 3:00–3:15 PM | Closing & Prayer
Afternoon 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
Welcome to Church! | Luther Hall | Elliot Lutz, Fountain of Life, Kernersville, NC | The key to unlocking the potential of your church might be hiding in plain sight. Research has shown that people visiting a church for the first time will decide within the first 7–10 minutes whether they want to return, before the sermon even begins. With a few simple steps, your church can become a place where guests can’t wait to become family.
Gospel-Dominant Culture | Sanctuary | Rev. Jim Henkell | 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 toward something better.
Is an Apology the Same as a Confession? Does It Matter? | Chapel of the Deaf | David Ziehr, St. Stephens, Hickory, NC | Our culture too often ignores the Lord’s gift of reconciliation, restoration, and forgiveness. Join us as we explore these realities and celebrate the transformational result of the simple phrases, “please forgive me” and “I forgive you.”
Fun Fridays — Sharing the Joy of Salvation with Public School Children | Chapel of the Deaf Meeting Room | DCS Grace Bergt, CrossWaters Ministries, Hilton Head, SC | Share ideas of community partnerships that may result in children having fun and hearing the gospel in a VBS-style after-school program. Learn practical decisions to help you face the challenges and experience the joys of “Fun Fridays.”
MinistrySafe | Room #205 | Tom Kolb – SED Staff | 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. This session highlights common signs of abuse, appropriate ways to respond, and practical steps ministries can take to create safer environments, protecting both the young people entrusted to us and the integrity of our ministries.
Round 2 — 2:00 PM
Table Top Evangelism in Your Community | Luther Hall | Rev. Andy Wrasman, CrossWaters Ministries, Hilton Head, SC | A practical, field-tested workshop on tabletop evangelism designed for real public spaces and real conversations. Learn how to set up, invite dialogue, and faithfully proclaim the Gospel in ways that are both bold and winsome — and equip others so this outreach multiplies in your congregation and community.
Faithful and Thoughtful: A Process for Church Change | Sanctuary | Rev. Josh Keinath | Risen Savior, Myrtle Beach, SC Change in the church is inevitable, but how we lead it matters. This session offers a simple, repeatable process for implementing change that is theologically grounded, pastorally sensitive, and relationally wise. Learn how to clarify the “why,” anticipate loss, engage key leaders, and guide congregations with patience and clarity.
Navigating the Pastor-Leader Partnership: Lessons from Both Sides | Chapel of the Deaf | Rev. Peter Frank, St. Peter’s, Conover, NC | Effective ministry requires healthy collaboration between pastors and lay leaders, yet the distinction between these roles is often unclear. Drawing from experience as both an elder and church council chair, and now as a pastor, this session offers practical insights for fostering productive partnerships that strengthen congregational mission.
Elders as an Extension of the Pastoral Office | Chapel of the Deaf Meeting Room | Deacon Dave Grandt, CrossWaters Ministries, Hilton Head, SC | How can elders support and enable the pastor in the spiritual care of the congregation? Join the conversation on “personal touch” care, discipline, and the cultivation of harmony and charity among members — promoting the general welfare of the congregation and Christ’s Kingdom.