Why CLC Is Not Another Church Conference

Does the world really need another church conference?

That was certainly a question we asked ourselves five years ago. Obviously there were plenty of church conferences already; we attended many of them ourselves. But we also noticed a lot of similarities between the different conference options. They tended to focus their appeal on having big-name speakers—often the same speakers at every conference, giving some of the same talks about mostly abstract leadership concepts. There can be value in that, but it wasn’t really what we were looking for in a church conference. We wanted something that was practical and applicable; that was more interactive than just a series of lectures; and that was focused on the attendee rather than the speaker.

So, we decided to create it. And in 2016, the Church Leaders Conference was born.

For us, this is a ministry and a way to serve the larger Church. We do it because we believe in the Church—in you, and the work you are doing to represent Christ in your local community. We wouldn’t bother putting on a conference if we didn’t think it would be helpful to you, and we focus everything about the CLC around that goal.

You’re probably wondering, what makes the Church Leaders Conference different (and worthwhile)?

It’s not just about learning. People don’t just leave with new tips and tricks; they leave changed. This is something we didn’t (and couldn’t have) set out to do; it’s just something God chooses to do. Every year at the conference, God has chosen to “wreck” attendees, in a good way. People tend to experience God and respond to Him in a transformative way.
It’s for everyone. Some conferences have a very narrow focus; they are only for specific people in specific roles. But we have something for every church leader, in every area of ministry. In fact, we use the term “Church Leader” because it is for anyone leading in the local church, from senior pastor to admin assistant to lay leader.
It’s unifying. Because it is for everyone, you can bring your whole team and have a collective teambuilding experience, while each person is still sharpened in their individual area. You can all discuss things together immediately, instead of having one person come back and give a secondhand report. In fact, we’ve found that more and more churches are starting to use the conference as a staff retreat. That’s also partly because:
It’s fun. We strive to make the CLC an energizing, refreshing time. It’s not the kind of conference where you have to take a day off afterwards to recharge and recover. We laugh a lot, often as the result of farkles—and if you’re not familiar with the concept of “farkling,” that’s all the more reason to attend. Also, meals are included, and the food is awesome.
It’s practical. This isn’t a show, and it’s not a lecture. It’s all about practical ways your church can help the hurting, restore the broken, set captives free, build healthy marriages, reach the next generations with the gospel, and make a real difference in your community. For example, we have breakout sessions (dozens of them) where you can discuss everything from the social media management to how to counsel couples who have had an affair. And all of these sessions are led by practitioners who spend the rest of the year actually doing these things, not just speaking about them. In addition, you’ll leave with all the resources you need to put things into practice immediately.
It’s interactive. We are a working, seven-day-a-week church, and you will get an all-access pass to look behind the curtain on our ministries as they happen. Examples include The Porch young adults ministry, re|engage marriage ministry, and re:generation recovery. You’ll get to talk with—not just hear from—staff and lay leaders in every ministry at the church, including the option to call and get free consulting after the conference ends. Plus, of course, you get to interact with everyone else at the conference. We’re all family in Christ, so get to know your brothers and sisters and network with other churches to learn from them.
It’s honest. Nobody is perfect, and we’re honest about that. We don’t hide the fact that we’re fallen and in need of grace. We don’t put up a front to make it look like we have it all together and never have any problems. As a result, you don’t leave feeling beat up, thinking there is a standard you could never live up to.