2025 Congregational Leadership Conference
March 8, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | St. Thomas, Medina and Zoom
Join other clergy and congregational leaders for the Congregation Leadership Conference – a combination of plenary sessions and breakout workshops on such topics as:
- Financial Stability & Financial Responsibilities From Three Perspectives
- Stewardship and Use of Property
- Justice, Money, and the Diocese of Olympia
- Specifics for Treasurers: Assessments, Audits, Insurance, using the Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs, Diocesan Listserv
- Understanding the DIF for Vestry/Bishop’s Committee members: Joining the DIF, Withdrawals, Identifying “Mystery” Funds
- Narrative-Based Budgeting: Connecting Money and Mission through Storytelling
- HR Best Practices: Working with Staff & Volunteers
- Transitions and Deployment
- Congregation Records: Going from Paper to Digital
- Property – Sales/Purchases/Redevelopment
- Program Resources: St. Andrew’s House, Huston Camp & Conference Center, College for Congregational Development, Multicultural Ministries
- Legal Duties & Obligations
- Diocesan Governance & Diocesan Staff: Who to Contact
- Discipleship & Spiritual Practices
This day-long workshop is open to wardens, treasurers, and clergy in charge of congregations; other vestry/bishop’s committee members would be welcome as well. It will be facilitated by members of diocesan staff and leadership and will provide an opportunity to network and identify affinity groups to continue to meet. Teams from congregations are encouraged to be able to cover all the workshops and share information.
Lunch will be provided for those attending onsite; reimbursement for lunch will be available for those attending online.
Final Schedule
9:00 am: Arrival
Arrive, sign-in, casual chats
9:45 am: Welcome
Welcome / Land Acknowledgement (Canon Dede Moore)
9:50 am: Prayer
Morning Prayer / Opening Remarks (Bishop Philip LaBelle)
10:15 am: Plenary Session #1
Financial Stability & Financial Responsibilities from Three Perspectives (Jim Beckwith, Diocesan
Treasurer; The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman, Canon to the Ordinary; and Canon Charles
Thorne, Canon for Finance)
10:45 am: Break
Break – move to round 1 of workshops
11:00 am: Workshop Session - Round One
In Person
- Stewardship of and Use of Property. (The Rev. Dr. Dennis Tierney, Diocesan Property Manager)
- Beyond Meeting Expectations: How to create, facilitate and participate in group/team experiences that are both effective and life-giving. In this workshop, we’ll cover the basics of creating meaningful group experiences for all types (staff, committee, vestry, finance team, etc.). I’ll also provide tips, tools and takeaways to help you structure your meetings, build relationships and accomplish your goals. (The Rev. Canon Ivar Hillesland, Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership Formation)
- Justice, Money and the Diocese of Olympia. The workshop will be about how the Diocese of Olympia funds justice ministries and how that affects congregations. I also plan to address a couple of hot button issues, i.e. immigration justice and justice for the GLBTQ+ community. (The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson, Canon for Multicultural Ministries and Community Transformation)
- Specifics for Treasurers. This workshop will cover assessments, audits, insurance, using the Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs, diocesan listserv; bring your questions as well. (Jim Beckwith, Diocesan Treasurer)
Online
- Demystifying “Mystery” Funds. This workshop will provide an overview of the Diocesan Investment Fund (DIF) for vestry/bishop’s committee members, and how to identify those mystery funds in your congregations’ books. (Canon Charles Thorne, Canon for Finance)
- Narrative-based Budgeting. Join this workshop to learn about connecting money and mission through storytelling. (The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman, Canon to the Ordinary)
- Human Resources (HR) Best Practices. In this workshop, we’ll cover principles and guidelines for managing staff and volunteers. You’ll leave with information and resources on required and optional programs through the diocese and the state. (Canon Dede Moore, Canon for Human Resources, Governance & Convention)
- Congregation Records: Going from Paper to Digital. (Erik R. Bauer, Archivist & Records Manager)
- Navigating Real Estate, Leasing & Construction Challenges for Congregations. This workshop will explore key considerations for church property, including leasing to outside groups, zoning and tax implications, property sales, and construction projects. (Judy Andrews, Chancellor; and Bryan Krislock, Vice Chancellor)
11:50 am: Break
Break – return to main room
11:55 pm: Prayer | Lunch
Noonday prayers
Lunch break – lunch provided onsite
12:30 pm: Plenary Session #2
Program Resources:
- St. Andrew’s House (Dan Oberg, Director)
- Huston Camp & Conference Center (Alida García, Director)
- College for Congregational Development (The Rev. Canon Ivar Hillesland, Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership Formation)
- Multicultural Ministries (The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson, Canon for Multicultural Ministries and Community Transformation)
● TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (The Rev. Sabeth Fitzgibbons, Trinity Church, Seattle)
Legal Duties & Obligations. (Bryan Krislock, Vice Chancellor)
1:10 pm: Break
Break – move to round two of workshops
1:25 pm: Workshop Session - Round Two
(reverse of Round One)
Online
- Stewardship of and Use of Property. (The Rev. Dr. Dennis Tierney, Diocesan Property Manager)
- Beyond Meeting Expectations: How to create, facilitate and participate in group/team experiences that are both effective and life-giving. (The Rev. Canon Ivar Hillesland, Canon for Congregational Development and Leadership Formation)
- Justice, Money and the Diocese of Olympia. (The Rev. Canon Carla Robinson, Canon for Multicultural Ministries and Community Transformation)
- Specifics for Treasurers. (Jim Beckwith, Diocesan Treasurer)
In Person
- Demystifying “Mystery” Funds. (Canon Charles Thorne, Canon for Finance)
- Narrative-based Budgeting. (The Rev. Canon Cristi Chapman, Canon to the Ordinary)
- Human Resources (HR) Best Practices. (Canon Dede Moore, Canon for Human Resources, Governance & Convention)
- Congregation Records: Going from Paper to Digital. (Erik R. Bauer, Archivist & Records Manager)
- Navigating Real Estate, Leasing & Construction Challenges for Congregations. (Judy Andrews, Chancellor; and Bryan Krislock, Vice Chancellor)
2:15 pm: Break
Break – return to main room
2:25 pm: Plenary Session #3
Diocesan Governance & Diocesan Staff: Who to Contact (Canon Dede Moore)
Discipleship & Spiritual Practices (Bishop Philip LaBelle)
3:05 pm: Q&A | Closing Remarks
Q&A time / Closing remarks / Prayers (All & Bishop Philip LaBelle)
3:30 pm: Adjournment
Adjournment
