This year promises to be as busy as ever, but these church conferences for 2025 are worth considering. After all, leading a church does not mean one can’t carve out time for ongoing education and training.
A commitment to learning is the hallmark of effective leadership, and this list is geared for church pastors, board members, and volunteers.
Join Church Law & Tax Today—More than Four Decades of church legal, tax, financial, HR, and governance at your fingertips
Choose your church management conference for 2025 with care
But choose wisely. Not all church management conferences are created equal. Many demand significant investments of both time and money. Others involve unscrupulous individuals who sometimes target churches with erroneous, inaccurate, or misleading information.
Let us help take some of the guesswork out of it by recommending these six conferences and seminars (organized in chronological order).
All involve individuals and organizations connected with Church Law & Tax. Church Law & Tax editors and staff have attended these events over the years, and can vouch for the accuracy and ministry-minded focus that each offer.
The Church Network National Conference
The Church Network (TCN) hosts the longest-running national conference serving church business administrators. The 2025 event again will offer multiple days with general keynote speakers, a wide range of workshops, and an exhibit hall with vendors that serve the church market.
Dates: July 15-18
Location: Omaha, NE
Registration is now live. *Single day registration is available.
Can’t make it? TCN also has more than 80 local chapters that meet monthly. These chapters offer guest speakers who cover various topics related to church administration.
BMWL National Nonprofit Conference
CPA firm Batts Morrison Wales & Lee covers recent developments and trends on tax, financial, and regulatory topics affecting nonprofit organizations and churches this annual event. CPA Michael Batts, managing partner of the firm, is a senior editorial advisor for Church Law & Tax, and CPA Kaylyn Varnum, a partner at the firm, is an advisor-at-large for Church Law & Tax.
Date: Check conference website for updates.
Location: Virtual
Registration cost: Check conference website for updates.
Church Compliance Conference
Attorney Erika Cole, a senior editorial advisor for Church Law & Tax, will host this one-day conference for pastors and church leaders, including executive pastors, trustees, church administrators, and finance officers.
Date: Sept. 18
Location: Virtual. In-person component is TBD.
Registration cost: TBD
Christian Legal Society National Conference
The Christian Legal Society (CLS) is the largest national organization serving attorneys and law students who are Christians. The CLS conference provides training and encouragement to legal professionals, including those who serve churches, ministries, and nonprofits.
Dates: Oct. 9-12
Location: New Orleans
Registration cost: Varies based on the individual’s membership status with the organization.
