Education and training are essential for effective church leadership. The commitment to continually learn helps ensure pastors, staff members, board members, and volunteers stay sharp. It also helps ensure everyone stays current on key developments and trends—an even greater priority amid ever-deepening political divisions and the stresses and strains created by the ongoing global pandemic.
Dozens of conferences offer this type of training. Many require significant investments of time and money, making it all the more important for leaders to wisely choose which ones to attend.
For those who work with legal, financial, and risk management matters for their church, Church Law & Tax highly encourages extensive research before registering to attend seminars, workshops, and conferences. And caution should be exercised. Unfortunately, a number of unscrupulous individuals target churches by purporting to provide tax and law information that is either erroneous, inaccurate, or misleading.
To further assist with discerning which events are worthwhile, Church Law & Tax has selected six conferences that church leaders should try to attend. These events involve individuals and organizations trusted by Church Law & Tax’s editors because of the information they provide and the ministry-minded intentions they carry.
The list below is organized as much as possible in chronological order.
2022 XP-Seminar
This two-day conference, founded 18 years ago by XPastor.org founder David Fletcher, will educate and encourage about 200 select executive pastors, senior pastors, and other church leaders. The workshops and general sessions will cover key leadership and management issues facing medium-sized, large-sized, and multisite churches.
Speakers include Pastor Ed Stetzer, dean of Wheaton College’s School of Mission, Ministry, and Leadership, Bishop David Evans from New Jersey-based Bethany Baptist Church, and CPA Mike Batts, a Church Law & Tax senior editorial advisor. Matthew Branaugh from Church Law & Tax will host roundtable discussions with select executive pastors.
Dates: February 22-24, 2022
Location: Dallas, Texas
Registration cost: $699 (in-person)
CapinCrouse 2022 National Virtual Church Seminar
CapinCrouse has hosted church seminars around the country for many years. After a successful national virtual conference last year, the noted nonprofit CPA firm will again host its event virtually in 2022. The theme: Leading Forward—Embracing Opportunity.
Ted Batson, an advisor-at-large for Church Law & Tax, is a CPA and tax attorney who serves as a partner and Professional Practice Leader-Tax for CapinCrouse.
Dates: March 16-17, 2022
Location: Virtual
Registration cost: $40
The Church Network National Conference
The Church Network (TCN) hosts the longest-running national conference serving church business administrators. The 2022 conference again will offer a full daily schedule with general keynote speakers, a wide range of workshops, and an exhibit hall with vendors that serve the church market.
Attorney and CPA Richard Hammar, senior editor of Church Law & Tax, will present a keynote address on key legal, tax, and risk management developments.
Dates: July 19-22, 2022
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Registration cost: Registration for TCN members is $789 if registered before May 6, 2022, then increases. Registration for nonmembers is $1,066 if registered before May 6, 2022, then increases.
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.
National Nonprofit Conference
CPA firm Batts Morrison Wales & Lee covers recent developments and trends on legal, tax, and financial topics affecting nonprofit organizations and churches through an 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: August 30, 2022
Location: Virtual
Registration cost: To be determined
More information for this invitation-only event will be available later in 2022 on the Batts Morrison Wales & Lee website.
Church Compliance Conference
Attorney Erika Cole, a senior editorial advisor for Church Law & Tax, and her firm, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, will host this one-day virtual conference for pastors and church leaders, including executive pastors, trustees, church administrators, and finance officers. Attorney and CPA Richard Hammar, senior editor of Church Law & Tax, will present a live video keynote address on key legal, tax, and risk management developments.
Date: September 22, 2022
Location: Virtual conference
Registration cost: Free
More information will be available later in 2022 on the Whiteford, Taylor & Preston website.
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: October 6-9, 2022
Location: Newport Beach, California
Registration cost: Attorney Member: $595; Non-Attorney Member: $495; Non-Member: $795; Law Student Member: $125 (all registration costs increase after July 31, 2022).
