Leadership Matrix 

Matrix--  “something within or from which something else originates, develops, or takes form.”…

Bring your pastors and volunteer leaders for a day of teaching, training and networking.  The purpose of Leadership Matrix is to develop strong and healthy leaders within the congregation, so that your church is empowered and equipped to lead out in mission and ministry in your community.  Registration is $35 per person.  For four or more people from one church, the registration is $30 per person.   

Schedule:

9:00 am                  Registration and coffee

9:30 am                  Plenary session with Dave Kersten

                               For The Joy Set Before Us - The Interior Life of a Leader (Heb 12:1-3)

10:30 am                Morning Workshops 

12:00 pm                Lunch/Networking/Fellowship

1:30 pm                  Plenary session with Lenore Three Stars

                               Following Jesus in a White Man's Church - a Native American

                               Woman's Perspective    

2:30 pm                  Afternoon Workshops 

Keynote speakers:

Dave Kersten is Executive Minister of the Department of the Ordered Ministry.  Prior to beginning his first term as executive minister in 2001, Dave served as pastor at Evangelical Covenant Church of Evanston, Illinois; Greenwood Evangelical Covenant Church of Summerdale, Alabama; Bethany Evangelical Covenant Church of Miami, Florida, Highland Covenant Church of Bellevue, Washington and First Covenant Church of St. Paul, Minnesota.  Dave is married to Sandi, a gifted musician whose instrument is the harp.  Together they have two daughters, Genevieve and Andrea, a son, Peter, and a granddaughter, Linnea. 

Lenore Three Stars is Oglala Sioux, born on the Pine Ridge Reservation, SD.  She is currently active as a Women Ministries ministry coach providing leadership training; a part-time grad student in the North American Indigenous Institute of Theological Studies; and a board officer for a nonprofit that seeks to preserve native culture through the arts and community building, a member of the NPC Executive Board, and a Journey to Mosaic facilitator.  In 2011, she retired from 30 years of work in civil rights for the federal government and moved to eastern Washington to be near her takojas (grandchildren).

Seminars:   

Prophetic Worship: How To Cultivate A Musical Language Of Transformation and Hope—Led by Rev. Gail Song Bantum.  This session will be for those who lead musical worship on a week to week basis and/or for those who are responsible for the overall worship life of their church.  Gail is a pastor at Quest Church, Seattle.

Leading and Growing a Church through the changing Seasons:  Healthy Principles for Congregational Vitality—Led by Rev. Don Robinson. Every church can learn to be a healthy and missional congregation utilizing insights and principles from both church planting and congregational vitality.  This seminar will show how churches can plant, grow, harvest, and share throughout the seasons of church life.  Don is NPC Associate Superintendent.

Human Sexuality: A Pastoral and Congregational Approach—Led by Rev. Dave Kersten.  This seminar is an introduction to the Covenant Church’s work on Biblical and theological discernment of God in human sexuality.  When these issues come to your church, how will you respond?  Explore real-life case studies from Covenant pastors and congregation to help you be prepared.  Dave is Executive minister of the Covenant Department of Ordered Ministry (Chicago).

It’s No Sin to Hurt:  How the Church can Help, Not Shoot, Their Wounded—Led by Rev. Roland Hairston, PsyD.  The toll taken by emotional illness permeates all levels of the church—from pastors and church leaders to visitors who hope to find help in the church.  This seminar will help you understand the widespread nature of and prejudice toward mental illness in the church. Dr. Hairston will share tools for responding and ministering most effectively.  Roland is a pastor and clinical psychologist in Seattle.

Choose Life, Part 1—Led by Rev. Byron Amundsen.  Deut 30:19b “I place before you Life and Death, Blessing and Curse. Choose life so that you and your children will live.”  Just as Moses challenges the people of God to Choose Life, so do those among us that have a desire to serve the Lord internationally. In this session we will explore best practices for churches sending people overseas (or just South of the border). How do we practice due diligence in our standard of care for those we send?  We will talk about stuff you may have never considered important.  Like… “Who Ya Gonna Call” when one of your group is kidnapped? Our insurance covers that…doesn’t it? We want to go bungee jumping! Why are they whistling at Mark? Byron is Director of Administration and Finance in the ECC Dept. of World Mission.

Choose Life, Part 2—Led by Rev. Byron Amundsen.  The wide world is a wild, wonderful and often dangerous place in which to travel and work; once a person goes out there no one can protect them except the Lord. But you can do things to lessen the hazards and increase your survival rate if and when an event happens. In our session we will identify security concerns of participants, introduce a simple problem solving model and explore contingency plans for short term teams and missionaries sent by your church. 

Where Have all the Young Adults Gone?—Led by Rev. Marti Burger.   Young adult ministry is on the hearts of many in the church. Join us for a conversation that looks at some of the new initiatives for ministry with young adults.  Marti is Director of Youth and Family Ministries for the ECC.

Generosity…Why?—Led by Rev. Mark Novak.  Does your heart of compassion dictate how you spend your resources or do your resources determine the amount of your compassion? We will explore how our past can inform our future in light of the common struggle of diminished resources.  Mark is Superintendent of the NPC.

Reflecting God’s Kingdom: Engaging Children and Youth with Race—Led by Eric Landin and Caenisha Warren.  How much do children really understand about race?  How about you as a youth leader?  Perhaps you’re on the same journey as your students…maybe you’re only one step ahead of them.  This seminar will help you chart a path for helping you and your students in developing racial identity. Eric is Director of Youth and Children's Ministries at Cedarcreek Covenant Church (Maple Valley, Wa.). Caenisha is a member of Quest Church (Seattle, Wa.) and is Coordinator for Events and Student Clubs at Seattle Pacific University’s John Perkins Center for Reconciliation.

Paul and Silas Went to Prison.  Now it’s Our Turn! – Led by Mark Hubbell.  Last year, the Evangelical Covenant Church adopted a resolution on criminal justice exhorting congregations to engage in ministry to those touched by crime.  This is a ripe ministry field, but one unfamiliar to most of us.  This session offers a practical look at prison ministry and practical ways that churches can effectively minister to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. Mark is Executive Director for Prison Fellowship in the Pacific Northwest and a member of Trinity Covenant Church (Salem, Ore.)

Leadership... What is your style? —Led by Rev. Marti Burger.   Chemistry, strategy, or spirituality are three areas that help define our leadership style. Understanding our areas of strengthen and areas where we can grow helps us to become a more effective leader. Join us for a time of discussion and discernment!  Prior to attending the Learning Experience please take the on line matrix www.leadershipstool.com/youthpastor.phpPlease print your results and bring with you.  Marti is Director of Youth and Family Ministries for the ECC.

Staff Meetings: Commitment, Synergy, and Communication—Led by Rev. John Hamblen.  This session will look at the ingredients for great staff meetings by answering three basic questions;   1) What are we committed to?  2) How do we work together?  3) What do we do? John is the Associate Pastor of Administration and Christian Formation at Kent Covenant Church.

Missionary:  Jamie Rose—Covenant Youth of Alaska :  Serving with CYAK’s Arriga ministry with University students