"Exciting changes ahead! Introducing a new-to-us learning opportunity for the Conflict Management and Congregational Leadership Certificate, designed to expand how we serve church leaders."
Historically the program learning, in partnership with Credence & Co,has been focused on serving full-time clergy able to attend daytime workshops in person, or recently online. With more churches depending on bi-vocational pastors and lay leaders, we’re introducing a new interactive webinar series featuring shorter sessions, primarily held in the evenings (EST). These sessions will provide the same high standard of learning, while recognizing the scheduling and budgetary constraints churches often face. Offered every 3-6 weeks throughout the year.
Workshops delivered 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm EST, unless noted.
Delivered online over Zoom
Pre-registration required
Rates
$60 + HST One participant
$45 + HST per person (Two – five participants from the same organization)
$30 + HST per person (Six or more participants from the same organization)
Registration can be completed individually or as a group with one payment card. See the registration link for more information.
For those pursuing the Conflict Management and Congregational Leadership certificate, completion of three webinars equals one day of electives.
Webinar descriptions can be found on this page below the following table, or click on the workshop name to be taken directly to the topic overview.
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Date (2026) |
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| Workshop Titles | All workshops 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm EST unless noted. | ||
| Discernment and Decision Making | Thursday January 29th | Betty Pries | Registration |
| Facilitating the Consensus Process | Monday, February 23rd | Betty Pries | Registration |
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Tuesday, March 10th |
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Tuesday, April 21st |
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| When Bullying happens in Church | Thursday, May 7th | Betty Pries | |
| Healthy Boundaries in Congregational Life | Wednesday, June 10 | Marg Van Herk-Paradis | |
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The following titles are intended for, but not limited to, clergy and are combined over two consecutive half-day |
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Beyond Resilience and Clergy Burnout |
February 19 & 20, 2026 9:30 am - 12:30 pm |
Registration opening soon |
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| Coming Fall 2026 | |||
| Giving and Receiving Feedback for Church Leaders | Evening, Fall 2026 |
Discernment and Decision Making
The work of the church involves making important decisions at both committee and congregational meetings. When a spirit of discernment and listening for God’s leading precedes the decisions congregations must make, these decisions are more robust and grace-filled. This workshop defines and explores discernment and decision-making, equipping congregations to strengthen their discernment and decision-making skills
Leading Congregational Meetings
A well-led meeting creates positive energy and builds momentum for the work of the church. This session invites participants to reflect on the facilitator’s role, provides tools for leading meetings well, and offers strategies for inviting differences and managing tension while minimizing unhealthy conflict. This workshop provides skills, strategies and a spirituality for nurturing healthy church cultures in the context of congregational and committee meetings.
Facilitating the Consensus Process
This workshop considers several key elements critical for effectively facilitating a consensus process, including a clear purpose for the meeting, focused discussion questions, an agenda that moves items naturally from introduction to discussion to decision, maintaining momentum and building consensus, alongside effective strategies for engaging participant comments.
Becoming Communities of Belonging: Responding to the Epidemic of Loneliness
Addressing the epidemic of loneliness is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Congregations committed to building communities of connection and care can be key players in responding to this challenge. This workshop invites participants to celebrate the ways they already nurture belonging while exploring new practices to strengthen connection-building as a Christ-like witness
Beyond Resilience & Clergy Burnout: Nurturing a Spirituality (and Structure) Supportive of Leadership Health
* intended for clergy and those in primary support roles.
Ministry can be both deeply rewarding and exhausting. This workshop invites clergy and their primary support teams into a gentle space of reflection, rest, and renewal. Together, we will explore spiritual practices and support structures that nurture resilience and sustain the call to serve with joy.
Giving and Receiving Feedback for Church Leaders
Giving and receiving feedback is difficult. This session wrestles with the conundrum of feedback, exploring the benefits and risks of these tough conversations alongside concrete strategies for managing such conversations well, especially in contexts when dynamics of power influence how feedback is given and received. In addition, this session addresses how to transform “people problems” into easier-to-solve “situation problems.”
Polarization in Congregations
It seems that polarized conversations are all around us, including in our congregations. This session considers the dynamics of polarities and the risks of either-or thinking, while proposing a concrete tools for transforming deeply entrenched differences, and embracing the power and possibility of both-and thinking.
When Bullying happens in Church
What happens when our house of faith is fractured by the behaviour of one of its own? How do we love even the hardest to love among us and at the very same time set appropriate behaviour boundaries? What does bullying in our midst tell us about the health of our congregation? This interactive and engagingsession considers how congregations can engage tough interpersonal dynamics and bullying as it is found within the church context.
Ministry from the Inside Out: Spiritual Disciplines for Ministry Leaders
How are we, as leaders, attending to our interior journeys of faith? How are we attending to our own needs for healing and transformation? How do we mindfully support the congregations and organizations we are serving? This session considers several spiritual disciplines to support healthy leadership practices.
Healthy Boundaries in Congregational Life
Ministry involves coming alongside those with whom we minister, through both the joys and challenges of life, inviting us into deep and profound interactions with those we serve. In this context, it can be challenging to define and set boundaries; yet, to do so is critical for healthy relationships. This interactive session is intended for all leaders who wish to establish healthy boundaries in the context of ministry.