Breakout Presentations

Sessions

Attendees are allowed to select any breakouts they believe would be interesting and beneficial. Some attendees will select breakouts that touch on a variety of topics and issues. Others may want to focus on one topic, learning as much as possible from several breakouts.

If a congregation sends multiple attendees to the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership, consider assigning each one a topic or issue. Those attendees can report back to their congregations, perhaps using what they learned to provide recommendations for congregational ministry efforts.

Below you will find breakouts that deal directly with presentation topics and issues.

Breakout Summaries 2026There are 69 breakout presentations presented by 80+ presenters. Download the breakout and professional development documents below for more information.

03. BEYOND CASH: Smarter Ways God’s People Can Give

03. BEYOND CASH: Smarter Ways God’s People Can Give

Kyle Bartsch

This breakout will show how WELS members can align their giving with both faith and wisdom ...
04. THE BUDGET IS THE PLAN: Aligning Strategy, Spending, and Stewardship

04. THE BUDGET IS THE PLAN: Aligning Strategy, Spending, and Stewardship

Janet J. Egan, CPA

This session will help attendees see their budget not merely as a spreadsheet but as a strategic ...
10. COUNTING WHAT COUNTS: Goals, Metrics, and the Spirit’s Work

10. COUNTING WHAT COUNTS: Goals, Metrics, and the Spirit’s Work

Rev. Carlos Leyrer

When handled with humility, goals and assessments can help ministries stay focused and purposeful—while leaving the results where ...
15. FAITHFUL AND FUNDED: Rethinking How We Support Lutheran Schools

15. FAITHFUL AND FUNDED: Rethinking How We Support Lutheran Schools

Paul Patterson

Participants will explore how to develop a tuition structure that balances the responsibility of the family and the meaningful ...
20. FREELY GIVEN, FREELY GIVE: Building a Culture of Gospel-Driven Generosity

20. FREELY GIVEN, FREELY GIVE: Building a Culture of Gospel-Driven Generosity

Josh Birkholz

This session will give you tools to lead with integrity and inspire giving that reflects the gospel we’ve freely ...
21. FROM 20/80 TO 100 PERCENT: Breaking the Volunteer Bottleneck

21. FROM 20/80 TO 100 PERCENT: Breaking the Volunteer Bottleneck

Rev. Frank Italiano

This breakout will inspire attendees to move beyond volunteer scarcity and toward gospel-motivated abundance in their congregation’s life and ...
Rev. Kurt Lueneburg, Rev. Daniel Wagenknecht, Patrick Ruehrdanz, & Terry Helton

37. A LEGACY OF LOVE: Inspiring Generosity that Endures Beyond This Life

Rev. Kurt Lueneburg, Rev. Daniel Wagenknecht, Patrick Ruehrdanz, & Terry Helton

This breakout session will discuss how we can inspire the ...
59. SMALL CHURCH, BIG MISSION: Making a Kingdom Impact with Limited Resources

59. SMALL CHURCH, BIG MISSION: Making a Kingdom Impact with Limited Resources

Rev. Wayne Uhlhorn

This session equips leaders of small churches—whether rural, suburban, or urban—to maximize their mission potential without overextending their ...