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

01. THE ART OF LISTENING AND ASKING QUESTIONS: Unlocking the Heart of Ministry
Cindy Jansen
This breakout session is an energizing invitation to rediscover two core leadership skills: asking masterful questions and listening with ...
02. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE CHURCH: Embracing Tools, Avoiding Traps
Ryan Kirchoff
Through discussion, reflection, and real-life examples, we’ll consider both the practical ministry opportunities and the potential pitfalls that come ...
05. BUILDING A COHESIVE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM: Leading Together in Lutheran Education
Jim Rademan & Jamie Walta
Participants will explore how to align around a clear mission and vision, ensuring that all leaders—both ...
07. CLARIFYING CLERGY AND LAY ROLES: Leading Together in the Life of the Church
Rev. Mark Gabb & Sean Young
Participants will learn how to develop a culture of collaboration, maintain pastoral focus on the ...
09. COMMUNICATING YOUR MISSION WITH CLARITY: Branding, Messaging, and Community Connection
Dr. Jeff Lemke
This session helps congregations, schools, and Christian organizations define and communicate their identity in Christ with purpose and ...
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 ...
11. DEVELOPING A CLEAR PATH OF DISCIPLESHIP: A Proven Process for Congregational Membership and Leadership Development
Rev. Matt Vogt
This breakout equips pastors and congregational leaders to design a customized “path of discipleship” for their unique ministry ...
13. THE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT LEADER: Managing Yourself to Lead Others
Dr. Karen Fischer
This session explores how leaders can grow in emotional self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation in order to lead others ...
18. THE FOCUS TAX: How Much Are You Paying?
Kurt Nitz
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or simply want to work more intentionally, this breakout will give you practical tools to ...
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 ...
25. FROM ORGANIC TO ORGANIZED: How Leadership and Operations Must Evolve as Churches Grow
Rev. Dennis Klatt
As congregations grow or contract in the number of souls and forms of gospel ministry, they may need ...
27. FROM TALK TO TRACTION: Making All Ministry Teams More Effective
Dr. Todd Russ
Participants will learn how to design efficient, purpose-driven meetings that end with clear, actionable outcomes ...
29. THE GRACE TO LEAD CHANGE WELL: Navigating Transition Without Losing Mission or People
Rev. Don Sutton
This session will explore how to overcome resistance, sustain hope, and create cultures where curiosity is encouraged—so teams ...
35. LEADERSHIP AS INFLUENCE: Shaping Culture and Lives Without a Title
Rachel Halldorson & Rev. Ben Kratz
This session helps participants understand the power of influence—how their words, actions, and presence can ...
36. LEADING WITH CONSENSUS IN YOUR CHURCH: From Votes to Voices
Rev. Jonathan Schroeder
This session will help you understand how to lead with consensus while remaining fully grounded in biblical principles ...
44. PLANNING THAT WORKS: Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Planning
John Rathje
This session will explore how to involve the right people in each type of planning, how to communicate plans ...
49. PROBLEM-SOLVING AS CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP: Balancing Faith, Wisdom, and Action
Brent Nemmers
Participants will learn practical ways to identify issues, weigh options, navigate difficult conversations, and build consensus for lasting solutions ...
56. SERVANT LEADERS: Young Adults Modeling Christ’s Way
Jeremy Bock
This session features a panel of young adults who will share personal experiences of what it means to live ...
58. SHADOW OF THE LEADER: Using the Culture Change Course Map
Kurt Nitz
This breakout will go through those Post Workshop Resources, including a detailed walkthrough of the Culture Change Course Map, ...
60. STAFFING FOR MISSION: When to Add Staff and How to Choose the Right Role
Nathan Paul
This session helps church leaders move beyond assumptions to staffing decisions that are clear, strategic, and mission driven ...
63. VISION THAT INSPIRES SERVICE: Communicating a Christ-Centered Future in Ways that Move God’s People to Action
Dr. Stacy Jensen
Participants will learn how to shape vision in ways that are firmly grounded in God’s Word, inspired by ...
64. THE WEIGHT AND THE WONDER: Dealing with Guilt in Ministry
Rev. Don Patterson
This session will explore the biblical foundation for resilience in ministry, especially as it relates to the church ...