Henderson Leadership Conference 2025

“Faithful and Flexible: Empowering Church Leaders for Emerging Possibilities"

Sept. 19-20, 2025

"Faithful and Flexible: Empowering Church Leaders for Emerging Possibilities" is a two-day conference designed to equip church leaders for faithful and adaptive leadership in today’s rapidly changing ministry contexts. This year’s Henderson Lectures will be given by the Rev. Dr. Tod Bolsinger, an influential voice on adaptive leadership in the church. Bring a team of leaders—lay and clergy, paid and volunteer—to gain tools and insights to navigate disruption, build resilient teams, and lead transformative change in your congregation with both conviction and creativity. Workshop topics will explore relational, technical, and spiritual adaptations necessary for today’s church.

REGISTRATION COSTS

Lecture, reception, and book signing (Sept. 19, 6:30-9:00 p.m.) – FREE in person or online

Henderson Leadership Conference (Sept. 19, 1:00 p.m. to Sept. 20, 4:15 p.m., including Friday’s lecture, reception, and book signing)

Attend In Person: $100*
- Includes all sessions on both days, and 3 meals (register by Sept. 9 to guarantee any needed dietary accommodations)
- Access the recordings of all three Friday sessions with Tod Bolsinger 3-5 weeks after the conference

Attend Online: $50
- Includes online streaming of all Friday sessions, Saturday worship, and some workshops.
- Access the recordings of all three Friday sessions with Tod Bolsinger 3-5 weeks after the conference

*Purchase 4 registrations and get the 5^th free! All 5 must be within the same transaction to be eligible at checkout.*

Registration

Lecture Only

Click here to register for Henderson Lecture Only - In-Person or Online

Full Conference

Click here to register for Full Henderson Conference - In-Person (register by Sept. 9 to guarantee any needed dietary accommodations)

Click here to register for Full Henderson Conference - Online

Presenters

The Rev. Dr. Tod Bolsinger is the co-founder and principal of AE Sloan Leadership Inc., an executive coaching and consulting firm that works with church, non-profit, university, and marketplace leaders in leading change. He is also the executive director of the DePree Center Church Leadership Institute, a senior fellow of the De Pree Center for Leadership, associate professor of leadership formation at Fuller Theological Seminary, was the founder of the Fuller Leadership Platform, and served as a vice president at Fuller Seminary for six years. Prior to his educational career, he served as a pastor for 27 years. Dr. Bolsinger has written several books about leadership, including Canoeing the Mountains, Tempered Resilience, and the Practicing Change Series consisting of four succinct and actionable leadership books.

ADDITIONAL PRESENTERS

Saturday Morning Preacher

The Rev. Ross Pryor, Connellsville and Washington Districts Superintendent of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church

Confirmed Workshop Leaders

Sister Maria Clara Kreis, CDP, PhD., L.P., Psychologist, Consultant, and Presenter, Sisters of Divine Providence

Erica Rushing, Communications and Publications Director, The Fellowship of Worship Artists

The Rev. Anthony Hita '13, Principal, Archway Preservation, Ordained United Methodist Minister

Lisa Hosack, Assistant Dean and Professor of Social Work, Grove City College

The Rev. Karie Charlton '08, PCUSA Minister of Word and Sacrament, Pittsburgh Presbytery, Leader of Pittsburgh Chapter of Days for Girls

Hunter Steinitz '22, Co-Moderator, Presbyterians for Disability Concerns

Schedule

Fri., Sept. 19

(LS): Livestreaming as webinar available for registered participants

(Rec.): Recording available 3-5 weeks after the Conference for registered participants


12:00-1:00 p.m.	Check in / Registration	Knox Room
1:00-2:15 p.m.	Session 1 with Tod Bolsinger How Not To Waste a Crisis: Leadership in an Age of Disruption This session introduces the concept and practices of adaptive leadership as a different approach and skill set that can be learned by leaders when their old best-practices no longer work.	Knox Room (LS) (Rec.)
2:15-2:45 p.m.	Break
2:45-4:00 p.m.	Session 2 with Tod Bolsinger From Trust to Transformation: Building a Team to Go Off the Map This session focuses on the adaptive change process that is needed by "Corps of Discovery" who continue the mission in the face of a changing landscape.	Knox Room (LS) (Rec.)
4:00-5:00 p.m.	Kelso Museum and Barbour Library Open	Long Hall Ground Floor, Barbour Library
5:00-6:30 p.m.	Dinner (for full conference registrants)	Knox Room
6:15-6:30 p.m.	Gathering Praise Music	Chapel Sanctuary (LS) (Rec.)
6:30-8:00 p.m.	Henderson Lecture with Tod Bolsinger The (Unexpected) and Most Important Aspect of Leadership This session is both profoundly personal and unexpectedly universal--but very few leaders have ever been taught about it at all. In this lecture we will take a clear-eyed look at what Edwin Friedman called "The most important aspect of leadership," and how to prepare for it, and be ready to respond faithfully. Whether you are exercising leadership within your family, community, church, organization, or even corporation or nation, the key to effective leadership that unlocks deep transformation starts here.	Chapel Sanctuary (LS) (Rec.)
8:00-9:00 p.m.	Reception and Book Signing	Chapel lounge

Sat., Sept. 20


8:00-9:00 a.m.	Breakfast	Knox Room
9:00-9:45 a.m.	Opening Worship Preaching: The Rev. Ross Pryor, Connellsville and Washington Districts Superintendent, WPAUMC	Knox Room (LS)
9:45-10:00 a.m.	Break
10:00-11:30 a.m.	Workshops A	Long Hall, McNaugher Hall (LS subject to presenters’ approvals)
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	Lunch	Kadel Dining Room
12:30-2:00 p.m.	Workshops B	Long Hall, McNaugher Hall (LS subject to presenters’ approvals)
2:00-2:15 p.m.	Break
2:15-3:45 p.m.	Workshops C	Long Hall, McNaugher Hall (LS subject to presenters’ approvals)
3:45-4:15 p.m.	Closing Worship	Knox Room (LS)

LODGING INFORMATION

Campus Housing at PTS: $66/night

More info and availability: www.pts.edu/Guest_Housing

Hotel Indigo East Liberty: $149/night (discounted conference rate)

To make your reservation, call 1-800-BRAND, or the property directly at 412-665-0555, and identify yourself as a member of the PTS Conference group when making the reservation. All reservations must be received by Aug. 20, 2025. Reservations made after the cut-off date will be subject to availability and the best available rate.

Questions

Please contact or call 412-924-1345.