Henderson Lecture and Leadership Conference 2026
From Empty Nets to Overflowing Impact: Discovering God’s Abundance Through Stewardship
Nov. 17-18, 2026
In a time when many congregations are navigating financial strain, shifting demographics, and urgent community needs, this lecture invites faith leaders to move beyond scarcity thinking and recover a theology of abundance rooted in the gospel. Drawing from Fishing Differently, the Rev. Dr. Sidney S. Williams Jr. will explore how churches can reimagine stewardship, leverage sacred assets, and build sustainable models for social impact. The lecture will challenge leaders to see fundraising not merely as a financial necessity, but as a spiritual practice of aligning resources with mission, cultivating community partnerships, and participating in God’s work of transformation.
REGISTRATION COSTS
Lecture, reception, and book signing (Nov. 17, 6:15-9:00 p.m.) – FREE in person or online
Henderson Leadership Conference (Nov. 17, 12:00 p.m. to Nov. 18, 12:00 p.m., including Wednesday’s lecture, reception, and book signing)
- Attend In Person: $150 ($125 if registered by Oct. 11)
- Includes all sessions on both days, dinner, and breakfast (register ASAP to guarantee any needed dietary accommodations)
- Access to the recordings of all Conference lectures in the weeks following the conference
- Attend Online: $50
- Includes online streaming of all lecture sessions, worship, and some workshops
- Access the recordings of all Conference lectures in the weeks following the conference
Purchase 4 registrations and get the 5th free! All 5 must be within the same transaction to be eligible at checkout.
Registration
Registration is opening soon!
Presenters
Main Lecturer
The Rev. Dr. Sidney S. Williams Jr., President and CEO of Crossing Capital Group and chairman of the Oikos Institute for Social Impact, is a visionary leader with expertise in corporate finance, community development, and faith-based empowerment. He holds degrees from Howard University, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Wesley Theological Seminary, and Payne Theological Seminary. Over his career, Dr. Williams has facilitated more than $10 billion in equity and debt offerings and advised Fortune 500 executives on strategic initiatives. As senior pastor of Bethel Church in Morristown, he has spearheaded initiatives addressing homelessness, education, and food insecurity, mobilizing thousands of volunteers. Through his innovative F.I.S.H. framework and leadership at the Oikos Institute, he empowers faith leaders and HBCUs to achieve transformative social and economic impact. An accomplished author and thought leader, Dr. Williams continues to inspire meaningful change through strategic vision, community engagement, and solutions that bridge corporate and faith-based leadership.
ADDITIONAL PRESENTERS
Lecturers
The Rev. Dr. Eileen Lindner, Retired Presbyterian Minister
The Rev. Zoë Garry, Associate Pastor, Church of the Covenant, Cleveland, Ohio
Workshop Leaders
Brett Fulesday, Director, Valuation Services, CFGI
Mindy and Nathan Heimer, Owners and Founders, A Stoked Life
The Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter, Pastor, Speaker, Writer, Advocate, and Consultant
The Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley '00, Ministry Relations Officer, Presbyterian Foundation
The Rev. Jenelle Holmes, Organizing Pastor, Ormewood Church (Atlanta, Ga.)
AIM Lunch Speakers
The Rev. Michael Gehrling '08, Associate for Assessments/Recruitment, 1001 New Worshiping Communities
The Rev. Jeya So, Associate for Training, 1001 New Worshiping Communities
Schedule
The Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology welcomes you to PTS.
The museum is open Nov. 17-18, 9:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Tours are available by request. The museum is also open Nov. 19, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
(LS): Livestreaming as webinar available for registered participants
(Rec.): Recording available 3-5 weeks after the Conference for registered participants
Tues., Nov. 17
| 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Check in / Registration | Knox Room |
| 12:15-1:15 p.m. |
AIM Lunch with 1001 New Worshiping Communities (optional) |
McNaugher Lounge |
| 1:15-1:30 p.m. | Welcome | Knox Room |
| 1:45-3:15 p.m. |
Workshops A |
Long Hall classrooms 1 workshop Hybrid via Zoom |
| 3:15-3:30 p.m. | Break | |
| 3:30-5:00 p.m. | Workshops B |
Long Hall classrooms 1 workshop Hybrid via Zoom |
| 5:00-6:30 p.m. | Dinner (for full conference registrants) |
Kadel |
| 6:15-6:30 p.m. |
Gathering Praise Music |
Chapel Sanctuary (LS) (Rec.) |
| 6:30-8:00 p.m. |
Henderson Lecture with Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams Fishing Differently: A Theology of Abundance, Stewardship, and Social Impact |
Chapel Sanctuary (LS) (Rec.) |
| 8:00-9:00 p.m. | Reception and Book Signing | Chapel lounge |
Wed., Nov. 18
| 8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
Knox Room |
| 9:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. |
Community Partnerships and Finding Grants |
Knox Room |
| 10:00-10:30 a.m. | Break |
Knox Room |
| 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Mosaic Funding Presenter: The Rev. Zoë Garry |
Knox Room |
| 11:30 a.m-12:00 p.m. | Chapel |
Chapel Santuary |
| 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Lunch |
McNaugher Lounge Only for those doing Lake Institute Certificate |
Workshops
Workshops A: 1:45-3:15 P.M.
|
Title |
Description |
Presenter |
Online Option? |
|
12 Ways to Build a Better Budget |
The process of preparing a budget can be fraught with difficulty—and no one, whether nonprofit leadership or board members, is spared. However, steps can be taken to make the process more tolerable--or even to improve the process. This interactive workshop covers which software programs should and should not be used to prepare a budget—and why, why the visual presentation of the budget matters, and how the budget can best withstand board scrutiny. |
Brett Fulesday |
No |
|
Business As Mission |
Come hear about what it looks like to run a business as mission! It’s time to get creative about how to fund your ministry. During this session we’ll talk about the ins and outs of starting a business, how to incorporate your mission, and give you the space to let your dreams and creativity thrive! Participants in this workshop will learn how to start a business and will discover a hidden potential. |
Nathan and Mindy Heimer | Yes |
| Our Relationship to Money: Trauma, Free-enterprise, and Spiritual Calling | We live in a culture where the ability to earn money is often the first measure of ones value and success. As people called to serve God, the church, and others, we compelled to hold different priorities. This conflict can lead to a trauma-based orientation to money. To be effective fundraisers and community developers, we need to address and reorient this relationship. Workshop participants will understand how our calling and our culture may conflict in terms of money, success, and generosity; examine the way that conflict leads to a trauma orientation; and Identify practices and principals that can adjust that paradigm. | The Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter | No |
| Asset-Based Stewardship for the Small Membership Church | Your small church isn't broken — it's built for something beautiful. Join the Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley for a workshop that will help your congregation shift from scarcity to abundance by discovering the powerful assets you already have. Walk away with practical, homegrown strategies to activate your leaders, tell your stories, and move from surviving to thriving. All are welcome—bring your questions, your stories, and your hope. Participants will begin to identify and activate your congregation's unique assets; shift from a scarcity mindset to a theology of abundance; and design a homegrown stewardship approach that fits your context. | The Rev. Ellie Johns-Kelley | No |
| Building Potential through Building Proximity | Participants in this workshop will explore ways to use your buildings and property to develop relationships, attract users/renters, and diversify your income. Your physical proximity to neighbors, businesses, and neighborhood or community goals is a gift for funding your ministries and mission. Participants will walk away from this workshop with tools for re-thinking their property and building income potential, a fresh understanding of the relational nature of managing a church property, and ways to use physical proximity as a financial component for budgeting. | The Rev. Jenelle Holmes |
No |
Workshops B: 3:30-5:00 P.M.
|
Title |
Description |
Presenter |
Online Option? |
| 12 Ways to Build a Better Budget | The process of preparing a budget can be fraught with difficulty—and no one, whether nonprofit leadership or board members, is spared. However, steps can be taken to make the process more tolerable—or even to improve the process. This interactive workshop covers which software programs should and should not be used to prepare a budget—and why the visual presentation of the budget matters, and how the budget can best withstand board scrutiny. | Brett Fulesday | No |
| Business as Mission | Come hear about what it looks like to run a business as mission! It’s time to get creative about how to fund your ministry. During this session we’ll talk about the ins and outs of starting a business, how to incorporate your mission, and give you the space to let your dreams and creativity thrive! Participants in this workshop will learn how to start a business and will discover a hidden potential. | Nathan and Mindy Heimer | Yes |
| Our Relationship to Money: Trauma, Free-enterprise, and Spiritual Calling | We live in a culture where the ability to earn money is often the first measure of ones value and success. As people called to serve God, the church, and others, we are compelled to hold different priorities. This conflict can lead to a trauma-based orientation to money. To be effective fundraisers and community developers, we need to address and reorient this relationship. Workshop participants will understand how our calling and our culture may conflict in terms of money, success, and generosity; examine the way that conflict leads to a trauma orientation; and identify practices and principals that can adjust that paradigm. | The Rev. Laura Beth Buchleiter | No |
| Building Potential through Building Proximity | Participants in this workshop will explore ways to use your buildings and property to develop relationships, attract users/renters, and diversify your income. Your physical proximity to neighbors, businesses, and neighborhood or community goals is a gift for funding your ministries and mission. Participants will walk away from this workshop with tools for re-thinking their property and building income potential, a fresh understanding of the relational nature of managing a church property, and ways to use physical proximity as a financial component for budgeting. | The Rev. Jenelle Holmes | No |
LODGING INFORMATION
Campus Housing at PTS: $66/night
For more info and availability, visit: www.pts.edu/Guest_Housing
Questions
Please contact or call 412-924-1345.