I would like to first thank my friend Robert Carnes for doing the large majority of the work compiling this list. As a special thanks to him for saving you time and effort, it would be great if you purchased his books The Story Cycle: Your Business Guide To Better Marketing and The Original Storyteller: Become A Better Storyteller in 30 Days. These resources will help you be a better preacher and communicator.
Now, another year, another fresh batch of church leadership conferences for you to attend. But as always, there are more events than you have the time or patience to attend. You need to carefully select the best conferences that fit your budget and schedule.
We’ve published the top list of church conferences to attend in 2020, 2021, and 2022. If you’ve read those lists, this one will look fairly similar. Most of the best leadership conferences recur annually and many church leaders have their favorites.
Not sure which conferences to try or looking for a new event to try out in 2023? Here are some of the best church leadership conferences you can attend this year, listed chronologically.
1. Disciple Making Summit 2023
- January 27-28, 2023
- Sharpsburg, Georgia
- Cost: $30
- Hosted by Impact Discipleship Ministries
The Disciple Making Summit returns to Metro Atlanta in 2023 with the goal of equipping church leaders across the country. The event includes three main sessions, a collection of breakouts, pre-summit seminars, and more than 15 speakers.
2. Building A Killer Team
- January 31, 2023
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Cost: $129 online registration, $149 walk-up
- Hosted by Shawn Lovejoy and the Courage To Lead team
In this event you will learn the framework and systems you need to move your team from where you are to you are designed to be: Foster Togetherness, Bolster Accountability, Recruit and Keep Your Best Talent, Structure for Growth & Peace, and Maintain Rhythms & Finish Lines.
3. Unleash Conference
- January 31-February 2, 2023
- Orlando, Florida
- Cost: $99-224
- Digital options available
- Hosted by Converge
Unleash is “a conference focused on growing every ministry and leader in your church.” The conference offers workshops for senior leaders, kids & student ministry, worship, hospitality, missions, communications, and more. It’s organized by Converge—a 165-year-old movement of churches encouraging churches to work together.
4. Christ Fellowship Conference
- February 8-9, 2023
- Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Cost: $179, Group rates are available
- Hosted by Christ Fellowship Church
This conference is designed to encourage and equip you and your team for this new era of ministry. There will be inspiring messages, practical training, breakouts covering ever aspect of ministry, helpful resources, networking opportunities, and a special senior pastor experience.
5. C3 Conference
- February 15-16, 2023
- Dallas, Texas
- Cost: $199
- Hosted by Fellowship Church
The three Cs in the conference name stand for the Creative Church Conference. The event’s website describes it as “a gathering for the bold ones… risk takers and the world changers.” Over two days, the C3 Conference will feature 6 main sessions, 4 smaller sessions, and 9 big-name speakers.
6. Engage Conference
- March 1-2, 2023
- Online Conference
- Cost: Free
The Engage Conference is a free online event, focusing on tech strategies for ministry growth. The event features more than 20 digital breakouts on topics including social media, volunteers, design, community, and leadership. For an enhanced experience, check out the all-access pass that also includes live coaching calls, audio access, breakout sessions, and a team workshop for $297.
7. Renegade Pastors Conference
- March 1-3, 2023
- Orlando, Florida
- Cost: $149 Early Bird Rate plus free for your spouse with your special code: DODD2023
This has been an incredibly difficult time in ministry, and 2023 will have its own challenges as well. But you are not alone and you are a click away from being a part of the most critical training event you could attend in 2023. This conference put on by Nelson Searcy and the Church Leader Insights team is strategically timed in the first part of the year to help you discover and implement leadership strategies that will position you to grow throughout the year.
8. Exponential Conference
- March 6-9, 2023
- Orlando, Florida
- Cost: $159
- Theme: Lost Cause: Reviving Evangelism
The 2023 theme for the Exponential Conference centers around reviving the idea of evangelism to allow church planters to continue doing their work around the world. Exponential boasts over 200 speakers, 150 workshops, networking, and a bevy of free resources. Besides their main event in Orlando, Exponential creates a number of resources for church planters throughout the year.
9. Church Leaders Conference
- May 2-4, 2023
- Dallas, Texas
- Cost: $209
- Hosted by Watermark Church
Since 2016, Watermark Church has hosted the annual Church Leaders Conference at its main campus in Dallas. Whether you’re the senior pastor or a Sunday school teacher, this event has content relevant to you—everything from speakers, workshops, worship and more.
10. The Outcomes Conference
- March 28-30, 2023
- Chicago, Illinois
- Cost: $849 for members; $1,049 for non-members
- Hosted by the Christian Leadership Alliance
Every year, the Outcomes Conference helps Christian nonprofit, church, educational, and business leaders to “Increase capacity, connect deeply, be inspired, and learn to lead more like Jesus.” In 2023, the event will be held at The Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago.
11. Soar Conference
- April 21-22, 2023
- Florence, Kentucky
- Hosted by the Christian Church Leadership Network
The Soar Conference aims to help build leadership specifically in small- and medium-sized churches. Topics covered will include self-leadership, preaching, leading your family, and leading other leaders. This conference is hosted by the CCL Network, which advances “the health, vitality, and growth of the church and its leaders by providing biblical training, coaching, and consulting.”
12. Orange Conference
- April 26-28, 2023
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Cost: $319
- Digital options available
- Theme: Keeping Faith Alive
Orange’s annual conference is for all kinds of church leaders and helps spread the word about the other church resources the organization creates. The 2023 theme focuses on keeping the faith alive every day of the week and for each new generation. Breakouts are broken down by kids ministry, student ministry, and family ministry.
13. Rethink Leadership
- April 26-28, 2023
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Cost: $319
- Hosted by Orange
Happening simultaneously with the Orange Conference (and conveniently close by), Rethink Leadership is for senior pastors. It’s more exclusive and intimate and addresses topics that top church leaders think about, like innovation, diversity, legacy, and community. The goal is to align senior leaders with what their family ministry teams are learning at OC23.
14. ARC Conference
- April 26-27, 2022
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Hosted by Church of the Highlands
- Cost: $195
This is the annual gathering for the ARC (or the Association of Related Churches), but it’s open to other church planters, pastors, and leaders. Which is appropriate given that the conference is all about not doing ministry alone and helping local churches to thrive. The event is being held both at the Church of the Highlands Grants Mill location and at Highlands College, both in Birmingham.
15. Leadercast Live
- May 4, 2023
- Newport, Kentucky
- Hybrid attendance: watch in person or at a local host site
- Theme: Human Intelligence
Leadercast is for more than just church leaders—their target audience includes any business or industry leader. In contrast to artificial intelligence, this year’s Leadercast is all about human intelligence, because leadership isn’t artificial. The live event will take place in Kentucky, but there are also a number of host sites where attendees can watch the broadcast in large groups together.
16. First Impressions Conference
- May 10-12, 2023
- Online
- Cost: $99 but small church scholarships are available
One of two conferences Greg Atkinson and his team are putting on this year, learn to welcome the newcomer, show unconditional love and acceptance, and create welcoming environments. Join dozens of top speakers and practitioners for this virtual experience and free conference which will help you reach, keep, and engage with your guests.
17. Lift Creative Conference
- May 18-19, 2023
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Cost: $129
- Hosted by Passion City Church
If your role in the church is creative—think worship leader, graphic designer, or production—this is the conference for you. Hosted by Passion City Church in Atlanta, this annual event dives deep into the details involved with making the creative elements of your church happen.
18. Vous Conference
- June 15-18, 2023
- Miami, Florida
- Cost: $189
- Theme: A New Iteration
Located in Miami, Vous Church hosts this annual gathering of church leaders, “designed to champion the cause of the local church.” This four-day event includes leadership sessions, as well as a worship session. 2023 marks the 13th anniversary of the event and Vous Church is rethinking the conference as a new iteration of what they’ve done in the past.
19. BLDRS Conference
- July 11-12, 2023
- Glen Burnie, Maryland
- Cost: $125, Group cost is $110
- Theme: Building Is Messy
- Hosted by Pastor Stephen Chandler and Union Church
BLDRS Conference exists to train and equip pastors and ministry leaders that want to be extraordinary; willing to get messy to achieve all that God has set before them. Through the difficulties, the highs, and the lows, God has called each of us to build beyond our biggest setbacks. He has called you to build amidst the mess. Will you accept the challenge? Learn to develop healthy and transformative churches that impact families and generations to come.
20. The Global Leadership Summit
- August 3-4, 2023
- South Barrington, Illinois
- Hybrid attendance: watch online or at a host site
- Cost: $179
Similar to Leadercast Live, GLS is a wider-reaching leadership conference that’s simulcast to many host locations around the nation. The target audience for the event is business leaders, CEOs, pastors, teachers, and entrepreneurs—anyone looking to grow their leadership.
21. Refuel
- October 16-17, 2023
- Lynchburg, Virginia
- Hosted by Thomas Road Baptist Church
If you’re a church leader, you know how exhausting it can be. Everyone needs a chance to refuel and recharge with some learning. That’s the goal of the Refuel Conference. Refuel will also be hosting a series of one-day events during the year in Chicago, Pittsburg, Indianapolis, and more.
Which conferences are you looking forward to?
About Robert Carnes
Robert Carnes is former church communication and nonprofit marketing professional. He leads marketing strategy for GreenMellen, a digital marketing agency in Atlanta. He’s also the author of two books, including The Original Storyteller and The Story Cycle. For help with digital marketing or storytelling, reach out to him on social media @jamrobcar.