Rooted in his formation in small towns and the Black Church, Brandon’s visionary leadership has spanned rural, small town and urban communities in North Carolina and Chicago.

Lindsey’s Talk: The ship may be sinking, but also – it’s on fire.

While DJ was on a training run for his marathon, he noticed a lump in his leg. One year later doctors were not able to diagnose him. For his LEAD talk, DJ will share his story of chemo, moving to disability and his evolving identity from broken to bro-kin.

Kim Montenegro lives to connect with the deep, meaningful parts of peoples lives.

Jeremy’s Talk: Lack of proper infrastructure is the unglamorous, unsexy, and absolutely essential thing that is killing many of our congregations.

Sophia Agtarap serves as the Director of Communications at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She loves exploring the interconnectedness of food and community, and the ways that we can love and serve neighbor through those intersections.

Kacie’s Talk: Teaching storytelling through design in rural areas locally and globally through the Methodist connection.

Meredith’s Talk: Collaboration is not efficient. But collaborative leadership like co-pastoring slowly moves us closer to the kingdom of God.

Ismael’s Talk: Jesus in fact embodies what cultural humility means, his kenosis should be a reminder that the “emptying of one self” should be at the center of any effort toward becoming culturally humble, and consequently culturally competent.

Ronald’s Talk: Lets talk about the realities of grieving while leading. As leaders that tension to hide our grief often leads to resentment and burnout.

Andy’s Talk: In a culture of nonstop growth, churches have a unique role in creating small groups that allow for vulnerability and storytelling.

Kate’s talk with Jenny Smith: Healthy collaboration is all about a fierce trust in God, our own soul work, each other and the work we share.

Jenny and Kate Kilroy’s talk: Healthy collaboration is all about a fierce trust in God, our own soul work, each other and the work we share.

Lorrin’s Talk: Resurrection Hope: Church Closure and a Faithful Future

Michelle’s Talk: The willingness to collaboratively translate worship in spaces that people love & places where people are is critical for Church’s future.

Dottie’s talk: Now is the time to dream a new Methodist movement. We can dream courageously instead of accepting incremental change.