The theme for our 2024 convention is “Unleash New Leaders.” Why? Continuing to explore our Disciple-Making Church vision, we want to dig into another one of the four senior objectives during the 2026 convention. In previous conventions, we covered “Call to Follow” (2022) and "Partner in Mission" (2024). The third objective as a disciple-making Church is "Unleash New Leaders." Not just young leaders, but leaders of all ages. Whether they are teens, young adults, young parents, single adults, men, women, or retirees, potential new leaders are all around us. As pastors and church leaders, we must get to know the people of our churches, identify potential, and disciple them as future leaders. How do we do that? That's what this convention is all about. How does God call? What are the characteristics of Christian leaders? And how can the Church shape and prepare them for leadership?

Peruse the "leadership" section at your local bookstore and odds are you'll discover a strange mix of self-improvement and entrepreneurship resources. These days the word seems to refer more readily to building an audience than serving one. This means that Christians often encounter significant headwinds when making the case for an upside-down model of cruciform leadership (and the endless opportunities for growth and healing it brings!). Yet as the wider world burns out on the empty promises of Influencing, the church has an opportunity to showcase a more hopeful and enticing alternative, one based in and shaped by the grace of God. Our sessions will trace the contours of what grace-fueled leadership looks like in our ever-accelerating (and ever-saddening) world, demonstrating how effective this sorely needed posture can be, especially when it comes to discipling the new leaders in our midst.