LWPT Leadership Conference 2026 for Preachers and Church Leaders
About this Event
Deepening preaching, developing leadership
Join the Leaders of Worship and Preachers Trust (LWPT) for a dedicated day of learning, reflection, and encouragement for preachers and those serving in ministry.
The LWPT Leadership Conference brings together our alumni alongside preachers, church leaders and those exploring or developing their ministry from across a wide range of denominations and contexts. Led by experienced speakers, the day offers a focused programme of seminars and discussion, inviting you to engage with the foundations of preaching, deepen your engagement with Scripture and reflect on the practical and personal demands of leadership today. We offer you space to develop your skills, strengthen your calling and connect with others in ministry.
The event is open to everyone, with free attendance for LWPT alumni and discounted rates available to LWPT Members.
The editorial programme brings together experienced speakers to deliver three focused seminars, followed by a chaired panel discussion and Q&A. Together, these sessions provide a balance of thoughtful leadership insight, practical learning creating space for reflection, shared experience and meaningful engagement
We invite you to join us to strengthen your leadership skills and enrich your wider preacher training. Come together in a spirit of community, drawing on shared experience and mutual support in ministry.
Why Attend?
What the day offers you:
- Practical insight into preaching and leadership foundations
- Space for spiritual formation through Scripture and reflection
- Thoughtful engagement with wellbeing, resilience and pastoral care
- Opportunities for connection and encouragement with peers in ministry
- Support for faithful, sustainable leadership in today’s Church
Agenda
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Registration
🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:20 AM
Welcome
🕑: 10:20 AM - 11:05 AM
Session 1: Fundamentals of Preaching and Leadership
Host: Rev Dr Gareth Higgs
Info: Dr Gareth Higgs opens the day with a practical seminar on the craft of preaching, guiding participants step by step through the structure of sermon preparation and the art of effective delivery. Drawing on his experience in ministry and theological education, Gareth offers accessible, practical tools that can be applied immediately.
Whether you regularly preach sermons or simply speak within church or community settings, this session will help you communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.
🕑: 11:05 AM - 11:30 AM
Break (refreshments are included in your ticket)
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Session 2: Scripture as Spiritual Formation before we preach
Host: Dr Chloe Lynch
Info: Drawing on her experience as a spiritual director and Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology, Dr Chloe Lynch leads a reflective and practical session on the role of Scripture in shaping the inner life of leaders. Centred on the idea of “inhabiting Scripture,” Chloe invites participants to engage the Bible not only as a text to study, but as a space to dwell in and be formed by.
This interactive seminar offers accessible practices that can be applied personally and shared with others, helping leaders cultivate deeper attentiveness to God and guide others into a more immersive, life shaping engagement with Scripture.
🕑: 12:15 PM - 12:25 PM
LWPT Presentation
🕑: 12:25 PM - 01:35 PM
Lunch (a light lunch is included in your ticket)
🕑: 01:35 PM - 02:20 PM
Session 3: Resilient Leaders: Navigating the pressures of Ministry
Host: Dr T Ayodele Ajayi
Info: An NHS consultant psychiatrist, lay preacher and pastoral board member, Dr T. Ayodele Ajayi leads a vital seminar on the realities of burnout in ministry. Recognising the pressures faced by those in leadership – often carrying the needs of others – this session creates space to reflect on our own mental and emotional wellbeing.
Dr Ajayi will help participants identify the warning signs of emotional, physical, and mental overwhelm, and explore practical ways to prevent, manage, and recover from burnout. This session invites honest reflection and offers compassionate, practical tools for caring well for ourselves and those we lead.
🕑: 02:20 PM - 02:45 PM
Break (refreshments are included in your ticket)
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:30 PM
Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A
Info: Our expert speakers bring more focus to the key topics of the day and take questions from the audience
Close
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00 to GBP 88.00
