The WFX Spring 2008 Pastors Executive Forum

WFX Fall 2008 will take place in Houston, TX from November 5 - 7, 2008. Check back in July for details! Below are Pastors Executive Forum details from WFX Spring 2008.

This new executive training session for Senior and Executive Pastors will provide top-level church leadership with concepts and strategies to successfully lead their church through the facilities growth process. Co-produced by WFX and Xpastor.org, this exclusive day-long session features case study presentations as well as small and large-group discussions, and is a must-attend event for pastors of growing churches.

Forum sponsors:


ECCU Website	Generis Website

The 'A to Z' on How to Design & Build Your Church

Tuesday, April 29, 2008
9am-4:30pm
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis grace covenant

Event Chair: Dr. David Fletcher

Dr. David Fletcher; Executive Pastor, Grace Covenant Church, Austin, Texas, and founder of XPastor.org. Dr. Fletcher is a skilled networker who brings together the right church leaders to speak on topic. By using stories and case studies of current churches, you'll learn by idea and practice!

Walk Away Knowing:

How to build according to your church's spiritual DNA
The steps and language of how to share your church's spiritual DNA with your architect
How to design your "dream" church within the constraints of your budget
How to better talk the language of architects, bankers and contractors
How to better fund your new building project
and much more

Consider if just one idea from the day saves you $10,000 or $100,000 or $1,000,000. What if you are about to build on the "wrong" spot on your property? Do you gel with your architect?

Presenters

Dr. David Fletcher, Founder & Host of XPastor, XP in Austin, Texas
John Jackson, Architect, Jackson Galloway, Austin, Texas
Brad Leeper, Generis, Altanta, Georgia
Paul Sewell, Executive Pastor, Oak Hill Baptist Church, Griffin, Georgia
Mark Bankord of Heartland Community Church
Mike Boblit of ECCU

Sign-up for this WFX special feature during the WFX registration process. Sign-up early and save! The Pastors Executive Forum registration includes lunch, handouts, and a full day of learning with and from your peers.
	XPastor events are led by current church leaders. Pastors talking to pastors! The context of the discussion is always centered on the local church and how churches are doing and improving ministry.

Forum Topics

Spiritual DNA: Spiritual Leadership for a New Building

Spiritual DNA: putting in print the unique factors of your church. The Great Commandment and Great Commission are universal drives for churches, but what is unique to your church?

If you don’t know your spiritual DNA, then you will “build the wrong building!” And if you don’t know where you’re going, then any road will do! We'll explore the following important considerations: style of worship — classic, traditional, blended, contemporary, ultra-contemporary; ancient/future motifs in your church; how formal is your congregation; role of existing and future technology; multiple uses of the room or space; knowing your congregation and how building materials will help or hinder your worship experience. These have huge building implications!

Designing the Dream: Interaction with the Architect

Pick “any” architect and you will get “any” building! Is this what you really want? In this part of the program, you will learn the 5 top questions for selecting your architect and some of the key terms in an “architect’s language” that will help you express your dreams. How can you select the best architect and how can you interview the architect? At the Pastor's Executive Forum, you'll have the opportunity to talk to a church that is in the middle of the design to construction process. Architect John Jackson of Jackson Galloway, Austin, Texas, will give a pivotal presentation and be available to talk with you during the day!

Lunch Interview & Open Discussion

When XPastor.org is involved, lunch times are always vital sessions! Our lunch will interview Brad Leeper and Mark Bankord. We always talk with experienced strategists, pastors and other leaders about how to raise funds and build your project. Bring you questions as it will be interactive.

Funding the Dream: Working with Bankers and Fundraisers

	For many, this is the biggest challenge. How can I get the right help? What are my options in “doing it myself or getting a professional to assist us?”
We will explore the key components to a successful financial campaign and answer your most pressing questions. In raising money, how much is enough, not enough and too much? What if God brings in more than we asked for? Less than we asked for? What are some principles about borrowing and the role of debt? Talk to two churches that have recently funded their dream.

Building the Dream: Working with a Contractor

Do we need an “owner’s representative” to work with the contractor? Learn how to define the role of church staff in working with the contractor and list the options that are readily available. What about the contract and possible cost-overruns. How long will it really take to build? Talk to a church that has recently finished their building!

Funding & Building the Dream

Oak Hill Church has recently finished construction of a new worship center. Paul Sewell is their Executive Pastor and had a team of people helping him to oversee the construction. Paul will share his experience of negotiating the loan with several banks, selecting the right bank and then working with the contractor. Paul will have key members of his team share about their role in the project. Paul will be available in the morning to discuss issues about your church.

Building Outside the Box: Lunch Discussion

Mark Bankord from Heartland Community Church will be a special guest at lunch. Mark is the Directional Leader of the church, where they recently followed a unique path to renovate their facility and repurchase their previous space. You can read about Mark on the cover of the April 2008 Church Executive magazine: "We rented the auditorium at the school of medicine in Rockford, which seats around 400. Our first service had 118 people attend. We did everything you would expect in a church except that the message was on videotape. The next week we had 220. Over the next eight weeks we went from that original 118 people to more than 750 people. People would be transformed and they would tell their friends. It’s been happening like that for 10 years now. In 2006 we bought a 350,000-square- foot shopping mall and about half of it now is the church. These days there are about 6,000 people coming on weekends."

How to Fund the Dream, a Discussion with Brad Leeper

Brad is well-known in XPastor circles, having been at all four of the XP-Seminars and helping hundreds of folks in his XPastor seminars and talks. He brings a fresh insight in to how to fund the dream. Brad speaks to a wide variety of churches and perspectives. For many, this is the scariest part of the building process, but Brad shows how to make the capital campaign into a spiritualy moving event for your church.

Schedule

9:00	Welcome & Introductions
9:15	Spiritual DNA: Spiritual Leadership for a New Building—David Fletcher Beginning of the Grace Covenant Case Study
9:45	Small Group Discussion: Do you know your spiritual DNA? How would you define your church’s vision? Conceptualize your building around your spiritual DNA. Create a list of the “Top 5 Markers of our Spiritual DNA.
10:00	Large Group Discussion
10:15	Break
10:30	Designing the Dream—John Jackson Conclusion of the Grace Covenant Case Study
11:15	Small Group Discussion—Does your building reflect your past, current or future spiritual DNA? How would your design work the your architect look when you have defined your spiritual DNA? List your top 5 questions/issues for your architect.
11:45	Large Group Discussion
Noon	Lunch Discussion Funding & Leadership Issues A discussion with Brad Leeper on the unique challenges of building a church in today’s culture, economic climate and spiritual challenges. Mark Bankord, Directional Leader of Heartland Community Church, A Unique Building: "In 2006 we bought a 350,000-square foot shopping mall and about half of it now is the church. These days there are about 6,000 people coming on weekends." Mike Boblit of ECCU will also join us for this discusison.
1:15	Break
1:30	Funding the Dream—Paul Sewell Beginning of the Oak Hill Case Study
2:15	Small Group Discussion—How are your going to fund your dream? Who can you get to help with the capital campaign? Will it be solely home brew or will you use and outside expert? How will you utilize your banking relationship to fund your building?
2:30	Large Group Discussion
2:45	Break
3:00	Moving into the Dream—Paul Sewell Conclusion of the Oak Hill Case Study
3:15	Small Group Discussion: What issues will arise as you move into your new building?
3:45	Large Group Discussion
4:00	Conclusion

The 2007 Pastors Executive Forum was a great success! Check out the details, including comments from attendees, on Xpastor.org