Executive Leader Training Cohorts
BY INTENTIONAL CHURCHES
Executive leadership in the local church is uniquely complex—and too important to navigate alone.
Whether you're stepping into executive leadership for the first time or you're a seasoned leader carrying the weight of organizational strategy, team development, and church health, the challenges can feel overwhelming. Vision gets crowded out by urgent demands. Clarity and connection can give way to isolation.
Our Executive Leader Training Cohorts were created to change that.
We believe that intentional leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It takes space to reflect, the right tools to act, and a trusted community to grow alongside. These cohorts offer all three.
Practical tools rooted in real-world ministry experience.
Personal coaching from veteran Executive Pastors who’ve been in your shoes.
Peer collaboration with leaders who understand your world because they’re in the trenches of executive ministry too.
In a role where so much is expected of you, this is a place where you can be equipped, encouraged, and sharpened—not just for the next decision, but for the long haul.
Because healthy leadership isn’t just good for you—it’s good for the Church.
Lap 1:
Executive Leader Training Cohort
Receive practical tools and training in the 12 Disciplines of an Intentional Executive Leader.
Melissa Sandel, Executive Director of Ministries at West Side Christian Church in Springfield, IL will serve as your facilitator throughout the year-long journey for the January Cohort.
Jim Stanley, Senior Executive Pastor at Plainfield Christian Church, will serve as your facilitator throughout the year-long journey for the February Cohort.
Be part of a supportive, collaborative learning community—a group of 12 executive leaders who, like you, are in the trenches of ministry.
Designed for executive leaders in their first five years of executive leadership or those being developed for a future executive role.
Choose Your Date—Reserve Your Spot Today!
January 20-22, 2026
February 10-12, 2026
Advanced Lap 2:
Deep Dive Executive Leader Cohort
Designed for those with 5+ years of executive leadership experience or who have completed Lap 1.
A collaborative environment where 12 executive leaders co-create the year’s learning agenda and tackle their most pressing ministry challenges together.
Monthly calls with subject-matter experts who bring targeted insight and tools based on the group’s selected focus areas.
Facilitated by two seasoned Executive Pastors, who provide strategic guidance and personalized support to help the group achieve its goals.
Modeled after Vistage-style peer groups, this cohort fosters deep, lasting friendships and a coaching community designed for long-term mutual growth.
Choose Your Date—Reserve Your Spot Today!
January 12-14, 2026 - For churches under 1500
January 14-16, 2026 - For churches over 2000
The 12 Disciplines of an Intentional Executive Leader
1. The Senior Pastor/ Executive Pastor Relationship
2. Building Healthy Teams
3. Staffing & Human Resources
4. Budgeting & Finance
5. Strategic Planning
6. Emotionally Healthy Self-Leadership
7. Communications
8. Generosity Development
9. Facilities and Operations
10. Pastoring in this Cultural Moment
11. Leadership & Volunteer Development
12. Leading through Change and Crisis
What you’ll get:
Two and a half days of in-person training
Special group dinner
Monthly 90-minute Zoom calls
The Intentional Executive Leader Toolkit
Workbook and materials
Have questions? We're here to help!
Email Jeff Bennett at jeff.bennett@intentionalchurches.com