CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
Christian Leadership Alliance invites you to submit a teaching proposal
The Outcomes Conference 2025
April 29 - May 1
DFW Hyatt Regency International
SEEK FIRST is the theme of The Outcomes Conference 2025
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~ Matthew 6: 28 - 34, NIV
Timeline
- Call for Presentation proposals are due to Christian Leadership Alliance by July 26, 2024.
- Status updates (yes/no) will be provided to you by August 30, 2024.
- Presenters* submit handouts in PDF files to The Alliance by April 4, 2025.
*If selected, you will receive additional information on handout requirements.
Two Types of Proposals
- 7-hour Leadership Intensives (3 presenters, maximum)
- 1.5-hour Breakthrough Workshops (2 presenters, maximum)
For both our "1.5-hour Breakthrough Workshops" and our "7-hour Leadership Intensives," you can submit in any of our nine core learning tracks.
General Submission Guidelines
Submissions for The Outcomes Conference must be:
- Biblically-based
- Practical
- Relevant
- Compelling
- Transformational
- Outcomes oriented
Special Notes
1. Alliance Members will be Prioritized
All are welcome to submit, but presentations submitted by Alliance Members will be prioritized.
2. Submission Does Not Guarantee Selection
We are blessed each year with more submissions than teaching slots, so submission does not guarantee selection. Proposals will be evaluated in light of the course description, learning objectives, presenters' credentials and expertise, past evaluations of presenters from previous conference courses, and the overall needs of the conference program.
3. Academic Focus
Presenters must agree that they will not use the time to promote their organization or its services but rather share successful practices and takeaways that meet the Christian Leadership Alliance's "General Submission Guidelines."
4. Academic Level
We will seek to offer a blend of all levels in our training: Basic, Intermediate or Advanced.
5. Connect to the Conference Theme
It is ideal if your submission connects with the 2025 conference theme, "Seek First ." To do so, you could weave the theme "Seek First" into your presentation.
NINE TRAINING TRACKS
Our Call for Presentations covers the nine tracks of professional leadership content offered by Christian Leadership Alliance: Personal Leadership, Executive Leadership, Board Governance, Resource Development, Communications and Marketing, Internet and Technology, Financial Management, People Management and Care, and Legal and Risk Management.
Submissions should be oriented towards Christian nonprofit leadership, although sessions may offer a broad application for anyone called to Christian leadership regardless of the sphere. The proposals can and should go beyond these specific topics, but please see below for topical ideas in each of our nine educational tracks:
LEADERSHIP
1. Personal Leadership
We seek submissions that offer a transformative, biblically-based perspective on personal leadership. Potential topics include Leading ourselves well, the heart of a leader/soul care, self-care: spiritual well-being, mental/emotional well-being, physical well-being, knowing yourself as a leader (strengths/skills/gifts/motivation), decision-making, dedication, influence, empathy, accountability, social skills/emotional intelligence, time management, setting personal goals, ensuring continuous personal improvement, and more.
2. Executive Leadership
We seek submissions that offer a transformative, biblically-based perspective on executive leadership. Potential topics include leading/managing change, C-level strategies, CEO challenges/opportunities, steward leadership, shepherd leadership, servant leadership, equipping future leaders, managing leadership transitions, team building, strategic thinking/strategic planning, building dynamic organizational cultures, diversity/inclusion, intergenerational leadership, CEOs and boards, resolving conflict, peer networking, and more.
3. Board Governance
We seek submissions on the unique governance role of boards, with biblical insight on how boards can operate and lead with excellence. Potential topics include Healthy governance models, board recruitment, a board's unique roles and responsibilities, addressing potential conflicts of interest, resolving board conflict, ministry transparency, boards and CEO accountability, boards and strategic planning, board diversity, boards and fundraising, growing/strengthening your board, boards and their fiduciary role, and more.
RELATIONSHIP
4. Resource Development
We seek submissions that offer transformational perspectives on resource development versus a transactional mindset. These submissions should be biblically aligned and practical and contribute to theory and applied practice excellence. Potential topics include Major donor development, mid-level donor cultivation, donor diversity, donor analytics, digital fundraising, donor retention, donor discipleship, strategic planning for development, multi-channel strategies, capital campaigns, grants/foundations, generations and giving, and more.
5. Communications and Marketing
We seek submissions offering biblical perspectives on the call to communicate effectively and winsomely to advance the kingdom mission God has given to Christian organizations. These should aim at building organization-wide support for effective marketing and PR. Potential topics include Branding, media and PR strategy, marketing, online content strategy, digital design, communicating with today's culture, reaching diverse audiences, ChatGPT and communications, research and measurement, PR case studies, and more.
6. Internet and Technology
We seek submissions that offer a dynamic, biblically-based perspective on the power of the Internet and technology in this unique moment for Christian leaders. Potential topics include AI, ChapGPT, Internet and technology strategies, hardware/technology your organization needs today, effective CTO leadership, technology for non-tech staff members, remote work technology, outsourcing, optimizing online/email campaigns; there's an APP for that, technology privacy and security strategies, technology trends, technology case studies and more.
STEWARDSHIP
7. Financial Management
We seek submissions on the unique role of financial managers and the biblically-based call for effective financial stewardship. Potential topics include Big-picture financial management, effective budgeting, accounting, and auditing, financial reporting dashboards, finance in a rapidly changing world, economic trends, investment strategies, tax/regulatory trends and updates, financial strategic planning, the impact of technology on capital budgets, hot topics for today's CFOs, the CFO/CEO relationship, and more.
8. People Management and Care
We seek submissions that offer successful, biblically-based practices in ministry people management and care. Potential topics include Biblical perspectives on People Management and Care, recruiting well, onboarding strategies, retention, equipping high-performance staff, employee development, employee mental health & well-being, team building, hiring issues for Christian nonprofits, building diversity, managing salaries and benefits, identifying/resolving conflict, mentoring, terminating employment well, multi-generational teams, and more.
9. Legal and Risk Management
We seek submissions that offer cutting-edge thinking and insight into legal and risk issues facing today's Christian nonprofit leaders. These should cover core issues that will face Christian nonprofits, not just the most high-profile issues. Potential topics include Legal trends and changes impacting nonprofits/faith-based ministries, religious liberty/hiring, the courts and Christian nonprofits, legislative trends impacting Christian nonprofits, legal issues for global ministries, risk management strategies, risk assessment, workplace safety, and more.
*Faculty Registration Details
All conference faculty members receive a steeply discounted rate of $299 for the conference and must register by December 13, 2024, at this $299 faculty rate. Faculty cover their conference registration fees, travel, and lodging expenses. You will receive additional registration information if your proposal is selected.