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Pastors & Leaders Conference

Pastors & Leaders 2025 | Anabaptism at 500: Looking Back, Living Forward

Join in person at AMBS in Elkhart, Indiana, or watch via livestream!

As we celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism, conference participants will have the opportunity to examine how the values of the early Anabaptists still resonate today and can guide us into the future.

Join us and gain intercultural perspectives on how reading the Bible in community can help us connect more authentically in our present and future contexts.

Please note: Registration for the in-person event has reached capacity and is now closed. Registration for the livestream version of the event is still open.

Plus, Leadership Clinics will be offered Monday in person before the start of the conference.

Speakers

MONDAY: “Looking Back: The Gift (and the Burden) of Memory in the Anabaptist-Mennonite Tradition”
John D. Roth, PhD, of Goshen, Indiana, is Project Director of 鈥淎nabaptism at 500,鈥 an initiative of MennoMedia, and General Editor of the Anabaptist Community Bible. For more than 30 years, he served as Professor of History at Goshen (Indiana) College; Director of the Mennonite Historical Library; and Editor of The Mennonite Quarterly Review. He also was the Founding Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism at Goshen College and Secretary of Mennonite World Conference鈥檚 Faith and Life Commission. Roth has written widely on Anabaptist-Mennonite history and church life. He is a graduate of Goshen College and the University of Chicago.

John D. Roth

TUESDAY: “Looking Around: Radical Faith and Resilient Witness in Ethiopia”
Kelbessa Muleta Demena, MDiv, of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is Vice President of Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) in Ethiopia, the largest member church in Mennonite World Conference. In this role, he focuses on capacity building for MKC pastors and church leaders. He has served with MKC for more than 35 years in various roles, including as a local church pastor and regional office board member. He was Chair of the Meserete Kristos Seminary Board, Chair of the MKC Theological Commission and a member of the Mennonite World Conference Mission Commission. He is a graduate of Addis Ababa Bible College and AMBS (MDiv 2010).

WEDNESDAY: “Looking Forward: Re-Centering Scripture for a Peaceful Vision of the Next 500 Years”
Lesley Francisco McClendon, DMin, of Hampton, Virginia, is Senior Pastor of C3 Hampton, a Mennonite Church USA congregation in Hampton. She has a passion for empowering leaders and bridging generational gaps, and in 2022, she founded Herstoric, Inc., a nonprofit organization and emerging leadership group that helps women of faith discover, recover or refine their voice. She also serves as an instructor for Duke University Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina, and as an adjunct professor of preaching at two seminaries. She is a graduate of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Duke University. 

THURSDAY:
Panel discussion and Q&A with all three speakers.

The worship sessions are being planned and led by Rashard Allen, Mary Schertz, Ndunge Sefu, Rebecca Slough, and Naomi Wenger. 

Banquet entertainment

The Lost Luggage Jazz Trio, featuring Kenneth Craig on vibes, Deron Bergstresser on drums, and Kent Dutchersmith on bass, brings together the unique perspectives of a social worker, a music teacher, and a pastor. Since forming in 2017, this Goshen-based group has been crafting a sound influenced by jazz greats like Cal Tjader and Sonny Rollins, blending rich, classic vibes with their own playful sense of humor. Their music showcases a deep respect for jazz tradition while adding a lighthearted and accessible twist, making them a distinctive presence on the local jazz scene. In 2023 the band released their first album, Carrion Items, featuring all original jazz tunes composed by the band. They are working on a second album that they hope to release in 2025. 

Registration

In-person registration is limited to the first 200 paid registrants.

Please note: Registration for the in-person event has reached capacity (200) and is now closed. Registration for the livestream version of the event is still open.

  • The early registration cost is $200 USD for in-person or online attendance when you register by Jan. 20, 2025.
  • The registration cost after Jan. 20 is $250 USD.
  • The final registration deadline is Feb. 10, 2025.

For details on discounts and refunds, see the 鈥Other information鈥 section below.

Schedule

Note: Livestreamed sessions are marked with an asterisk (*).

Monday, Feb. 17

7:30鈥9 a.m. Leadership Clinic Registration
8 a.m. 鈥 5:15 p.m. Leadership Clinic: Healthy Boundaries 101
9 a.m. 鈥 3 p.m. Leadership Clinics: Biblical Interpretation Across the Two Testaments; Introducing the Anabaptist Community Bible; Starting with the Spirit; Worshiping with the Global Church
12鈥1 p.m. Lunch (Lambright Center Dining Hall)
4鈥6 p.m. Registration for Pastors & Leaders 2025 (Library Gallery)
5鈥6 p.m. Pizza supper for those who have preregistered (Lambright Center Dining Hall); Journey reunion (Lambright Center Room H)
6:15 p.m. Registration for Pastors & Leaders 2025 (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 
7鈥8:15 p.m. Welcome and Opening Worship* John D. Roth (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 

Tuesday, Feb. 18 

8鈥8:20 a.m. Morning Prayers (Chapel of the Word) 
8:30鈥9:30 a.m. Workshops A*
9:15 a.m. Coffee and snacks (Waltner Hall Lounge and Library Gallery)
10 a.m. Gathering music* (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 
10:15 a.m. Teaching Session* Kelbessa Muleta (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount)
11 a.m. Move into Small Groups
11:10 a.m. Small Groups (location color on your name tag)
11:30 a.m. Lunch A (Lambright Center Dining Hall); Lunch for newcomers (Lambright Center Room H)
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Mindful Movement (Basement of Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 
12:30 p.m. Lunch B (Lambright Center Dining Hall)
1:30鈥2:30 p.m. Workshops B*
2:30 p.m. Break  (Waltner Hall Lounge and Library Gallery)
3 p.m. Worship* 
4 p.m. Free time / dinner on your own

Wednesday, Feb. 19 

8鈥8:20 a.m. Morning Prayers (Chapel of the Word) 
8:30鈥9:30 a.m. Workshops C*
9:15 a.m. Coffee and snacks (Waltner Hall Lounge and Library Gallery)
10 a.m.  Gathering music* (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 
10:15 a.m. Teaching Session* Lesley Francisco McClendon (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount)
11 a.m. Move into Small Groups
11:10 a.m. Small Groups (Location color on your name tag)
11:30 a.m. Lunch A (Lambright Center Dining Hall); Conference/Regional Church Ministers and MDiv/MA students (Lambright Center Room H); Admissions (Lambright Center Room C)
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Mindful Movement (Basement of Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 
12:30 p.m. Lunch B (Lambright Center Dining Hall)
1:30鈥2:30 p.m. Workshops D*
2:30 p.m. Break  (Waltner Hall Lounge and Library Gallery)
3 p.m. Worship* 
4 p.m. Free time
4:15鈥5:15 p.m. Fireside chat with President David Boshart
6 p.m. Banquet and evening entertainment (Lambright Center Dining Hall) 

Thursday, Feb. 20

9鈥9:20 a.m. Morning Prayers (Chapel of the Word) 
9 a.m. Coffee and snacks (Waltner Hall Lounge and Library Gallery)
9:45 a.m. Gathering music* (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 
10 a.m. Q&A and Panel of Speakers* (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount)
11 a.m. Small Groups (Location color on your name tag)
11:30 a.m. Gather back* Drawing for gifts (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount)
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Closing Worship and Sending* (Chapel of the Sermon on the Mount) 
12:30 p.m. Lunch (Lambright Center Dining Hall)

Workshops

鈥揅lick on a title to view the description鈥

Session A, Tuesday 8:30鈥9:30 a.m.

In-person and livestream

Anabaptists sing! Learning from faith communities around the world | James R. Krabill

As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism and the phenomenal growth of the church across the world, what can we learn from the worship patterns and song traditions of our global faith family? This workshop will focus on a new study that features case studies from contemporary Anabaptist worshipping communities around the world 鈥 in Congo, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea, Zimbabwe and elsewhere.

In-person

Artful response: Bodily engagement with the Word | Malinda Elizabeth Berry and Naomi Wenger

Part of Confessional Bible Study involves engaging one鈥檚 emotions in response to the Word. In this workshop, we will use pre-selected Scripture texts to practice expressing our inner feeling response to the text by using our bodies. Taking the text in hand, we will rewrite it in our own script. Then we will embellish our handwritten text. Finally, we will move toward making something completely new in response to our felt engagement.

Collaborative leadership in Anabaptist faith communities then and now | John Schrock

How are leaders called and equipped who can help faith communities effectively live out God’s mission made known through Jesus Christ? This workshop covers how the early Anabaptists understood leadership and then introduces the Congregational Discipling Model for discerning and empowering leadership in Anabaptist congregations today.

Conscientious objection and Gen Alpha: Encouraging a lifestyle of peace in adolescents | Georgia Metz

Nonparticipation in the military and other systems of violence has been a cornerstone of Mennonite identity and thought for 500 years. How will Gen Alpha (born 2010鈥24) learn about this theological heritage, and how will they use that knowledge to respond to the military in the United States and Canada as they grow older? What is our responsibility as a peace church towards communities that are especially targeted for military recruitment? This workshop will encourage and empower participants to talk to junior- and senior-high youth about militarism, army recruitment and the Selective Service in light of the commands of Jesus.

Eco-Anabaptism at 499: Living into the gospel of all creatures | Douglas Kaufman

Learn about early Anabaptist mystic Hans Hut and his 1526 teaching on 鈥渢he gospel of all creatures,鈥 which has become a source for Anabaptist ecological theology today. Hut鈥檚 teaching continued for about the first 50 years of Anabaptism and then re-emerged 30 years ago. We will spend some time in creation encountering this good news of God redeeming suffering, and conclude with time to reflect on and journal about the good news we find among the creatures.

Preaching club: Reading the Bible together by teaching lay people to preach | Michelle and Jacob Curtis

We aspire to read the Bible as a community, and yet in practice, often one person does much of the biblical interpretation from the pulpit. In order to deepen our congregation鈥檚 capacity to read and interpret Scripture together, we at Ambler (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Church regularly facilitate 鈥減reaching clubs,鈥 in which a small group of lay people works with a pastor to prepare, deliver and reflect together on a joint sermon series. In this workshop, we鈥檒l tell stories of how this has worked in our congregation and lead a simulated first preaching club meeting.

Uncovering Black history in Appalachia: A case study in who Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and Anabaptists have become | Tylah Cline, Eric Kurtz and Kristin Overstreet

Mennonites started serving in Appalachia in the 1960s in response to the 鈥淲ar on Poverty.鈥 Today, Appalachia Build (formerly SWAP, or Serving with Appalachian People) continues to provide safe, warm and dry homes but has changed to involve more local leadership and a focus on racial justice. MCC鈥檚 work to uncover Black history in Appalachia serves as an example of who Anabaptists have become over 500 years and how MCC鈥檚 work has evolved over 100 years.

Session B, Tuesday 1:30鈥2:30 p.m.

In-person and livestream

A beautiful and beloved mess: Becoming a multicultural church in a fractured world | Kristin Jackson, Alexis Ruzahaza and Olak Sunuwar

This workshop is designed for congregational leaders seeking practical strategies for doing church with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and languages. A panel of pastors from Living Water Community Church in Chicago will share what they鈥檝e learned about leading together with creativity, flexibility and an honest analysis of power.

In-person

Creating a synoptic-centered theology | Ryan Ahlgrim

Martin Luther鈥檚 canon-within-the-canon gave primacy to Romans and Galatians, centering the gospel on justification through faith. Most Protestant theology followed suit, privileging Paul鈥檚 letters or the Gospel of John (or a synthesis of the two) as the beginning point for doing Christian theology. As a result, the theology of the Synoptic Gospels was often dismissed, distorted or misunderstood. This workshop proposes an Anabaptist theology that begins with the Synoptic tradition, interpreting Paul and John in its light. This recentering results in a Christology, soteriology and ethics that are more grounded in the Hebrew tradition, more persuasive, more religiously inclusive and more healing, and that give context for understanding Paul and John more faithfully.

Introducing the Anabaptist Community Bible | John D. Roth

The Anabaptist movement emerged in the 16th century when a group of young people gathered around Scripture and were transformed by what they encountered. Over the past 500 years, the Bible has continued to sustain and renew Anabaptist faith communities. Rooted in this tradition, the new  Anabaptist Community Bible invites us to read Scripture together, with fresh eyes, as a living text that continues to transform our lives. This interactive workshop will introduce the Anabaptist Community Bible as a unique resource for a fresh encounter with Scripture.

Looking but not seeing: Anabaptists and Indigenous neighbors | Rich Meyer and John Sharp

Early Mennonite settlers in the U.S. often arrived about a decade after the government had removed the Indians from the land. Because the Mennonites 鈥減aid a fair price鈥 and 鈥渘ever saw Indians,鈥 they did not consider how they were benefiting from violence and theft committed on their behalf. Are we still erasing the Indians from our community history? Does your congregation know whose land you are on, and how the people who were there before you lost it? What points of contact has your congregation found with Indigenous neighbors? Going forward, does your congregation see a land acknowledgment statement as a starting point for something more? How do you respond when people in your church feel confused or overwhelmed by discussion of reparations? (This workshop is designed for descendants of settlers and is U.S.-centric. Characteristics of Canadian Mennonite/First Nations relationships would require separate treatment.)

On the bridge: Proceeding toward church unity through ecumenical friendship | Fr. John Klassen and Samantha Lioi

Twenty-five years ago, Bridgefolk 鈥 a grassroots movement of peace-minded Roman Catholics and sacramentally-minded Mennonites 鈥 began meeting on the campus of Saint John鈥檚 Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota. Since then, we have met mostly annually in various Catholic and Mennonite settings. Now, as Mennonites reflect on their 500-year history 鈥 which began with a stormy separation from Roman Catholicism 鈥 it鈥檚 important to include the experience and learning that have emerged as Roman Catholics and Anabaptist Mennonites honor these stories and heal from them. Over 25 years we have made mistakes, spoken from our hearts, talked past each other, lifted each other up, and both laughed and cried. And we keep coming together. The people from both confessions who have been privileged to do this hard and holy work have lived into perspectives on these matters that can shed light on the past, the present, and perhaps most importantly, the future. Join us in this story- and conversation-centered workshop on friendship across an ecumenical divide.

Peaceful practices: A guide to healthy communication in conflict | Rosalind Young

Conflict is a normal part of life. It arises in our workplaces, in our churches and within our families. To help people to learn to work through divisive issues, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S. has developed an adult Sunday school curriculum, 鈥淧eaceful practices: A guide to healthy communication in conflict.鈥 It invites churchgoers to follow Jesus鈥 call to peacemaking through dialogue with each other.

What鈥檚 next for children鈥檚 faith formation? | Shana Peachey Boshart and Joyce Peachey Lind

The church is changing, and children鈥檚 Sunday school is changing, too! In this workshop, the creators of the Shine Curriculum, which offers faith formation resources from an Anabaptist perspective, will envision what faith formation ministry with children, youth and families might look like in the next era of Anabaptism. We will share what we are learning from research about children鈥檚 faith formation as well as from the Shine Everywhere at-home faith initiative. We will introduce our story Bible, The Peace Table, and propose best practices for the future of children鈥檚 and youth ministry.

Session C, Wednesday 8:30鈥9:30 a.m.

In-person and livestream

Commemorating Anabaptism at 500: Ideas and resources for your congregation | John D. Roth

This workshop is for congregations who want to participate in 鈥淎nabaptism at 500鈥 commemorations in 2025 but may not be sure where to start. We will invite participants to exchange ideas for commemorating the 500th anniversary of Anabaptist beginnings in congregational settings and will introduce a free publication 鈥 鈥淭he Anabaptism at 500 Toolkit鈥 鈥 that provides a host of simple, practical ideas and resources for the year ahead.

In-person

Afrocentric Anabaptists | Wil LaVeist

Learn the value of culturally competent encounters from the perspectives of Anabaptists of Africa and of African descent in the Americas as part of a documentary project on how they joined the Mennonite church as a result of mission outreach.

Looking back, living forward: An African woman鈥檚 recollections of 40 years of a Pietist, Evangelical, Wesleyan, Pentecostal and Anabaptist faith (1985鈥2025) | Sibonokuhle Ncube

Anabaptism has never been a monolithic faith tradition but one that is richly influenced by other traditions and cultural factors that impact how Christian discipleship is embodied in context. From her early Christian formation as a young Zimbabwean in the Brethren in Christ Church to her current role as a minister in Mennonite Church USA, the facilitator will share about various influences on her identity as an ecowomanist who is following the way of Jesus as an obedient pacifist Christian. This reflective session will open space for participants to name, honor, revise or simply think about the influences on their faith as they continue living into faithful discipleship within God鈥檚 kingdom reign.

Our Whole Lives: Developing an Anabaptist supplement | Moriah Hurst and Phil Yoder

In November 2024, Central District Conference held a training to prepare instructors to implement 鈥淥ur Whole Lives鈥 (OWL), a human sexuality curriculum for grades 7鈥9. OWL has been used by many churches throughout Mennonite Church USA, but until the November training, there had neither been formal training for Mennonites nor collaboration among Mennonite churches in the use of this curriculum. Two outcomes of the training are a desire to develop an Anabaptist supplement for the curriculum and a desire to connect churches that are using OWL. At this workshop, we will share about OWL and do some collaborative work on the Anabaptist supplement.

Pilgrimage: Embarking on a journey toward a Just Peace | Joani Miller and Andrew Suderman

Over the past three years, Mennonite Mission Network (MMN) has  walked with congregations and communities in the U.S. in exploring what it means to  work towards a just peace from across the street to around the world. MMN has created 鈥淛ust Peace Pilgrimages鈥 as experiential learning opportunities through which participants can see, unpack and be challenged by what it means to be a community dedicated to the ways of peace and justice in the world. This workshop will highlight three MMN Just Peace Pilgrimages 鈥 United States Civil Rights; Christ at the Borders; and Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples 鈥 reflecting on what we have learned through the process.

Restitutio divina: An embodied practice of biblical reflection | Leah Thomas

Developed by pastoral theologian Leah Thomas (AMBS) and biblical scholar Stephanie Day Powell (Eastern Mennonite University), restitutio divina (鈥渄ivine restoration鈥) is an embodied practice of biblical reflection that invites participants to engage in an intentional exploration of the sensations, emotions and images that may arise while reading Scripture. Restitutio divina combines the contemplative spiritual practices of lectio divina and visio divina with insights from Somatic Experiencing, a psychological approach to healing embodied trauma developed by psychologist Peter Levine. Restitutio divina engages participants in reflective meditation on both the biblical narrative and works of art in conversation with their embodied response. Join us for this dynamic contemplative encounter with sacred Scripture!

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached: Communal hermeneutics and contemporary homiletics | Jon Carlson

What鈥檚 the role of proclamation, particularly preaching, in a tradition that values communal discernment and is often suspicious of authoritative declarations? Join a conversation about the state of Anabaptist preaching today, a reflection on its history and a tentative glimpse toward the future.

Session D, Wednesday 1:30鈥2:30 p.m.

In-person and livestream

From Antioch to Addis: Strategies for church growth | Henok T. Mekonin and Joe Sawatzky

This workshop will explore two case studies of church growth: the biblical account of the church in Antioch and the example of the Meserete Kristos Church in Ethiopia 鈥 the largest member church in Mennonite World Conference. By presenting and highlighting connections between these two models of the church in mission, this workshop aims to provoke conversation about and uncover some potential strategies for the growth of Anabaptist-Mennonite communities today.

In-person

Beyond distinctives: After 500 years, cultivating robust Anabaptist theology for the next chapter of our church life | Chad Miller

Who is tending to the growth and vibrancy of contemporary Anabaptist-Mennonite theology  to resource and nourish our churches into the future? How do we create space for vital conversations on a wide spectrum of theological questions with which people in our churches are wrestling? How does our theology help us engage faithfully with Scripture? How does theology inform our life together as communities of faith? What streams of theology or which theologians have nourished your formation and energized you for ongoing ministry? Come join this conversation with others who share a deep desire for transformative theology in the Anabaptist tradition that will sustain and enliven our faith communities for years to come.

Exvangelical Anabaptists | Barb and Richard Gehring

Growing numbers of American evangelicals are becoming dissatisfied with the answers they are getting from their churches. What do Anabaptists have to offer them? The pastors at Lombard (Illinois) Mennonite Church surveyed newer members to find out what attracted them to the church. Come hear what they have learned about how Christians of other faith traditions have found new meaning in an Anabaptist congregation.

How to challenge Christian nationalism’s biblical authoritarianism | Drew Strait

This workshop explores how the Bible is used, read and publicly interpreted among adherents to and sympathizers of White Christian nationalism to lord power over others, legitimate conspiracy theories and imbue Donald Trump with a messianic or divine warrior king status. Special attention will be given to biblical interpretation (or what I鈥檓 calling biblical authoritarianism) inside the New Apostolic Reformation, which is a global spiritual oligarchy of self-proclaimed apostles and prophets whose public biblical interpretation contributed to the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection and Trump鈥檚 re-election. After giving an overview of the history behind and methods of biblical authoritarianism, this workshop will present 10 action steps for reclaiming biblical interpretation for the church鈥檚 work of peacebuilding.

Leadership in Anabaptist contexts | Jamie Pitts and AMBS Teaching Faculty members

鈥淟eadership in Anabaptist Contexts鈥 is the topic of Scribes for the Reign of God, the AMBS Teaching Faculty鈥檚 annual collaborative research process, which is hosted by the Institute of Mennonite Studies. Our Scribes collaborators this year include AMBS Teaching Faculty members from each department, with each one developing a project on leadership from their respective discipline. Join us as we share from our interdisciplinary collaborative research about leadership in Anabaptist contexts. You鈥檒l have the opportunity to experience the Scribes process as we work on our research projects in community.

Let the children come to me: Nurturing Anabaptist faith | Lisa Weaver

Explore stories from 16th-century and contemporary global Anabaptist communities 鈥 with an emphasis on how to share these faith narratives in multigenerational gatherings. Participants will sample stories, activities, songs, art projects and discussion questions that they can put to immediate use upon return to their home congregations. The material presented in the workshop has been successfully implemented in worship services, Sunday School classes for all ages, grandfriend-grandchild retreats at Camp Friedenswald, and numerous intergenerational small groups. Participants can find the workshop content in Let the Children Come to Me: Nurturing Anabaptist Faith Within Families (Cascadia Publishing House, 2018),  for post-conference referencing.

Living out unity in the global Anabaptist community | Ron Byler

The Anabaptist movement was born out of division and continues to fracture here in the U.S. and Canada and around the world. How do we hold true to our values and also embrace our sisters and brothers in the global Anabaptist community and in other Christian traditions? This workshop will explore Mennonite World Conference as one vehicle for staying in communion with each other and for reaching out to other Christians locally and globally.

Leadership Clinics

Leadership Clinics will take place in person on Monday, Feb. 17, before the start of Pastors & Leaders.

  • Biblical Interpretation across the Two Testaments | Mary Schertz, Jackie Wyse-Rhodes
  • Healthy Boundaries 101 | Ed Kauffman
  • Introducing the Anabaptist Community Bible | John D. Roth
  • Starting with the Spirit | Jamie Pitts
  • Worshiping with the Global Church | Rashard Allen

Other information

What is Pastors & Leaders?

AMBS’s Pastors & Leaders is an annual gathering of pastors and those who hold leadership roles in local congregations, chaplaincy contexts, regional churches, denominational settings, not-for-profits and community organizations.

We meet together to connect, worship, learn and be inspired for our ministries. Our gatherings reflect AMBS鈥檚 Anabaptist orientation but are open to people from any denomination or no denomination.

Collaborators

This year’s conference is being organized in collaboration with MennoMedia, Mennonite World Conference (MWC), the Institute of Mennonite Studies and the Faith Formation Collaborative. Some of the other events connected to Anabaptism at 500 are  and .

Journey reunion

There will be a Journey reunion during the pizza supper before the start of the Pastors & Leaders conference. If you are a current or past participant in the Journey program, you’re invited to Room H in the Lambright Center Dining Hall at 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17.

Registration fees and discounts

In-person registration is limited to the first 200 paid registrants.

Please note: Registration for the in-person event has reached capacity and is now closed. Registration for the livestream version of the event is still open.

Register before Jan. 20, 2025, to save $50! (But if you miss that date, you can still register until Feb. 10.)

  • Individual: $200 (in person or virtual)
  • Married couple: $315 (in person)
  • AMBS student: $10

Registration after Jan. 20, 2025:

  • Individual: $250 (in person or virtual)
  • Married couple: $395 (in person)
  • AMBS student: $10

Registration closes on Feb. 10, 2025.

Discounts 鈥 save money!

  • First-time attender鈥檚 discount: If this is your first time attending an AMBS Pastors & Leaders conference, not including times you may have attended as an AMBS student, you are eligible for a 25% registration discount. (Not applicable with other discounts.)
  • Shoulder-tapping discount: Bring a friend who has never attended an AMBS Pastors & Leaders conference and receive a 25% registration discount. (Not applicable with other discounts.)
  • Scholarships: Financial assistance is limited to registration costs. If you need financial assistance, please include with your registration form a paragraph explaining your need. Costs for meals, housing and transportation are the responsibility of the registrant. Deadline for requests: Jan. 20, 2025.

Meals (nonrefundable)

  • Lunch: $10 (Monday鈥揟hursday)
  • Monday evening supper: $10
  • Wednesday banquet: $20

Meal registration closes on Feb. 3, 2025.

Transportation

Transportation requests must be made by Jan. 20, 2025.

  • South Bend Airport (to or from AMBS): $50
  • Elkhart Amtrak Station (to or from AMBS): $17

Lodging

AMBS guest houses

The AMBS guest houses are now full. Please check out the hotels listed below.

Local hotels 

Refunds

Event registration fees will be refunded, less $25, for cancellations prior to Jan. 20, 2025. After this date, registration cancellations will be granted credit, less $25, toward Pastors & Leaders 2026 registration fees. Refund credits should be requested within 24 hours of the event. Registration cancellations after Jan. 20 due to emergencies will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Meals are nonrefundable.  

Before Jan. 20, campus lodging fees are refundable, less $25. After Jan. 20, campus lodging fees are nonrefundable. Lodging cancellations after Jan. 20, due to emergencies will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Before Jan. 20, transportation fees are refundable, less $25. After Jan. 20, transportation fees are nonrefundable. Transportation cancellations after Jan. 20 due to emergencies will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Continuing Education Units

Participants attending all Pastors & Leaders plenary and workshop sessions can earn 1.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Please indicate if you would like to receive CEUs when you register, and pick up your CEU certificate when leaving the final session on Thursday afternoon.


Want to receive updates about Pastors & Leaders?

Sign up to receive news and information from the AMBS Church Leadership Center by selecting the 鈥淟ifelong learning offerings (monthly)鈥 option.


Past Pastors & Leaders conferences

Want a taste of what Pastors & Leaders is all about? Rewatch a session from a past event.
Learn more about past events and view video recordings.