Churchcraft: The Art Of Effective Ministry Leadership

A Leadership Growth Experience For Clergy & Church Staff

September 2025 – May 2026

COSTS

Seminar Only: $325
Seminar + Coaching Group: $695
Seminar + Coaching Group + Individual Coaching: $1,395

“Our pastor gets it. Our pastor seems to know what’s needed when, guiding us into the right next steps for living into our mission.”

Who wouldn’t like to hear this kind of description of one’s leadership from the people of one’s church? This is the kind of statement rising up in congregations wherein ministry leaders are practicing effective churchcraft.

Yes, churchcraft is a new word describing how ministry leadership is a craft, an interactive combination of natural abilities, personal strengths, and Holy Spirit given gifts. Effective ministry leadership develops over time through intentional growth and effort, as well as through gifts for service from God. There are hard and soft skills to learn, yet effective ministry leaders combine skills, competencies, faith, and personhood, forming our churchcraft leadership.   

Participants in this Churchcraft Leadership experience will engage the four primary contributors to one’s churchcraft. Seminar facilitator Mark Tidsworth will guide participants toward growing in each of these four areas of leadership, including field work between seminars. We hope to complete the Churchcraft Guidbook as a companion text to this seminar before the Clergy Collective begins. Our aspiration is to intentionally develop our churchcraft, becoming more effective and integrated ministry leaders through this experience.

This leadership development experience is designed for ministry leaders at various stages of their vocational journey. Experienced leaders will discover ways to refine their churchcraft, building on their foundational knowledge and practice. Newer ministry leaders will be challenged to learn and grow, intentionally developing their churchcraft.

The Four Contributors To One’s Churchcraft Leadership

Enlivened Faith

Caught up in the Way of Jesus….perhaps this phrase captures what we mean by enlivened faith. Certainly we all experience seasons of dryness along the way; this is normal and expected. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine effective church leadership which is not enlivened by an animated, living faith, centered in Christ. The following four faith dynamics will receive solid attention in this Seminar and Coaching Group.

• Developing a personal Rule of Life

• Pursuing a healthy relationship with church

• Clarifying and updating calling, one’s sense of vocation and purpose

• Clarifying the relationship between personal spirituality and vocational ministry

 Personal Maturity

Vocational ministry is one of those callings wherein who we are as people, our very selves, directly influences our vocations. There is no way around this dynamic, given the very public nature of church leadership. Given this, effective churchcraft includes intentionally investing in personal growth which cultivates maturity over time. The following four contributors to personal maturity will receive solid attention during this Seminar and Coaching Group.

• Exploring one’s Emotional Intelligence, along with pathways for growth

• Strengthening stewardship of self, developing a sustainable Rhythm Of Life

• Raising awareness about family of origin dynamics which influence every interaction and leadership move

• Raising awareness about personality tendencies contributing to our leadership competency

Leadership Acumen

“What does this church need from its leadership at this time in this place in order to live into its mission more fully?” Pastors and church staff persons with leadership acumen regularly ask this question. They actively hone their ability to understand the congregations system, equiping them to lead in relevant and mission-congruent ways. The following three dynamics contributing to leadership acumen are featured in this Seminar and Coaching Group

• Gain an understanding of one’s role in the congregational system, while increasing the ability to adjust one’s role given the growing edges

• A growing ability to influence the congregation forward toward mission and ministry

• Learning and practicing the five signature competencies of differentiated pastoral leaders

Contextual Awareness

All ministry is contextual; located in a specific place and time. Churchcraft includes growing one’s understanding about the historical journey of the church, of the key events which shaped its identity. Beyond this, effective leaders know the community dynamics well, informing their leadership. Family Systems Theory and Practice is an excellent lens through which to raise awareness about the church system itself, providing insight into leadership moves which resonate with the church and its mission.

• Understanding the emotional system of the congregation through the lens of Family Systems Theory and Practice

• Connecting the church’s history with its current expression of church

• Increasing understanding of the local community

• Increasing connection with persons and leaders in the church, opening the door to leadership interventions which advance the mission

The Seminar

Second Wednesdays, 1:00-2:30PM Eastern, September 2025 – May 2026

This is a leadership growth experience, engaging participants in lively learning about each of the four contributors to their growing churchcraft. The following are activities included in this Seminar.

• Presentation

• Interviewing Effective Churchcraft Leaders

• Examples of Churchcraft Leadership

• Large and Small Group Discussion

• Integration with the Churchcraft Guidebook (if ready by then)

Seminar Leader