Cultivating leaders is not a once-a-year task. But how do we shift our thinking from reacting to fill gaps in committees to planning ahead to nurture and equip the leaders we want in the future?

The Center for Leadership Excellence invites you to a webinar with Trish Archer, Cultivating Leaders: A Year-Long Nominations Pathway.

Sunday, January 25, 2026
2 pm – 3pm ET
Zoom

This session will kick off our Conference-Wide Leadership Training for local church committees. While we especially hope nominations committee members will join this session, it is open to all … clergy and laity, United Methodists, and our ecumenical friends.

About the Webinar:

Cultivating leaders is a continual process in local church ministry. It’s going beyond the charge conference lay leadership/nominations report to discernment and equipping leaders throughout the year. During our time together, we will consider tools for assessing gifts and strengths of laity and helping folks to serve in the place that God has uniquely gifted them.

We will talk about practices for developing, equipping and enabling leaders. How might we mentor new leaders and create opportunities for healthy succession of leaders? How might we reflect upon our current practices for equipping leaders? Each local church is unique in its context, people, gifts and strengths. How might we build upon all that God has given each church to serve faithfully and grow in our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world?

About the Presenter:

Trish Archer is a Deacon in the North Carolina Conference, serving with Passion in Partnership, where she seeks to empower clergy and laity as a ministry coach and leadership developer. Trish served the local church for 25 years before she was appointed to her current extension ministry position. She has served the North Carolina Conference in various leadership positions and is currently serving on the Conference Episcopacy Committee.

Before answering the call to ordained ministry, Trish taught middle school science in Chapel Hill. She has a Bachelor of Science in Science Teaching and a Masters in Art of Teaching, both from UNC- Chapel Hill. She also completed a Masters of Divinity from Duke Divinity School.

Trish loves spending time with her family, especially fulfilling the role of Gran. She enjoys gardening, reading, writing, and travel.