Leadership Now Conference 2026 #
Theme: Fully Alive: Leading with Conviction in a Changing World
Date: April 22-23, 2026
Location: Hilton, Vancouver, WA
Pick almost any moment in church history, and you’ll find that leadership is always hard- especially for those called to lead institutions grounded in the Christian faith and oriented toward the common good.
Take, for example, the witness of Irenaeus, the second century bishop of Lyons in what is now modern France.
Irenaeus understood the cost of leadership. He had been discipled by Polycarp, who was mentored by the Apostle John. Polycarp was ultimately burned at the stake for refusing to renounce Christ. Many of Irenaeus’s fellow priests and believers were also imprisoned or killed during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Upon returning from a mission to Rome, Irenaeus was appointed bishop to succeed Pothinus, who was martyred just days earlier.
As a leader, Irenaeus faced significant financial and strategic challenges. He worked to sustain the ministries of his parishes amid persecution and sought to defend the faith against Gnostics like Marcus the Magician, who taught that creation was evil and that only spiritual enlightenment (not the body) mattered.
In response, Irenaeus doubled down on the doctrine of the incarnation. He led by example and preached that God made the world good, and that He chose to redeem it through the bodily life, death, and resurrection of his Son.
In his most famous book, Irenaeus offers what might be considered a mission statement for hard times:
“The glory of God is the human being fully alive.”
This bold affirmation pushed back against the disembodied spirituality of his age and re-centered the Christian imagination on the reality of the incarnation, that God is not distant from our human experience, but deeply invested in it.
Leadership Now 2026 will explore what it means to lead organizations of people that are “fully alive,” as Christ was during his earthly ministry. In a moment marked by cultural polarization, rapid technological shifts, deep sector fatigue, increased need, and emerging financial constraints, we believe the call to incarnational leadership has never been more urgent or more hopeful.
Indeed, Jesus promised his followers:
Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” (John 14:12)
This year’s gathering will explore how leaders can build organizations that are faithful, resilient, and deeply rooted in biblical truth. Our speakers and workshops will focus on the practical application of Scripture and strategy through three essential dimensions of incarnational leadership:
- Personal Formation: How leaders can remain anchored in Christ while growing in courage, clarity, and conviction
- Organizational Practice: How to design durable, adaptive nonprofits rooted in mission
- Public Engagement: How to bear faithful witness in a world marked by challenge and change
Grounded in the Murdock Trust’s investment in strengthening the nonprofit ecosystem, shaped by the wisdom of leaders across sectors, and in response to current nonprofit realities, Leadership Now 2026 will encourage and inspire you to lead with confidence in the promise of Christ, and the power of a life fully alive.
We look forward to sharing the full speaker lineup and detailed schedule in late September.
Eligibility #
Leadership Now is open to Executive Directors/CEOs of faith-based organizations who have received a grant from the Murdock Trust.
For any questions, please reach out to leadershipnow@murdocktrust.org.
The Murdock Trust is grateful for the ongoing support and partnership provided by the Stewardship Foundation.