Lead Elders Coaching

3rd-4th March and 20th-21st October 2027

In 2027 we are launching a brand-new initiative to serve, equip and coach Lead Elders - those who carry the unique responsibility of leading a church. Join us for this 2-year course.

What is Lead Elders Coaching?

Lead Elders Coaching is a focused leadership development opportunity, designed to equip Lead Elders for the challenging realities of their leadership role. We want to bring high-quality content in the context of a trusted space where we can share the real-world leadership challenges we face and receive input to help us thrive in our role and go the distance for years to come.

Who is this for?

This is exclusively for Lead Elders, by which we mean the team leader of your church’s Eldership Team (whether you use the term ‘Lead Elder’ or not). 

This is for Lead Elders from churches of any size who possess a genuine hunger to grow, a willingness to learn, and a desire to see their church impact their communities more effectively. We are looking for leaders with a growth mindset who will actively engage and apply the lessons, in a contextualised way, to their own situation. 

What core areas will these sessions cover?

We will focus on four key areas:

  • Know Yourself: Cultivating your personal resilience, emotional health, and character as a high-level leader.

  • Know Your Team: Building healthy staff and team structures, managing key dynamics, and releasing volunteers well.

  • Know Your Church: Navigating structural growth barriers and the many leadership challenges we all face. 

  • Know Your Context: Building in a way appropriate to where God has put you to reach your unique community 

Who is leading this?

The cohort will be led by Steve Petch (Lead Elder at Welcome Church) drawing on more than 20 years of lead eldership experience. Steve's insights are shaped from leading in three very different contexts, each of which required a tailored approach. Steve has planted two churches, one of which became a multi-site church, and more recently has brought significant change and growth to an already established church. He's led in rural, city and suburban contexts, with many resources and with few! 

Other experienced leaders will also be involved, including the much loved Mick Taylor, and some other key leaders from both the Welcome Church team and further afield.

How much does it cost?

The cost is £400 per year, which includes meals, drinks, snacks and all necessary resources.

Subsidy for Commission churches: Because we are committed to investing in our family of churches, Welcome Church is subsidising the fees by £100 for anyone within our Commission network, bringing your cost down to just £300 for the first year.

Express your interest here

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Size is not the barrier. This cohort is not about how big your church currently is; it’s about where you want to take it. The structural, strategic, and personal leadership principles you will learn can be applied whether you are trying to break through 100 people or 1,000. If you are hungry to grow and ready to learn, this is for you.

  • We are open to Lead Elders from anywhere in our Newfrontiers family, and if you are not part of our Newfrontiers world, we are still happy to chat with you to see if this would be a good fit. The main requirements are a genuine hunger to grow, a teachable heart, and a willingness to learn alongside others.

  • No. We will cover a lot of the same ground, and life is far too busy for you to be out of your church that often!

  • Absolutely not. We firmly believe that every local church has a unique context and a specific God-given identity and calling. Our goal is not to clone Welcome Church or sell a rigid philosophy of ministry. Whilst we will undoubtedly share some of the ways we do things and some of the lessons learned along the way, our goal is to help you become the best version of the leader you need to be for your context.

  • This is no way intended to replace or compete with your current connections or oversight as a church, only to complement them.

  • Your time commitment is four days per year in 2027 and 2028, with two distinct 2-day blocks in March and October 2027, and again in March and October 2028. Each block includes evening content on the first day, over a meal. An overnight stay is recommended, creating a chance to build deeper relational bonds and peer support.

  • This is an interactive course and you will need to be in the room in person.

  • We will be laying foundations for the whole course in the March sessions. Please do feel free to register your interest however, and you may be able to join in 2028.

  • This initiative is designed exclusively for the primary team leader of your Eldership Team - the ‘Lead Elder’ (whether or not you use this phrase). The focus will be on the unique relational, organisational, and leadership pressures that rest solely on the shoulders of that leader, and the unique contribution you can bring.

  • If you know you’re finishing in the next couple of years, it’s probably best to leave the space for someone else. In terms of someone getting ready to take over from you, it would be best to wait until they are actually in the role. This is more about coaching than preparation, and if it’s well received we’ll run it again in the future.

    • Your booking: Delegates are responsible for booking and providing their own overnight accommodation and breakfast

    • Recommendations provided: Once your place is confirmed, we will send you a list of recommended hotels close to the venue.

    • Meals included: We will provide all lunches, snacks and evening meals during the course. You will only need to cover your own breakfast and accommodation

  • Follow the link in the invitation email to complete your expression of interest by Wednesday 14th October. Because numbers are limited, we ask that you briefly share why you want to attend and what you hope to get out of it. We will review all expressions of interest and confirm places by Wednesday 21st October

Got more questions?

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch via steve@welcomechurch.uk