Our annual Women’s Ministry Leadership Training is designed for women who encourage and equip other women in the Church. It is our aim to come alongside local and presbytery women’s ministry leaders, Bible study teachers, and women who are extending care to women in their church.
Women’s Ministry Leadership Training
February 22-24, 2024
Who Should Come? Women’s Ministry Leaders, Bible Study Teachers, Presbytery Women’s Leaders, Directors of Women’s Ministry…really any women who encourage and equip other women.
Keynote Speakers: Sarah Ivill | Susan Hunt | Laura Story & Jamie Voss | Chandra Oliver | Karen Hodge
Special Guest Artist:
LAURA STORY is a wife, mother, songwriter, worship leader, author, artist, and Bible teacher. Her songs—which have won Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and Dove Awards—include “Blessings,” and Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable.” She is the author of several bestselling books and Bible studies including When God Doesn’t Fix It and So Long Normal. Laura has a master of theological studies and a doctorate in worship studies, and has served as a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta since 2005. Her greatest joy is being a wife to Martin and mother to Josie, Ben, Griffin, and Timothy.
Early Registration Fee (prior to 11/15/23): $350. Includes registration, Thursday dinner, Friday lunch and dinner. (Does NOT include hotel)
$375 includes a Welcome lunch on Thursday, which will be helpful for first timers as well as those who have been in the past and are arriving early.
Before registering:
- Please note: The portal will ask for the name of your church. They are listed by city. If your church is not listed, use the NULL option and there will be another place on the registration form to include the name of your church.
- You’ll need to know which 2 workshops you’ll attend.
- You’ll need to know which affinity luncheon you’ll attend.
- You’ll need to know if you are going to attend the Welcome Lunch on Thursday at noon.
- If you have any problems registering, please email Kathy Wargo, kwargo@pcanet.org. We are using a new registration portal.
After Registering, you’ll want to go to the Hotel tab to register online for your hotel.
Location of Conference: Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort | 4021 Lakeview Drive | Stone Mountain, GA 30083 | 770-879-9900 | atlantaevergreen.com
Location of Conference: Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort | 4021 Lakeview Drive | Stone Mountain, GA 30083 | 770-879-9900 | atlantaevergreen.com
Once you register for the conference, be sure to register for your hotel room using the link below. The discounted rate is $137/night and includes entrance to Stone Mountain Park if you are staying on the property. (Others will need to pay $40 for parking.)
Schedule:
Thursday, February 22, 2024
2:00 pm – Keynote #1 – The Core of the Covenant, Sarah Ivill
3:45 pm – Regional Gatherings
5:45 pm – Dinner and General Session #2 – A Covenant Chorus: A Special Evening with Laura Story and Jamie Voss
Friday, February 23, 2024
9:00 am – Keynote #3 – Living and Leading in the Reality of God’s Covenant of Grace, Susan Hunt
10:30 am – Workshops
12:15 pm – Lunch and Affinity Groups for Writers, Presbyterian Women’s Ministry, Wives of Elders, W4 (Women Working with Women in paid church staff positions), Women’s Ministry International, Legacy Women, or Time with Others.
2:00 pm – Workshops
4:00 pm – Regional Gathering
5:45 pm – Dinner and Keynote #4 – We are Family: The Blessing of Becoming and Belonging, Chandra Oliver
Saturday, February 24, 2024
9:00-10:30 am – Keynote #5 – Walking Each Other Home: The Next Steps in Implementing a Covenantal Framework, Karen Hodge
When registering, you will need to know which 2 workshops would you like to attend:
-
A Covenantal Framework – Sarah Ivill
- Women’s Ministry 101 – Susan Hunt and Paula Miles
- Cultivate Covenant Community in the Context of Leadership – Courtney Denton and Eden Flora
- Gospel Transformation: Word-based and Relationally-driven Discipleship – Meaghan May and Cheryl Mullis
- Follow Me as I Follow Christ: Covenantal Framework for Leadership – Tatiana Anderson and Karen Hodge
- “Avid-avoider?” “Peace-faker?” or “Peace-maker?” – Connie Miller
- Alongside Care: Ministering to Hurting Women in the Church – Christina Fox and Jane Anne Wilson
You will also sign up for which Affinity Group you’d like to attend for lunch on Friday:
- Presbytery Women’s Ministry (with Creigh Brown)
- Wives of Elders (with Meaghan May)
- Writers (with Christina Fox)
- W4—Women Working With Women in paid church staff positions (with Susan Tyner)
- Women’s Ministry international (with Connie Miller)
- Legacy Women (with Karen Hodge, Susan Hunt, Kathy Wargo) – This is a special luncheon commemorating the 50th anniversary of PCA Women’s Ministry for women who have served on the National Team in the past.
- Time with Others
Workshop Descriptions:
A Covenantal Framework
Sarah Ivill
As Bible teachers, we have the privilege to teach women how to understand the Word of God through a covenantal framework. Since the covenants structure everything in Scripture and are imperative to a correct understanding of who God is, how we interpret His Word and how we understand the gospel, we need to better understand this interpretive grid, which is already woven into Scripture. As we look at different portions of God’s Word, we will come to a deeper understanding that Christ is the center of the story, and better understand how to teach the Bible from a covenantal framework.
Women’s Ministry 101
Susan Hunt and Paula Miles
Do you want a Word-based, relationally-driven women’s ministry that disciples women to think biblically and live covenantally? Do you want to be a life-giving leader who builds a unified team? Do you want the characteristics of covenant life to characterize your women’s ministry? Too often we start in the wrong place when we think about women’s ministry. We must begin with the foundational truths of covenant (how we are bound to the Father), church (how we are bound to each other as believers), and our creation as women. As these transforming truths renew our minds, they inform and impact what we do, why we do it, and how we do it. By God’s grace we will live covenantally, ministry will flourish, and our churches will be healthier.
Cultivate Community in the Context of Leadership
Courtney Denton, Eden Flora
Ecclesiastes 4 tells us, “Two are better than one…For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” How are we to cultivate community as women’s ministry leaders? And why is this call so important? To lead covenantally, we are to remember God’s covenant is community focused. A beautiful we, instead of me. Let’s learn together from the perfect relational God about building and growing community as we lead.
Gospel Transformation: Word-based and Relationally-Driven Discipleship
Meaghan May, Cheryl Mullis
Word-based and relationally-driven discipleship is what drives women’s ministry. As leaders, we can shape our women’s ministries into gospel classrooms for understanding the multifaceted glory of Covenant. Together we will explore how helping women to think biblically fuels covenant community impacting lives and homes, and ultimately strengthening the whole church.
Follow Me as I Follow Christ: Covenantal Framework for Leadership
Tatiana Anderson and Karen Hodge
Christ is our reference point for life-giving servant leadership. Thinking biblically about this call to serve is foundational to living, loving, and leading covenantally. Leading covenantally means leadership and ministry is relational at its core: loving God and loving others. Life-giving leaders and those they serve will both flourish when it is done in the context of community. Independent leadership separated from community runs a high risk of becoming life-taking when it elevates personality, preferences, or tasks above the very people we are called to serve. When we invite others to follow us as we follow Christ, we are deployed as gospel culture makers who strengthen the homes, communities, and churches we are privileged to serve.
“Avid-avoider?” “Peace-faker?” or “Peace-maker?”
Connie Miller
At some point in our lives, we are all confronted with different degrees of conflict. In this workshop we will examine four bedrock truths that will help us approach the rough waters of conflict, as well as how to respond biblically to conflict and become proficient with the tools God provides through His Word that will help develop a Godward heart and a gospel mindset for biblical peacemaking. These biblical tools will help us know how to pursue peace, build unity, and create a culture of oneness with one another.
Alongside Care: Ministering to Hurting Women in the Church
Christina Fox
How do we care well for the women in our churches, particularly those who are hurting? In this workshop, we’ll look at the biblical call to Alongside Care and how churches can minister truth in love to our sisters in Christ. We’ll discuss practical ways to come alongside one another in the church and even ways churches can develop specific ministries designed to care for women in crisis.
Thursday Afternoon: The Core of Covenant
Sarah Ivill
It’s hard to overstate the importance of covenant theology in our women’s ministries, yet many of us still have a hard time understanding how to define it, and especially how to apply it. As we counsel, lead and teach women in our churches, it’s important that we understand the essence of covenant theology, so that we give them a covenantal worldview. In order to do this, we must understand the promise of God’s presence, the person of Jesus Christ, the people of God, and the practice of God’s people.
Thursday Evening: A Covenant Chorus: A Special Evening with Laura Story and Jamie Voss
Friday Morning: Living and Leading in the Reality of God’s Covenant of Grace
Susan Hunt
We are products of our theology. Our theology becomes our doxology as we know, trust, and experience the reality of God’s covenant love, as we understand the connection between the covenant and our female creation and calling, and as we serve others in the power of His grace.
Friday Evening: We are Family: The Blessing of Becoming and Belonging
Chandra Oliver
We have been individually brought into covenant relationship with God. He has transformed us from enemies into heirs – AND – He has placed us into a covenant family. As God bound us to Christ, He also bound us to each other. The Covenant Changes Everything – including how we live and lead within the household of God. Together we will begin to unpack some practical and specific ways the covenant changes how we serve on teams and as leaders in Christ’s church.
Saturday Morning: Walking Each Other Home: The Next Steps in Implementing a Covenantal Framework
Karen Hodge
This session will focus on the “now what” of a covenantal framework to life and leadership. We will seek to synthesize all we have learned at LT 2024 and develop the next few steps of faith as we get the privilege in women’s ministry to walk each other Home.
Speakers and Team Members
Tatiana Anderson was born and raised in Ukraine, and has been in the PCA for over 25 years, serving in various ministries in her local church, including women’s ministry team, youth and children’s ministries, and small group discipleship. She has taught women’s Bible studies, facilitated women’s ministry small groups, and worked alongside different teams of women within the context of her church’s women’s ministry. Tatiana loves serving her church and sharing the love of Christ with people in her life.
Tatiana has been married to Jonathan for 21 years and together they have three children: Elle (16), Evan (14), and Nadia (12). Tatiana and Jonathan live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they are members of Village Seven Presbyterian Church. Together they lead a small group and Tatiana is involved in the church’s women’s ministry. Tatiana also serves on the National Women’s Ministry Team as Regional Advisor for the West. As a family, they enjoy hiking, skiing, paddle boarding and inviting people over to share meals and meaningful conversations.
Teri Anderson and her husband, Mark, are members of Spring Meadows PCA in Las Vegas, NV. They have two adult “kids,” a son-in-law, and enjoy their 7-year-old granddaughter and 2-year-old grandson as often as possible! Teri taught high school English, Computer Technology, and Gifted Education before beginning her motherhood role and a resulting home-based Mary Kay Cosmetics business, becoming a “mompreneur“ before it was trendy! Currently, as an Independent Sales Director, she provides training and mentoring for women of all ages across the USA. In the volunteer world, she served several terms as a Women’s Advisor to the Board of Covenant College, and as an Alpha Omicron Pi VP and International Board member. Locally, Teri has served on the Women’s Ministry Team, and taught Sunday School and Bible Study. She has served as a PCA Women’s Ministry Trainer and retreat speaker since 2001.
Creigh Brown is currently on staff as the Women’s Ministry Director at Christ Community Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, FL. She has also served as the Southwest Florida Presbytery Women’s Ministry Coordinator since 2020. Creigh has served her local church in leading discipleship and community groups, teaching Kids’ Worship classes, and leading international missions trips. She and her husband, Jamie (a Ruling Elder at CCPC), have been married for 27 years and have been blessed with four children. As those children are growing into adulthood, Creigh and Jamie are enjoying the mysterious transition from parenting adolescent children to walking alongside adult children. Together they enjoy backpacking, saltwater fishing, road trips, and whatever opportunities they have to spend in God’s beautiful creation.
Melanie Cogdill serves as a women’s ministry trainer for the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). She is also the managing editor of the online magazine the Christian Research Journal and the host of its weekly podcast, Postmodern Realities (subscribe wherever you get your favorite podcasts). She is a foodie who loves to eat and she posts her eating adventures on social media. She also is a big fan of modern board games and gaming with a group of women from her church. Melanie and her husband Dwayne live in North Carolina and have two grown sons.
Courtney Denton is married to Alex and has two young children, Blakely and Banks. She serves as the Director of Women’s Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, SC. and is the founder of The Life House Women’s Shelter, desiring to provide help and hope to women in need. Courtney’s heart for serving the needs of others is an outpouring of the mercy, grace and love she has been shown by God. Courtney’s desire is to equip and encourage women with the understanding of their God-given design and to live a life transformed by the Gospel. She is the author of KICKSTAND Devotionals. Courtney loves time with her family, Mexican food, shopping, and traveling.
Eden Flora is a member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Oxford, Mississippi. Currently, she serves as a Bible study teacher, small group leader, and on the Women’s National Team as the Mid South Regional Advisor. Eden works as a full-time artist, which is inspired by her faith. She loves creating visual reminders of God’s truth through her work. Additionally, she works as a Registered Art Therapist. Eden is married to her delightful and very tall husband, Gray. They have two joyful little boys. More information on Eden can be found here: www.edenwflora.com.
Christina Fox is a counselor, retreat speaker, and author of multiple books including A Heart Set Free: A Journey to Hope Through the Psalms of Lament, A Holy Fear: Trading Lesser Fears for the Fear of the Lord, and Like Our Father: How God Parents Us and Why That Matters for Our Parenting. She is the content editor for enCourage and General Editor for Alongside Care. You can find her at www.christinafox.com.
Karen Hodge serves as the Coordinator for PCA Women’s Ministry, where she seeks to connect women and churches to one another and to sound resources. She is also having the time of her life serving alongside her husband, pastor and best friend Chris, as they serve at Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, CO. Chris and Karen have two adult children, Anna Grace Botka and Haddon Hodge. She is the host of the enCourage podcast and authored Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver, Life-giving Leadership (along with Susan Hunt), and Breathe: The Life-giving Oxygen of the Lord’s Prayer.
Susan Hunt is the widow of retired PCA pastor Gene Hunt. Susan lives in Marietta, GA surrounded by their three children and their families. She is the former Coordinator of Women’s Ministries and the author of several books for women and children.
Sarah Ivill (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) has served at the Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership, in Bible Study Fellowship, and as Director of Women’s Ministry in the local church, among other leadership positions. Sarah is also the author of several Bible studies and books. In addition, she is a contributing blogger for enCourage, and has a regular blog with the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. She also enjoys speaking at women’s retreats and conferences. A member of Christ Covenant Church, Sarah lives with her husband and four children in Matthews, North Carolina.
Janet LaRocque is a member of Naperville Presbyterian Church in the Chicagoland suburbs and serves on the PCA’s National Women’s team as advisor for the Mid-America Region. She has been involved in Women’s Ministry since a friend invited her to her first ever Bible study in 2007. She has been part of the equipping team, various event teams, a co-leader of the Women’s Servant Team, and now a co-leader of the Titus 2 Discipleship team. She has also loved volunteering in the children’s area and in the church’s ESL program as a conversation partner for many years. She is passionate about encouraging and equipping women to know, love, and display Jesus better every day. In 2015, after over 25 years in public and corporate accounting, Janet joined the staff of NPC as the Director of Finance. Janet has been married to Lee since 1989. They have three adult children and as well as a 7-year old…chocolate lab. She enjoys meeting new people, reading, and traveling.
Meaghan May is grateful for the gospel and loves inviting women to live in the steadfast love of God whatever their current season. She is the PCA Elders’ Wives Liaison with PCA’s Discipleship Ministries (CDM). She has lived in many regions of the country and over the past two decades, she has served alongside her husband in church planting, women’s ministry, children’s ministry, special needs ministry, conference planning, retreat speaking, coaching, and youth ministry. She loves the church and is thankful to equip and encourage His people, especially those serving as Elder’s wives! Meaghan has been on the PCA Women’s Ministry National Team as a Regional Advisor and currently serves as a trainer with Parakaleo. Meaghan is thankful to invest in the lives of women as the Women’s Ministry Director for Covenant Presbyterian Church of Naples. She prays that women will grow in their love for God, His word, and one another, that together they will magnify the Lord and exalt His Name (Psalm 34:3). Meaghan loves to hike, laugh, read, experiment with new recipes, and cram into the minivan to explore new places on road trips with their five beautiful children.
Paula Miles is wife to Kevin, a ruling elder at Clemson Presbyterian, and mother of Wimberly Johnson (married to Charlie), Janie Gotfredson (married to Duncan), Clary (married to Elli), and Judy Livingston (married to Evan). She is also grandmother to 3 boys and has another grandchild on the way. Paula grew up in Anderson, SC and graduated from Clemson University. She has experienced the joy of being a full-time homemaker and public school teacher. Studying and teaching God’s Word is her passion, as well as coming alongside women to encourage them to understand their unique design and fulfill their individual callings. Paula is on staff at Clemson Presbyterian as women’s ministry coordinator since 2014, is a conference speaker, and serves on the PCA’s Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry Team as a trainer. She enjoys regular exercise, a good cup of coffee, watching sporting events, and investing in the lives of her family and friends.
Connie Miller celebrated 44 years of marriage to her college sweetheart, Mike, who is the Global Missions Pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina. Serving alongside her husband with his various roles has been a real joy as she has worn several ministry hats as a church planter’s wife, hospitality coordinator, worship leader, Children’s Sunday School and women’s Bible study teacher. They have 3 adult children, two daughters, Mary Sha; Cate, newly married to Jeff; and one son, Mike who is married to Megan. She and Mike love being “Nonnie and Pops” to their adorable grandchildren, Bo, Grisham, and Mary Caitlin. Connie serves as a National Trainer for the PCA Women’s Ministry and Advisor for Women’s Ministry International. She has a passion for discipling women and equipping them to think biblically and live covenantally. She and Mike enjoy traveling, hiking, biking and kayaking.
Carrie Mills has been married to PCA Pastor Brad Mills for the past 22 years. After graduating seminary, her family moved back to their hometown where they planted Grace Presbyterian Church in Fresno, California. Here they have been serving these past nine years. She is the mother of four beautiful children ranging in ages 18-11 years old. This summer the family took a trip to the East coast to drop off her oldest at Grove City College. She is actively homeschooling the three others children, as well as directs the Challenge 2 class for Classical Conversations. Carrie serves as CDM’s West Coast Regional Advisor.
Cheryl Mullis is the Director of Adult Ministries at Evangelical Presbyterian in Annapolis, MD and serves as the Northeast Regional Advisor. Cheryl loves to study and teach God’s Word and has helped shaped the small group ministry at her church by writing curriculum, building teams, mentoring and training leaders, and leading groups. Her passion is for others to be transformed by Jesus and to live each day dependent on Him, grateful for His faithfulness and love, and eager to tell others about His amazing grace.
Cheryl and her husband Don live in Annapolis, Maryland. Together they have raised five children and are blessed with ten grandchildren. Life together has been full of joys and surprises and through it all, God remains faithful. In addition to spending time with her family, Cheryl loves to travel, play her cello with the worship band, write curriculum, and read a good book at the beach.
Chandra Oliver serves on the PCA’s Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) National Women’s Ministry Team as a Trainer and Advisor-At-Large for Chaplain and Military Wives. Chandra lives in North Carolina with her husband Matt, who is a TE in the PCA and is an Army Chaplain. In the past nine years, the Olivers have lived in six different states. With each move they are encouraged and reminded that, although the Army sends them to new locations, “God never gets the address wrong.” Whether leading a Bible study, serving on a volunteer committee, or participating in a military event, Chandra enjoys finding new ways to breathe life into her fellow military spouses.
Marcie Tuten is the wife to Chris and mom to three beautiful girls, Marianne (13), Vera (11), Alice (6). When she is not busy driving carpool to and from school and to all the various sports and activities, she enjoys reading, drinking coffee, and taking walks (especially with their Boykin Spaniel, Griffey). She is a member of ChristChurch Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, GA where her husband serves as an elder and she teaches 5-year-old Sunday school and helps facilitate a women’s Bible study.
Allison Van Egmond is the Women’s Ministry Coordinator at New Life PCA in Escondido, CA and has served in this role for six years. Her heart’s desire is to see women grow in their love and knowledge of the Lord while growing deep, meaningful relationships with their sisters in Christ. Allison has been married to her husband, Nathan, for 14 years and they have two children in elementary school. For fun, Allison and her family enjoy camping, exploring nature, and pretending to be tourists in San Diego County.
Jamie Voss has been serving as the Women’s Ministry Director at Perimeter Church since 2010 and is the Southeast Regional Advisor. She has been in the PCA for thirty years and has a Masters in Educational Ministries from Covenant Seminary. Jamie became a Christian in college and was on staff with a campus ministry for 17 years, 7 of which she was a missionary overseas in Johannesburg, South Africa. Jamie has been married to Judson for 9 years and they have a 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy.
Jane Anne Wilson is an Advisor for the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) and has served as Northeast Regional Advisor on the National Women’s Ministry Team. Growing up in the PCA afforded her many opportunities to serve in a variety of roles and contexts. Wife to David and mother of four adult children, cuddling with her five adorable grandchildren, long walks with her husband, and adventurous family reunions are her favorite blessings.
Before you begin the registration process, be sure you know 3 things:
- Which 2 workshops you’ll attend
- Which Affinity luncheon you’ll attend
- Will you be attending the Welcome lunch on Thursday at noon?
A few other things to know about this Leadership Training:
- We are at a new location! While it is further from the airport, the property is beautiful! You may want to arrive on Wednesday and enjoy the beauty of Stone Mountain Park. We will provide some information about ways to get from the airport to the property for those who are flying.
- Join us for the Thursday Welcome Lunch! We are having a Welcome lunch on Thursday for those arriving in time. It is for anyone (not just first timers). There will be giveaways and helpful information, and it will also help with finding a lunch option.
- Registrations are not refundable, but they are transferrable.
All registrations are transferrable but not refundable.
CDM Conference Refund Policy: [for conferences over $200] All registrations are transferable without penalty. The registrant is responsible to sell (or gift) their registration to another individual and then notify CDM of the change.
If you must cancel, a person may choose to use their registration fee as a tax-deductible donation to a CDM scholarship fund. (A scholarship fund specifically designed to offer financial assistance enabling more people to attend CDM training & conferences). If a person would like to donate to this fund, their registration fee would be reclassified as a donation, and they would receive a receipt for their tax-deductible gift.
If requesting a refund for cancellations made 6+ weeks prior to the start of the event, email kwargo@pcanet.org with your full name and home address. You will receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee. For cancellations made within 6 weeks of the event, no refund will be provided. Thank you in advance for not requesting exceptions.
As we get closer, we will give ideas for transportation to Evergreen Lakeside Resort from the airport.
For those driving, there is an entrance fee of $20 to Stone Mountain Park. However, for those staying on the property, you do NOT have to pay; you will give your name at the entrance booth. (If you are commuting, you will have to pay the fee; we do not have any complimentary passes.)
Check here for answers to often asked questions:
- What time should I arrive? If you are flying, your flight should arrive by noon so that you are at Stone Mountain in time for the conference to begin. You may want to consider flying in on Wednesday. There are several hotels on the property of Stone Mountain, as well as beautiful trails to spend some time outside.
- What time does it end on Saturday? The last session will end by 10:30 am. It is wise not to schedule a flight before 2 pm in order to allow enough time to get to the airport.
- Is there a refrigerator in the room? Yes, there are refrigerators in each room.