McCormick Leads Launches
OCTOBER 22, 2026
A new professional-development series connecting practical leadership skills with the demands of ministry and community life
Answering a call to leadership is one thing. Navigating a budget, guiding a team through change, or turning a shared vision into action requires another set of skills.
Ministry asks all of this—and more—of today’s leaders. To help meet those demands, McCormick Theological Seminary is launching McCormick Leads: Everything They Forgot to Teach You in Seminary, a professional-development series for church leaders, community leaders, changemakers, and other professionals seeking to strengthen the practical skills their work requires.
Through seminars, training sessions, and collaborative learning experiences led by McCormick faculty, alumni, and friends of the Seminary, participants will gain actionable tools, trusted insight, and fresh perspectives to carry into their organizations and communities.
Because faithful leadership means being equipped for everything the call requires.
PRACTICAL LEARNING FOR THE WORK YOU’RE ALREADY DOING
Leadership rarely unfolds exactly as a textbook describes. It happens in board meetings and budget conversations, during organizational transitions, and when urgent community needs demand difficult decisions.
McCormick Leads brings experienced practitioners into conversation with leaders facing these realities every day. Each session connects practical expertise with McCormick’s commitment to forming thoughtful, courageous, and responsive leaders for the Church and the world.
Participants can expect:
Practical tools they can apply immediately
Guidance from experienced leaders and practitioners
Candid conversations about real leadership challenges
Opportunities to learn alongside peers
Resources to strengthen ministries, organizations, and communities
INAUGURAL SESSION: Beyond the Binder
McCormick Leads debuted during McCormick Days 2026 with “Beyond the Binder — Strategic Planning That Actually Moves Your Ministry Forward,” led by Rev. Dr. Craig Howard and Rev. Jesse Knox III.
Too often, a strategic plan becomes a document an organization completes, approves, and places on a shelf. Its real value comes when it shapes daily decisions: where to focus, how to use limited resources, and what to do when circumstances change. This inaugural session helped participants create a living strategy that aligns people, focuses priorities, directs resources, and supports a faithful response to change.
Together, participants explored how to:
Turn mission and vision into actionable priorities
Build alignment among staff, boards, congregations, and stakeholders
Use strategy to guide decisions and resources
Stay focused while adapting to change
Keep a strategic plan active after approval
EQUIPPING LEADERS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT
McCormick Leads extends the Seminary’s commitment to learning that serves both the Church and the wider community. It creates space for leaders to ask candid questions, learn from experience, and develop skills that help their organizations move forward. Whether you are leading a congregation, guiding a nonprofit, organizing in your community, or stepping into a new role, McCormick Leads invites you to bring the challenges you face—and leave with tools to meet them.
Learn more about McCormick Leads and stay tuned for future editions of “Everything they didn’t teach in seminary.”