Private offering of Lake Institute Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising for ELCA Leaders
2026-01-14 - 2026-03-11 | Online
The Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF) is an eight-week online course with a practical application project.
It provides the research, tools, and customized training to meet the growing needs of leaders in religious communities and fundraisers of faith-based organizations. The focus of the ECRF is on the cultural, organizational, and philanthropic practices unique to religious institutions. These practices in turn enable donors motivated by spiritual and religious values to experience the joy of generous giving.
https://lakeinstitute.org/education/executive-certificate-in-religious-fundraising/ecrf-schedule/elca-2026/

ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza
2026-01-30 - 2026-02-02 | St. Louis, MO
Extravaganza is about faith formation. Extravaganza is about helping you in your ministry. Extravaganza is about renewal, education and connection….
Extravaganza is a four day leadership event for ELCA congregational leaders in children’s, youth, young adult and outdoor ministry.
https://www.elcaymnet.org/ext26

ACA National Conference
2026-02-17 - 2026-02-20 | San Diego, CA
Join us for the 2026 ACA National Conference, February 17-20, 2026, in San Diego, CA. Four-plus packed days of quality education, social and issues-based networking, professional trade-show access and special events are designed to boost your professional development.
https://www.acacamps.org/events-education/event/2026-aca-national-conference

Compass Points Presents! Succession Planning for Directors and Board Members
2026-03-03 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Compass Points Presents!
Succession Planning for Directors and Board Members
About this Online Offering
The Compass Points Certificate Program is expanding to add three-hour workshops on various topics related to camp and retreat ministries. These online offerings will be facilitated by Compass Points faculty and guests. These workshops are not core course offerings for the certificate program, but are continuing education enrichment opportunities for seasoned leaders.
Our first Compass Points Presents! workshop, “Succession Planning for Directors and Board Members,” will be led by Glenn Svetnicka. This session is designed to equip participants to plan for leadership transitions that honor the past, sustain the present, and secure the future of their ministry. Participants will be able to define succession planning, why it matters, and how to build a culture of leadership continuity.
Learn More: http://www.compasspointsprogram.org/classesin2026/

LOM East Midwest Territory Program Share-a-Thon 2026
2026-03-06 - 2026-03-08 | Camp Ewalu
Friday, March 6th – Sunday March 8th
Camp Ewalu
37776 Alpha Ave. Strawberry Point, IA 52076

Cost: $140/person
Lodging:
We will be lodging in cabins at Ewalu. Bring your own bedding (sleeping bags or sheets for a twin sized bed). There will not be an option for single vs. double occupancy rooms, so expect to have a roommate.
Come join your fellow Program Directors and other program staff as we dig into what it means to be a Program Director at camp and unpack some of our unique challenges and joys! This weekend is centered around community, learning, and sharing! We will spend our days together digging into topics we decide on together, sharing resources, and exploring how we are navigating the ever changing world of programming at camp!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 20th, 2026
Register Here

Here is the tentative schedule:
Friday, March 6th
4-5:30pm – Arrive/check in/get settled
6:00pm – Dinner
7:00pm – Brainstorm/Picking Topics
8:00pm – Fellowship
Saturday, March 7th
8:00am – Breakfast
9:00am – 10:15am Share-a-thon Topic 1
10:30am – 11:45 – Share-a-thon Topic 2
12:00pm – Lunch
1:00pm – 3:00pm – Tour of Ewalu/Free Time
3:15 pm – 4:30pm – Share-a-thon Topic 3
4:30pm – 5:15pm – Share-a-thon Topic 4
5:30pm – Dinner
6:30pm – Share-a-thon Topic 5
7:45pm – Fellowship
Sunday, March 8th
8am – Breakfast
9am – Share-a-thon Topic 6/Closing Conversations
10:15 – Depart

Online Compass Points Class
2026-03-16 - 2026-03-19 | Online
What makes our church camps so uniquely wonderful and sets us apart from other camping organizations is our firm foundation in our beliefs as Christians. This course will enable participants to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their understanding of our biblical and theological roots as the core value for all that we do in our outdoor ministry settings.
http://www.compasspointsprogram.org/spring2026/

LOM Property and Facilities Maintenance Consortium
2026-04-02 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Brian Scheid, Property & Facilities Director at Bethel Horizons(WI) is developing a LOM Maintenance Consortium.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbsz9ouN4TcRGLzOrR06maR6RMQB0o9vay8SqXnZe3asdCZw/viewform

ACA Medical & Disability Kindred Conversation
2026-04-09 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Join ACA for a bimonthly conversation among others who serve campers with medical challenges and disabilities. We are here to inspire and educate each other.
More Info

ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering
2026-07-06 - 2026-07-09 | Indianapolis, IN
Rostered Ministers Gathering

When

The Rostered Ministers Gathering will begin on Monday, July 6 beginning with opening Worship at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. The gathering will conclude by noon Eastern time on Thursday, July 9.

Where

We will gather in beautiful Indianapolis, Indiana at the JW Marriot Indianapolis. Rooms, travel, and helpful info is provided below.

Register

Registration opens Friday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m. Central time and closes Friday, June 5, at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
More Info

Strategic Priority Open House
2026-08-24 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | ZOOM
If you didn’t see the email in June, the LOM Board of Directors has been working on the next set of strategic priorities. We plan to have some open house Zoom sessions on August 24th from 12:00-1:00pm CT (Zoom link: August 24 LOM Strategic Priority Open House) and on September 9 from 7:00-8:00pm CT (Zoom link: September 9 LOM Strategic Priority Open House) to share with those who are interested in learning more. Please join us if you’re able!

Zoom link: August 24 LOM Strategic Priority Open House

LOM Property and Facilities Maintenance Consortium
2026-08-26 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | Online
The Maintenance Consortium brings together camp property and facilities staff from across Lutheran Outdoor Ministries for conversation, collaboration, and practical problem-solving. Participants share ideas, discuss maintenance challenges, exchange best practices, and learn from one another’s experiences in caring for camp facilities and grounds.
Whether you’re responsible for buildings, equipment, utilities, or the overall upkeep of your camp, you’re invited to join the discussion.
Join the meeting: Maintenance Consortium #3

Strategic Priority Open House
2026-09-09 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | ZOOM
If you didn’t see the email in June, the LOM Board of Directors has been working on the next set of strategic priorities. We plan to have some open house Zoom sessions on August 24th from 12:00-1:00pm CT (Zoom link: August 24 LOM Strategic Priority Open House) and on September 9 from 7:00-8:00pm CT (Zoom link: September 9 LOM Strategic Priority Open House) to share with those who are interested in learning more. Please join us if you’re able!

Zoom link: September 9 LOM Strategic Priority Open House

God's Work Our Hands
2026-09-13
September 13: “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. ELCA’s annual day of service

Total Inclusion! Leaders grant application deadline
2026-09-15
September 15: Total Inclusion! Leaders grant application deadline

The Shape Of Leadership for LOM Professionals 2026
2026-09-23 - 2026-09-26 | Luther Hill, La Grange, TX
Learn More & Apply: https://www.leaderwise.org/shape-of-leadership
Download Brochure

The Shape Of Leadership for LOM Professionals 2026
Luther Hill, La Grange, TX
Retreat One February 9-12, 2026 Leading in a Time of Disruption
Zoom One To be agreed upon by the group Orchestrating Change
Zoom Two To be agreed upon by the group Leading Amidst Difference
Retreat Two September 21-23, 2026 Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community

The Shape of Leadership is for outdoor ministry professionals who want to renew their leadership and step up their ability to significantly
impact the future of this vital ministry of the church.
The past few years have been incredibly challenging for camp professionals. Leaders are tired, if not burned out, and need safe places where they can reflect on the demands of their work and develop their leadership for the changing landscape of outdoor ministry. We create brave spaces where leaders can show up with their whole being and are accepted as they are. We invite participants to be authentic and vulnerable, to embed new learning that they then take back to their contexts. We provide emergent spaces to reconnect with God and self, so participants can serve more fully. This time away invites reflection on what changes organizations need to make for these complex times in which we live and how they will lead those changes.
In this program, Shape participants spend a year together, twice in person at opening and closing retreats to develop their leadership in adaptive and experiential ways: by experimenting with innovative practices, deepening self-awareness, and learning to navigate change, conflict, and the daily challenges of leadership. Shape facilitators cultivate an ethos that encourages leaders to wrestle with new ideas in the safety of a generous and compassionate space.
The program is highly experiential, collaborative and offers the opportunity to develop long-lasting support systems. In the Shape program, each retreat provides opportunity to bond and learn together. Between retreats, participants meet in cohort groups to journey through the year together, supporting each other and deepening the learning. In Shape, you can expect to work hard and gain much.

Compass Points Class
2026-09-28 - 2026-10-01 | Pilgrim Firs Camp & Retreat Center, Port Orchard, WA
Do you know where your ministry is going? Can you clearly articulate for others who you are and why you exist? Identification and implementation of mission, core values, and philosophy are central to all aspects of successful outdoor ministry: program, site management, hospitality, marketing, finances, and more. Participants will delve into their organization’s mission and core values. This course involves organizational introspection and will engage with a wide variety of concepts, ideas, and activities. Coursework will challenge a new or clearer perspective concerning mission, philosophy, vision and core values in your outdoor ministry.
More Info

LOM Leadership Training Event (LTE)
2026-11-05 - 2026-11-09 | Luther Hill, La Grange, TX
The LTE is an annual professional development opportunity for outdoor ministry leaders. The goal of the LTE is to provide an entry-level educational opportunity to develop well-trained, committed, and diverse outdoor ministry professionals. The LTE strives to enhance the quality of outdoor ministry programs, support professionals through formal and information learning, and assist in the retention of professionals in the network. The LTE curriculum is implemented in a 3-year rotation with different concentrations. It is ideal for participants to attend all three concentrations but each concentration does stand on its own.
Structure and Operation This concentration equips leaders to manage people, facilities, finances, and risk through a faith-rooted, values-driven lens – recognizing that operational excellence is not separate from ministry, but one of its most faithful expressions. Participants will explore how theology, organizational culture, and infrastructure intersect to shape reputation, trust, and long-term sustainability. Courses emphasize practical tools, shared leadership, and systems thinking – helping leaders move beyond reactive decision-making toward structures that support clarity, consistency, and resilience over time.
More Info

LOM Annual Conference
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-13 | Tejas Camp & Retreat, Giddings, TX

LOM Executive Director Gathering
2027-04-05 - 2027-04-08 | Bethel Horizons, Dodgeville, WI
Calling all LOM Executive Directors!
Save the date for the Executive Director Gathering in April 2027. Plans are underway for the next Executive Director Gathering, April 5-8, 2027, at Bethel Horizons in Dodgeville (WI). Be on the lookout for more information related to this event, but please be sure to save the date today!
