Christian Legal Society welcomes ministers, church executive pastors, and other church leaders for a special Pastors’ Forum on Friday, November 1, 2019, in conjunction with the 2019 CLS National Conference in Chicago. As a national grass-roots organization, we seek to equip church ministry personnel with legal guidance and support through this special learning opportunity provided by leading Christian attorneys. The Pastors’ Forum will include the following: (a) morning welcome session; (b) the conference religious liberty plenary session featuring nationally renowned attorneys providing updates and insights; (c) lunch together with a Q & A attorney panel who will address key legal issues for church leaders; (d) two afternoon workshop sessions, with options including child protection systems, nonprofit employment law, effective investigations, and cybersecurity; and (e) late afternoon plenary session with Dr. Mark Jobe, the senior pastor and president of Moody Bible Institute.
Cost $30 (for the full day Friday including lunch)
Additional attendance options: free for Saturday workshops. Join us for the Saturday Celebration Banquet with guest speaker Kelvin Cochran for $125 per guest.
From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16) Compelled by Christ’s love, we can more effectively serve in Kingdom ministry together!
Agenda
8:15 am – Gathering
8:30-9:30 am – Opening Pastors’ Session: Welcome from CLS National President Sally Wagenmaker; Legal Aid Highlights from John Mauck on Jesus as Wonderful Counselor
9:30-11:30 am – Religious Freedom Plenary Session (speaker bios can be found on the main registration site)
12:00 pm-1:15 pm – Lunch Q & A Panel Session on church legal topics, with attorneys Jim Pluymert, Noel Sterett, and Gabrielle Parker-Okojie
1:30 pm-3:00 pm – Afternoon Workshop Session 1
Child Protection Awareness and Child Safety System (Rob Showers/Sally Wagenmaker)
Optional Workshop – Employment Law for Churches and Other Nonprofits (Forrest Norman)
3:30 pm-5:00 pm – Afternoon Workshop Session 2
Skillful Screening and Sex Offender Assimilation (Rob Showers)
Optional Workshop – Effective Investigations of Misconduct (Theresa Sidebotham)
5:30 pm-6:30 pm – Plenary Session with Dr. Mark Jobe, Moody Bible Institute president and New Life Community Church of Chicago pastor