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Dear Beloved Leaders and Kingdom Builders, Welcome to the fifth annual TKN Leadership Summit! Five years ago, we began with a simple conviction: leaders grow stronger when they grow together. Every year since, you have proven it true. Many of you have walked with us from the beginning, and many of you are joining us for the first time. Either way, you belong here. Psalm 145:4 declares, “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” The faith we carry was handed to us, and one day we will hand it on. That conviction shapes these three days. We begin on Tuesday with our Pre-Summit Intensives on compelling preaching and church polity. Wednesday brings a full day of teaching and closes with our Night of Worship, a time to simply bless the Lord together. On Thursday, we turn our full attention to intergenerational ministry. Many of you have come as teams, with seasoned saints and emerging leaders side by side, and that is exactly the point. We will not only talk about reaching across generations. We will work on it together, and you will leave with practical tools to take home. Our prayer is that you leave inspired to lead with fresh vision, ready to steward your influence with integrity, and equipped to make an impact that outlasts any one of us. Come ready to learn, to share what God has taught you, and to build relationships that will carry you long after November. Thank you for being here. Let’s get to work. In Kingdom Service, Rev. Dr. Matthew L. Watley Founder, The Kingdom Network

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2026

11:00am Registration Check-in Opens 12:00pm Worship and Sessions Begin TRACK 1: Compelling Preaching Rev. Dr. Jennifer Carner • Rev. Dr. Essentino Lewis, Jr. • Bishop Rudolph McKissick TRACK 2: Church Polity and Politics Bishop Charley Hames, Jr. • Rev. Cindy Rudolph • Rev. Dr. Jawanza Colvin • Rev. Dr. Danielle Brown 4:00pm Closing 6:00pm - 8:00pm Welcome Reception at The Hotel (Invited Guests)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2026

8:00am 9:00am

Registration Check-in Opens Worship, Welcome and Sessions Begin

Rev. Dr. Matthew Watley • Rev. Dr. Janiece Williams Rev. Nicky Gumbel (virtual) with Rev. Dr. Matthew Watley • Rev. Dr. Bryan Carter 12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch 1:30pm Afternoon Sessions Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin Panel: Rev. Dr. Matthew Watley • Rev. Dr. Bryan Carter • Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin 3:00pm Closing 7:00pm Night of Worship with Rev. Dr. Dharius Daniels & Melvin Crispell III

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2026 8:00am 9:00am

Registration Check-in Opens Worship, Welcome and Morning Sessions Begin

Pastor Rodney Carter • Rev. Dr. Dharius Daniels • Rev. Steven Carter Panel: Pastor Michael Kelsey • Pastor Rodney Carter • Pastor David Osborne Min. Jordan DeVeaux-Brasley 12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch 1:30pm Afternoon Sessions Fireside Chat: Rev. Dr. Matthew Watley with Rev. Anthony Trufant and Rev. Dr. Shareka Newton • Rev. Dr. Ralph West 3:00pm

Closeout of TKN Leadership Summit 2026

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

COMPELLING PREACHING Preaching for the Times: Communicating an Unchanging Gospel in a Changing Culture Preachers today are called to proclaim an unchanging gospel in an everchanging world. Drawing from her expertise in homiletics, sacred rhetoric, and preaching in contemporary contexts, Dr. Jennifer Carner explores how to craft sermons that are biblically faithful, culturally aware, and deeply relevant. Participants will learn how to preach with authenticity and conviction in a postChristian and rapidly shifting ministry landscape.

Preaching to Diverse Audiences Without Losing Biblical Depth

Today’s preacher must effectively proclaim the gospel to congregations shaped by different cultures, generations, and life experiences. Rev. Dr. Essentino Lewis, Jr. shares practical insights on preaching to diverse audiences while maintaining theological integrity and biblical clarity. Participants will gain strategies for crafting sermons that connect across differences and call people into spiritual growth.

Exegetical Preaching

Today’s preacher is called to proclaim Scripture faithfully in a world filled with competing interpretations, cultural influences, and contemporary questions. This session equips preachers with practical tools for interpreting biblical texts within their historical, literary, and theological contexts and translating those insights into clear, compelling, and biblically grounded sermons that speak meaningfully to the lives of their hearers.

CHURCH POLITICS AND POLITY INTENSIVE Leading Change Without Losing Legacy

Leading change in the church requires both courage and wisdom. This session explores how pastors can effectively advance vision while honoring the traditions, structures, and relationships that shape their congregation. Participants will gain practical insight into building alignment with boards and leadership teams, navigating resistance, and leading organizations forward in ways that preserve trust while embracing necessary transformation.

Leadership Dynamics in the Local Church

Every leader must learn how to navigate the relational and organizational dynamics of ministry. This session explores how pastors and church leaders can effectively work within governing structures, manage competing expectations, navigate difficult conversations, and maintain unity while advancing vision. Participants will gain practical wisdom for leading with emotional intelligence, discernment, and integrity in complex leadership environments.

Polity, Power and Pastoral Leadership

Effective pastoral leadership requires more than passion and vision — it requires a deep understanding of the systems that govern ministry. This session examines how church polity shapes authority, decision-making, and organizational health. Bishop Charley Hames, Jr. will help leaders navigate governance structures with wisdom, steward influence responsibly, and lead with both conviction and accountability in increasingly complex ministry contexts.

The Politics of Pastoring: What Nobody Tells You About Church Leadership

Pastoring is more than preaching, vision casting, and caring for people. It requires navigating relationships, managing influence, extending grace, exercising discernment, and building trust in complex church environments. Drawing from lessons learned during the first five years of pastoral leadership, the Rev. Dr. Danielle Brown will explore the unwritten realities of church politics: how to extend grace without abandoning wisdom, recognize character beyond charisma, manage the influence of the pastoral office, navigate disappointment, and lead people toward a shared vision.

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 Opening Session

Rev. Dr. Matthew L. Watley, founder of The Kingdom Network, welcomes leaders to the Summit and shares opening remarks.

The Ethics of Kingdom Collaboration

How do we work together across churches, denominations, traditions, and platforms without creating unnecessary division? This session explores the ethics of collaboration—how to enter spaces with humility, honor what God is doing in other ministries, navigate differences, and seek agreement around what unites us. Because Kingdom collaboration requires us to know when to speak, when to listen, and how to make room for one another.

The Global Church: Evangelism, Discipleship, and What’s Next Few leaders have shaped global evangelism and discipleship more profoundly than Rev. Nicky Gumbel. As the pioneer of Alpha, a course now used in 140 countries, translated into 170 languages, and experienced by more than 30 million people, Gumbel has spent decades helping the church make faith accessible to everyday people. In this conversation with Rev. Dr. Matthew L. Watley, Gumbel reflects on what it takes to build movements that outlast any single leader, how to release the next generation with confidence, and why his most ambitious vision for global evangelism is still ahead of him. For leaders committed to building churches that reach, disciple, and multiply, this conversation will inspire and challenge in equal measure.

Leading a Legacy Church

Legacy churches carry deep history, strong traditions, and tremendous influence within their communities. But how do leaders honor the past while guiding the church into the future? Rev. Dr. Bryan Carter offers wisdom for navigating the unique challenges and opportunities of leading historic congregations. This session will provide insight into preserving legacy while embracing vision, growth, and transformation.

The State of the Kingdom

What is God doing in the church today, and how should leaders respond? Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin provides a compelling overview of the current landscape of the Kingdom, examining cultural trends, opportunities for impact, and the role of the church in this moment. This session will inspire leaders to think globally while acting faithfully in their local contexts.

PANEL DISCUSSION The Church Ahead: Leading God’s People in a World of Change

Rev. Dr. Matthew Watley, Rev. Dr. Bryan Carter & Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin.

Thursday, November 12, 2026 Reaching the Younger Generation with the Tradition

How can churches remain rooted in tradition while meaningfully engaging younger generations? In this practical and thought-provoking session, Pastor Rodney Carter explores how leaders can bridge generational gaps without abandoning the values, worship, and theological foundations that have sustained the church. Participants will gain strategies for honoring tradition, fostering intergenerational connection, and communicating timeless truths in ways that resonate with younger audiences while preserving the heart of the church’s legacy.

Ministry Innovation

The message of the gospel never changes, but the methods of ministry must evolve. Rev. Dr. Dharius Daniels challenges leaders to rethink traditional approaches and embrace creative strategies for reaching people in today’s world. This session will help pastors and ministry leaders cultivate a culture of innovation while remaining anchored in biblical truth.

Multigenerational Ministry

The church is called to be a place where generations worship, grow, and serve together. This session explores how churches can bridge generational differences, build authentic relationships across ages, and create ministry environments where children, young adults, adults, and older adults all have a meaningful place to belong, contribute, and grow.

Faith Across Generations: An Intergenerational Discussion on Faith and Culture

Every generation experiences the world differently, shaped by cultural shifts, technological advances, and changing social expectations. From artificial intelligence to evolving perspectives on faith and community, these changes present the Church with both challenges and opportunities for ministry.

Passing the Torch: Succession, Legacy, and the Next Generation What does it look like to pass leadership from one generation to the next while honoring the legacy that came before? Through a candid conversation between Rev. Anthony Trufant and Rev. Dr. Shareka Newton, this session explores succession, mentorship, transition, and the stewardship of legacy. Together, they will reflect on what it means to prepare the next generation

Transitioning Through Seasons of Ministry

Every ministry experiences seasons of growth, challenge, renewal, and transition. Rev. Dr. Ralph West shares pastoral wisdom from decades of leadership on how to faithfully navigate these shifts. Leaders will gain perspective on discerning God’s movement, maintaining stability through change, and preparing their churches for what comes next.