Best Practices

A best practice for ministry is to be both optimistic and realistic – and to discern the difference between the two. Our Best Practices Heartland 2020 planning team, while filled with optimism, has arrived at what we believe to be a realistic acknowledgement of the inevitable. We have therefore determined that it is in everyone’s best interest to announce today that the 2020 conference will not be able to take place.

Our team has a profound sense of disappointment about this and was extremely reluctant to reach this decision, but we have absolutely no confidence that the governor of Michigan will open up our state to the degree that would be necessary to host even a scaled-down conference.

Canceling now allows our school to put those days back into their educational calendar. That will be especially helpful this year. In addition, local hotels and caterers can readjust their schedules and conference presenters and attendees should have adequate time to do the same.

We also discussed the potential for some kind of virtual conference, but quickly came to the conclusion that one of the greatest benefits of Best Practices conferences is the mutual encouragement and support that can come only through face-to-face contact. We are hoping that the great line-up of plenary and break-out presenters that were scheduled for this year will be able to join us next year.

As we are able to determine dates and speakers for 2021, we will be sure to share that information.

We continue to pray for all who are engaged in any kind of ministry in the Lord’s church and encourage you to also pray unceasingly for both the Phoenix conference scheduled for February and Best Practices Heartland 2021.

With the goal of helping other congregations most effectively use their God-given gifts, Christ Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona, started the Best Practices for Ministry Conference. Since it began, the conference has been presented free of charge to all who attend. Participants are greeted with warm hospitality, great speakers, and practical workshops. The Conference has grown greatly since its start, expanding to the Midwest.

In 2015, Carmel Lutheran (now Cornerstone Lutheran) brought the concept of the conference to Indiana to make it more easily accessible to more congregations "in the Heartland". Cornerstone hosted in 2016 as well, and St. Peter's Lutheran in Columbus assumed the leadership for 2017 and 2018. They turned the reigns back over to Cornerstone Lutheran for 2019 and now in 2020 St. Lorenz Lutheran will be hosting.