PROTECTING CHURCHES. EMPOWERING LEADERS.
Experience the premier online summit that church leaders have relied on for over 18 years. Gain the legal clarity your ministry needs to lead with confidence and protect its future
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Date: September 17th & 18th, 2026
Time: 11 am ET to 2 pm ET
Format: Live Online Event
Access: Link Provided Upon RegistrationTicket Pricing:
Team Registration $347
Individual Premium $99
General Admission $69
Built to Stand: Strengthening the Church for What’s Ahead
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
— Matthew 7:24 (NIV)
This Year’s Speakers & Moderators
Erika E. Cole Esq.
Erika Cole, known as The Church Attorney®, is the go-to resource for churches in legal matters. Having provided over 25 years of experience advising denominations and churches in their legal needs, including tax-exempt status, property matters, governance, and mergers, she has been relied upon by denominations and churches of all sizes. She was raised in the church and has a love and commitment to see that churches and their leaders have the legal and tax insights they need to avoid unwanted government scrutiny and the loss of precious resources.
The Church Attorney®
Mr. Frank Sommerville, JD, CPA, retired after 32 years as a shareholder in the law firm of Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C. He now practices part-time with the Law Firm of Frank Sommerville. He is Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Sommerville has served religious institutions of all sizes and all major faith communities (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu). He is a regular contributor to many publications, including Christianity Today, Your Church, and PPC’s Nonprofit Tax & Governance Guide: Helping Organizations Comply (2011). Trained as a commercial litigator, he has successfully litigated many court cases involving religious organizations. He frequently consults nonprofit and religious organizations regarding legal risks and compliance issues.
Frank Sommerville JD, CPA & Elaine Sommerville CPA
Elaine L. Sommerville is licensed as a certified public accountant by the State of Texas. Elaine works with churches and nonprofit organizations in areas of tax and regulatory compliance. She is a regular speaker for the Texas Society of CPAs, The Church Network, and the Houston Church Co-Op. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Gloo’s Church Law and Tax Team and authored Church Compensation – From Strategic Plan to Compliance 2nd Edition (Gloo 2021.)
Denise Craig, CAE, CCA
Denise Craig, CAE, CCA, is the Chief Executive Officer of The Church Network, where she champions professional excellence in church administration. With more than 30 years of ministry leadership experience, she equips churches with practical tools, strategic insight, and Christcentered encouragement. A respected keynote speaker, Denise is known for empowering leaders to strengthen their ministries through healthy systems, wise stewardship, and missionaligned operational practices.
CEO of The Church Network
Michael Martin, Esq., CPA
Michael is passionate about helping churches and Christ-centered ministries maintain high standards of integrity through ECFA. As an attorney and a CPA, Michael communicates his expertise and passion through his writing, speaking in conferences, workshops, webinars, videos, and podcasts. He and his family live in Winchester, Virginia.
ECFA President & CEO
Kyle Johnson serves as Corporate Counsel with Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company and is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In his role, Kyle supports the business by providing strategic legal guidance across a broad range of issues.
A significant part of Kyle’s work is through Brotherhood Mutual’s Legal Assist service, where he advises ministry leaders on legal issues and risk concerns unique to faith‑based organizations. He partners with churches and ministries to help them understand their legal responsibilities, manage risk wisely, and make informed decisions that protect their people, property, and mission. Outside of his professional role, Kyle is actively involved in his local church, where he and his family serve in the first impressions and orphan care ministries.
Corporate Counsel with Brotherhood Mutual InsuranceKyle Johnson Esq.
Charles R. Hedman is an attorney and former pastor with more than fifteen years of experience in the legal profession and a decade of pastoral ministry. He currently serves in-house for Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, where his work focuses on helping churches and ministries navigate legal risk while remaining faithful to their mission. Charles brings a rare combination of legal and pastoral insight to his work. His ministry experience includes serving as a pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, where he was closely involved in shepherding, leadership development, and church operations in a complex public environment. Through both his legal practice and ministry service, Charles has developed significant experience in the areas of sexual abuse prevention, healthy boundaries, and church security.
In-House Counsel for Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Charles Hedman Esq.
Bettyna Julien
Bettyna Julien is a consultant, speaker, and founder of L'OR Consulting Services. She helps growing organizations align their people, processes, and technology so they can operate more effectively and scale with confidence. Drawing on her experience leading system implementations and organizational transformation initiatives, Bettyna has seen firsthand how growth can create complexity, bottlenecks, and increased demands on leaders. Her passion is helping organizations use technology thoughtfully to strengthen operations, support their teams, and advance their mission.
Founder of L'OR Consulting Services
Gina Rock
Gina Rock serves as the Training & Client Development Lead at HR Ministry Solutions and has been with the organization since early 2022, following roles in the corporate, ministry, and nonprofit sectors. She is passionate about equipping church and ministry HR directors with the training and education they need to serve their people well. Gina lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two teenagers.
Training & Client Development Lead HRMS
Gina Baker
Gina Baker serves as a Managing Partner at HR Ministry Solutions, bringing over 15 years of HR experience across ministry and corporate settings. She is passionate about empowering churches and ministries with a strong HR foundation, helping them steward the people and resources God has entrusted to them. She leads the Operations Team at HRMS, which develops the processes and procedures vital to healthy ministry HR. Gina is a new transplant to Omaha, Nebraska, with her husband and three children.
COO & Managing Partner HRMS
Lisa Fields
Lisa Fields is the CEO and founder of Jude 3 Project, a leading apologetics organization dedicated to equipping the Black community with the tools to know what they believe and why they believe it. As a renowned Christian apologist, speaker, author, and film producer, she has been a driving force in shaping conversations on faith, theology, and culture. She uses innovative content to engage diverse audiences and challenge them to think critically about their beliefs.
CEO & Founder of Jude 3 Project
Mindy Caliguire
Mindy Caliguire is the Founder and President of Soul Care , which emerged from her experience of church planting in Boston. She served in executive leadership at Gloo, and at Willow Creek Association (now Global Leadership Network), and engages organizations including Cru, Compassion International, ECFA, National Christian Foundation, and many churches and ministries across the US and beyond. Mindy’s books include Discovering Soul Care, Spiritual Friendship, STIR, and Ignite Your Soul.
Founder of Soul Care
Ravi Waldon, AIA Emeritus, LEED AP
Ravi Waldon, AIA, is a nationally recognized architect in church facility design and is driven from a heart to serve God for missional purposes. He has been involved in more than 300 church projects across the United States. These have involved master plans and design for new construction, additions, renovations, historic restorations, and also building conversions from other uses to church. Further, he has expertise in all forms of contractual choices churches face whether design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager, or integrated building design. Over his lengthy career, he has been a frequent author and speaker at conferences throughout the USA.
Principal of Michael Graves Architecture 
Tim Samuel CPA
Tim Samuel, CPA, serves as Chief Financial Officer of Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland, and owns CFO: Creating Future Opportunities, LLC, providing fractional CFO services for churches. With nearly two decades of church finance experience, Tim helps pastors, executive leaders, and boards build budgets, forecast cash flow, create investment policies, evaluate reserves, improve reporting, understand giving trends, manage spending, and prepare for major ministry decisions. He has also helped guide two church building projects from multi-million-dollar debt to debt free.
Founder of Creating Future Opportunities LLCFrequently Asked Questions
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The Summit will be fully virtual on Zoom
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September 17–18, 2026 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Eastern Time
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Yes! Payment plan options are available for each registration tier at checkout.
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All tickets are non-refundable.
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This summit is for pastors, church administrators, board members, executive leaders, and ministry staff who help oversee the legal, operational, or compliance responsibilities of a church.
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No. The summit is designed to be practical and easy to understand, even if you do not have legal training.
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You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of common legal risks churches face, practical steps to strengthen compliance, and guidance to help protect your church’s mission.
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No. Churches of all sizes can benefit. Whether your ministry is growing, established, or preparing for future growth, the summit will help you identify areas that may need attention.
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Replays are included with Team Tickets and Individual Premium Tickets only. Replays will be available for 6 months beginning Monday, September 21.
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Yes. The Church Companion Guide is included with Team Tickets and Individual Premium Tickets only. It will be sent the week of the event.
2026 Sponsors
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PLATINUM SPONSOR
The Standard for Excellence in Leader Care
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PLATINUM SPONSOR
Insurance designed for Churches
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BRONZE SPONSOR
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BRONZE SPONSOR
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BRONZE SPONSOR
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BRONZE SPONSOR
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CHURCH SPONSOR
Holy Churches Of Deliverance
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MEDIA SPONSOR
Christianity Today
The 18th Annual Church Compliance Conference - Recording
Key Conference Highlights
For Such a Time as This: Standing Firm, Serving Strong
Unite with Fellow Church Leaders: This conference is all about fostering meaningful connections. Collaborate and share experiences with pastors, administrators, and decision-makers from churches across the nation. Together, we can inspire and uplift one another!
Enlightening Speakers and Presentations: Prepare to be inspired by our lineup of distinguished speakers who are renowned experts in their fields. Gain fresh perspectives and practical strategies to tackle the challenges faced by churches today. Our presentations are designed to equip you with the tools needed for your congregation's growth and success.
Long-Term Success Strategies: Discover innovative approaches and practical tips to ensure the long-term success of your church. From effective financial management to strategic planning and community outreach, we'll delve into the key areas that contribute to sustainable growth and impact.
Engaging Strategy Sessions: Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into interactive strategy sessions! Together, we'll brainstorm solutions to common obstacles faced by churches, exchange best practices, and explore new ideas to overcome apathy and re-ignite passion within your congregation.
