Phil has over 20 years of experience serving local congregations and now serves as the Director in the Center for Congregational Excellence in the Florida Conference. A major focus of his work with the Florida Conference is the training of coaches for all applications including New Church Starts, Congregational Transformation, Discipleship Coaching, and Leadership. Phil is a frequent speaker at training workshops; an author; and a ministry coach to Church Planters, Pastors, Congregational Developers, and District Superintendents. His calling is to walk with leaders in the church to help them develop strong leadership practices and healthy and missional congregations for the Kingdom.

phil.maynard@flumc.org

Dirk Elliott is Director of Congregational Development in the Detroit Conference.  Prior to accepting the position in Detroit, Dirk was the Director of Congregational Development in the East Ohio Conference for 10 years.  Dirk comes to the Conference Staff after serving 18 years of pastoral ministry in three appointments.

Also a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, Dirk is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church.  He is also a trained consultant in Natural Church Development.  Dirk is on the Board of Directors for the Bishop Rueben Job Center for Leadership Development Center and serves on the Path 1 Team.  Dirk is also an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coach Federation.

Dirk has been a part of two new church starts and a major part of Dirk’s responsibilities include training church planters and coaching new church start projects. 

dirk@detroitconference.org

Lee Hayward is an ordained elder serving in extension ministries as a minister of leadership development and executive coaching and one of eight coaches endorsed by the UMC Endorsing Agency and am ICF-certified. Graduating from Pacific School of Religion with an MDiv and an MA in interpersonal conflict management in the local church, he pastored UMCs for 25 years in rural, suburban, urban, and multi-cultural settings (including being part of a new church start staff).  Lee also worked beyond the local church in manufacturing, government, and financial services, becoming bi-lingual in faith/business language, being able to readily identify connections with the unchurched in the secular arena.   He lives in California with his wife of 38 years.  When he's not coaching planters and churches, he coaches mission controllers, astronauts, and engineers at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

lee@lee-hayward.com

christie@greatu.com

bradk@cornerchurch.org

paulnixon@juno.com

Dr. Jim Robey is a United Methodist Elder and a Life Coach.  He is appointed in the North Alabama Conference to an extension ministry as Executive Director and Ministry Missioner of Attentional Growth Inc. His passion is “coaching clergy and laity to develop their skills for ministry & living their life.”  Included in his coaching is his humor, life experiences, 39 years of ministry, love for God and the church, and profound commitment to helping others grow in their ministry and in their connection to God.

Jim has served large, medium and small membership churches for 30 years (including two new church starts). In 2004 he created Attentional Growth Inc, a non-profit organization PROVIDING LIFE-ENRICHING EXPERIENCES through Coaching, Leadership Development and Seminars.  As a coach, Jim is certified through the Coaches Training Institute, credentialed by the International Coach Federation, and endorsed by the United Methodist Endorsing Agency of the UMC.  His coaching clients have included persons in the United States, Canada and Europe.   Additionally, he is a…

  ·  National Trainer for the Reconciling Ministries Network’s Believe Out Loud campaign

  ·  Path 1 Mentor Coach

  ·  Coach for the Lead Women Pastor’s program

  ·  Coach provider for the Virginia Conference of the UMC

Furthermore, Jim teaches classes for the Intentional Growth Center at Lake Junaluska, NC.  He is a founding member of Sacred Fire Coaching, which offers coaching and leadership resources across the United Methodist Church as well as for other denominations, non-profits and businesses.  Jim is one of the founders of the Methodist Coaching Connection, a gathering place for Methodist coaches and those interested in knowing more about coaching. He has taught at EmoryUniversity’s Candler School of Theology for their Church Business Administrators program.  He also co-led a Supervision Training Program for District Superintendents at United Theological Seminary.

Jim Robey’s education includes:                               

  ·  Co-Active Leadership Program, The Coaches Training Institute, 2006-2007. 

  ·  Co-Active Coaches Training, The Coaches Training Institute, 2005.

  ·  Pastoral, Marriage & Family Therapy Training Program, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Inc.,      Birmingham, AL, 2002-2004. 

  ·  Doctor of Ministry degree, EmoryUniversity, 1984. 

  ·  Graduate Studies, University of Geneva (Switzerland): 27th Session, Ecumenical Institute, 1978-1979.

  ·  Master of Theology degree, Southern Methodist University, 1976.

  ·  Bachelor of Arts degree, (Major in Psychology), Birmingham-SouthernCollege, 1973.

Jim and his wife Betty live in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  They are blessed with two daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren and 2 dogs.

jim@attentionalgrowth.org

rross@springfieldfirst.org