PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (March 2, 2017) -- You've heard of TED Talks? About 270 United Methodist preachers gathered here Feb. 20-22 for "LED Talks."
The annual Ministers Convocation -- hosted by Holston Conference's Wesley Leadership Institute -- featured several speakers this year instead of a few. While TED stands for technology, entertainment and design, the LED in this event represented leadership, engagement and development, according to Holston organizers.
For two days, participants listened to short presentations from speakers on topics including selecting the right staff, strategic planning, effective communications, and managing one's ego. The educational event was held at Music Road Convention Center.
After the presentations, pastors discussed content with each other for 10 minutes. Speakers later joined in a panel discussion with questions and answers.
Plenary speaker was Rev. Olu Brown, lead pastor of Impact Church near Atlanta. His sessions focused on his own experiences, a recent book, and the conference theme, "Leadership Directions from Moses."
Music and worship was led by the praise band from Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tenn.
An offering of $1,112 was collected for Susannah's House, a Knoxville-based ministry for mothers of drug-dependent children.
Podcasts of selected speakers and video recordings are available online.
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