2026 District Called Worker Conference
October 14-16, 2026 • Hammock Beach Resort • Palm Coast, FL
Shadow of the Leader
The impact of a pastor or teacher is made not only through lesson plans, sermons, or Bible studies, but also through the attitudes, habits, and values they embody–in a word, culture. Every church and school has a particular culture; the question is whether that culture supports our mission or hinders it. Our conference will not only enable called workers to better shape the culture around them, but also refresh them in the gospel joy that motivates such work. As we gather to consider the task of church and school leaders, we do so under the Leader of the Church, Christ, who loves and leads us, nourishing and encouraging us for the work at hand.
Conference Presentation
Shadow of the Leader: Influencing Your Church or School Culture
Abstract:
Every leader casts a shadow. Whether intentionally or not, the attitudes, priorities, and behaviors of a leader shape the culture of their church or school. The Shadow of the Leader explores how God works through leaders to cultivate healthy congregational and school cultures that support the church's mission. Through biblical principles, practical leadership tools, and an actionable framework for leading culture change, this workshop will help participants recognize the influence they already have and equip them to guide their congregations and schools with greater clarity, purpose, and intentionality. Whether your congregation or school is thriving or facing significant challenges, you'll leave better prepared to foster a culture that advances gospel ministry for years to come.
Conference Presenters
For more than 25 years, Kurt Nitz has been leading culture transformations that enable organizations to achieve previously unattainable results. He currently works as a consultant focused on organizational culture shaping and has facilitated culture workshops worldwide, including in the US, Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia.
Kurt is a co-developer of the Everyone Outreach program, which has held workshops at nearly 200 WELS congregations. As part of his work on the WELS Long-Range Planning Task Force, he has led the development of the Shadow of the Leader program, which aims to equip pastors and lay leaders to lead their congregations on a culture-change journey.
Kurt currently serves on the WELS Commission on Congregational Counseling. He and his wife, Kristin, are members of Christ Our Savior, Rockford, Mich.
Rev. Eric Roecker is a 1998 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Upon graduation, he was assigned to Resurrection in Virginia Beach, Va., where he served until 2013. While in Virginia, he served as the adult discipleship coordinator for the North Atlantic District and later as the district’s second vice president. In 2013 he moved to Menomonee Falls, Wis., to serve as pastor of Pilgrim. In August 2018 he began serving as the director of the WELS Commission on Evangelism.
Eric has been married to his wife, Mary, for 27 years. Their son, Rees, is in his first year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Their daughter, Riley, is in her second year at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Eric enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, reading, and playing golf.
Conference Presentation
Ephesians: Christ, His Church, and Our Calling
Abstract:
Christ loved his Church and gave himself up for her. Indeed, Christ still loves his Church as he rules over all things for her, builds her up in the faith, and equips her for service.
As we consider leadership and culture at this conference, Pastor Paul Zell will lead us in a brief study of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In that letter, we rediscover the profound love Christ has for his Church and what it means for ministers of the gospel. As we do, we find encouragement for our task, renewed appreciation for Christ’s Church, and refreshed wonder at the love he lavishes upon her.
Conference Presenter
Pastor Paul Zell is a 1983 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Previous fields of service include Minnesota, South Dakota, Georgia, and our seminary, where he taught courses on the New Testament and Preaching from 2002 through 2017, as well as serving as the seminary’s academic dean. Since January 2018 he has been pastor of Living Savior Lutheran Church, a new mission start in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He and his wife Cathy have three grown children.