Leadership in an age of chaos
Church leadership has changed.
The noise is relentless.
The complexity keeps increasing.
And many leaders are carrying overwhelm, exhaustion and pressure that no amount of strategy or resilience training seems to resolve.
Because the issue is no longer just what is happening around you. It is what that pressure is doing within you.
This one-day, in-person experience is designed to meet leaders at that level.
This day is not about adding more. It is about uncovering and releasing what God has already placed within you.
Led by Dr MaryJo Burchard, Dr Jason Swan Clark and Dr Simon Walker, the day will guide you through a deeply practical and experiential process of formation, helping you:
- name the chaos you are facing and understand its impact
- see how you respond under pressure
- recover a deep sense of who you are in God
- and begin to lead from that place
You will also discover how to bring together what you’ve learned about yourself over the years to work at a deeper level in your identity, faith and calling that this moment requires and you long for.
You won’t leave with more to manage.
You will leave with clarity, integration and a clear sense of how to lead in the reality you are facing.
Attendance is complimentary, and places are limited.
This day is for people who carry responsibility for others and who are navigating the opportunities, challenges and pressures that leadership can bring.
We welcome expressions of interest from those serving in churches, ministries, charities, businesses, education, healthcare and public life, as well as others who find themselves leading teams, communities or initiatives.
If the day sounds helpful and relevant to where you find yourself, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
To express an interest in attending, simply email Jason at Jason.s.clark@waverleyabbey.org.
Dr MaryJo Burchard is a strategic architect of organisational health. A recognised expert in leadership change and resilience, she provides high-level advice to churches and organisations navigating complex transitions. Her work ensures that both individuals and systems don’t just survive change, but emerge from it with renewed resilience and clarity.
Dr Jason Swan Clark sits at the intersection of academic leadership and deep spiritual practice. As a Professor of Leadership and an Ignatian Spiritual Director with 25 years of experience in church planting, he specialises in identity and formation. Jason helps leaders and networks move beyond surface-level skills to discover the profound charism and vocational calling that drives sustainable leadership and mission.
Dr Simon Walker is a leadership expert and author best known for The Undefended Leader, a landmark work exploring how leaders grow beyond performance, control, and self-protection. Drawing on decades of work across leadership, education, psychology and formation, Simon specialises in helping leaders understand how pressure shapes identity and relationships. His work invites leaders into a deeper, freer, and more generative way of leading that sustains both mission and the person carrying it.
