News

Church leaders looking to reimagine ministry in today's rapidly changing landscape will have the opportunity to hear from experienced coaches Phil and Julie Stokes during a leadership panel at CRE 2026.

Taking place on Wednesday 14 October from 11:05am to 11:50am in the Church Leaders Conference, this panel will explore how churches can develop resilient leaders, foster innovation and build stronger connections with their local communities.

Phil and Julie have spent decades helping churches think beyond traditional models of ministry. Together, they founded The Well CC and Oikos Microchurch, pioneering expressions of church that prioritise discipleship, community and mission. The couple are experienced leadership coaches and have established a wide range of community ventures over the years. They are also part of the organisation REACH, a network of leadership coaches and mentors across London.

According to the Evangelical Alliance's Changing Church 2025 report, 36% of church leaders say recruiting more volunteers is their most pressing need, while 21% identify leadership itself as one of their biggest challenges. Encouragingly, the same research found that 75% of church leaders rated their emotional wellbeing as good or very good in 2025, an improvement from 68% in 2021, reflecting growing investment in healthier and more sustainable leadership. Source - Evangelical Alliance

As one of the flagship sessions on the opening day of CRE 2026, the discussion promises to inspire church leaders to embrace fresh approaches to leadership while remaining rooted in the mission of the local church.