Tackling Burnout and Leadership Challenges at CRE 2026

Church leadership can be rewarding, but it can also bring significant pressure. A workshop session at CRE 2026 will explore how leaders can navigate burnout, conflict and the personal challenges that come with leadership.

Taking place on Wednesday 14 October from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, "Overcoming the leadership challenges of burnout, bust-ups, and the battles within” will be lead by Matt and Amy Summerfield in the Premier Suite on the 1st floor.

Matt Summerfield, senior leader of Zeo Church and founder of RebootYourLeadership.com, brings almost 40 years of leadership experience across the commercial, charitable and Christian sectors. Amy Summerfield is CEO of Kyria and Head of Development at Skylark International, with extensive experience in church leadership and developing Christian leaders.

The session will look at three common leadership pressures — burnout, conflict and the internal battles that leaders can face — offering practical and prayerful approaches to navigating difficult seasons.

The subject comes at a time when church leader wellbeing remains an important concern. Research from the Evangelical Alliance's Changing Church 2025 report found that 75% of church leaders described their emotional wellbeing as good or very good, while 7% described it as poor and 1% as very poor. The findings highlight both the resilience of many leaders and the continuing need for effective support. Source - Evangelical Alliance

The session will be relevant to church leaders, pastors, ministry teams and emerging leaders, providing an opportunity to reflect on the realities of leadership while gaining practical tools for navigating challenging seasons.