Seminar: Equipping Boards for Effective Leadership

This seminar provides a clear framework for healthy board leadership in Alliance churches. It is intended to help you clarify purpose, board roles, and increase wise and effective decision-making. It helps to strengthen accountability and meeting effectiveness as well as provide you with practical tools that help teams govern well. Key focus areas include:

1. Who is the board responsible and accountable to?
2. How does your board lead in its unique context?
3. How does a board hold an effective meeting?
4. What’s distinct about being a board in an Alliance church?
5. How does the board practically function?
6. What tools exist to help boards function effectively?

Presenter Bios:

Rev. Dwayne Toews

After serving as a lead pastor in a local church for 17 years, I now serve the Canadian Pacific District as an Assistant District Superintendent for Church Development. I believe that healthy churches are built on healthy leadership. Leadership health is formed in the everyday work of governance, relationships, and spiritual maturity. I’m passionate about helping pastors and elder boards move from good intentions to clear practices: aligned vision, strong decision-making, and a culture where conflict becomes a moment for discipleship rather than division.

My background combines district-level coaching with hands-on experience developing board leadership systems and training pathways. I regularly work with elder boards on governance clarity, team dynamics, and conflict engagement, equipping leaders with practical tools, shared language, and biblically grounded processes that strengthen trust and reduce reactivity. The mix of theological formation, organizational leadership, and real-world board coaching uniquely equips me to support churches in both their mission and their internal health. I am just about to finish my DMin focusing on governance and conflict.

In practical terms, my role contributes to church success by helping leadership teams build durable rhythms: clearer roles, better communication, healthier staff–board relationships, and the capacity to address challenges before they become crises. When church boards lead well, they focus more energy on their calling and that’s a win for their church communities.

‍

Rev. Erin Knott

In my role as Assistant District Superintendent of Executive Administration and Governance in the Canadian Pacific District, I have the privilege of serving and coaching churches and leaders as they live into Alliance polity and structure. I’m passionate about healthy structure in the church as I believe it not only supports church ministry, but enables it to flourish. When boards clearly understand their responsibilities and how to function in healthy ways, the church can thrive!

I have a background serving in Alliance church ministry, information management, and have been part of the district team for over 10 years. During that time, I’ve focused on strengthening boards and church structure through coaching and resource development, including things like bylaws, policies, and other governance matters.  I have seen how boards that implement practical tools and skills within their unique church context experience meaningful and effectively ministry leadership.

When boards understand our Alliance governance framework, it reduces confusion, conflict, and chaos in the church. My goal is to help bring clarity so that boards can care well for their church and community, function effectively, and make wise and informed decisions. My hope is that all Alliance churches would experience great health as they engage in the vision God has for them!

‍