The first Leadership Training Session in Australia was conducted on the weekend of Jan. 26 to 28, 2007. More than 30 people were invited from the church areas in Australia to attend this weekend as the first session in a training program for the next generation of Church leaders.

Pastors Bill Bradford, Stephen Clark, Bill Eddington, Bruce Dean, Allan Hambleton and Barry Williams delivered a number of addresses relating to the subject of spiritual leadership. Topics included: Concepts of Leadership, Roles of Spiritual Leadership, Family Leadership, Doctrinal Integrity, Structure of UCG IA and UCG-A, Working With Young People, Women's Roles, Personal Integrity, Growth and Development, Example and Credibility, Leadership as Service, Developing Sermonettes and Sermons.

In the Pastoral Committee meeting in March, the effectiveness of the weekend was assessed. All committee members agreed that it had been very profitable, and they noted that positive feedback had been received from all participants. One couple commented: "We came away from the Leadership Weekend feeling overwhelmed and humbled by all the fantastic information that was shared. Every single presentation was interesting and informative and made us realize just how much we didn't really know about the subject of leadership."

The Pastoral Committee decided that the next Leadership Training Seminar would take place in 2009.

A training seminar for elders is planned for Jan. 25 to 28, 2008. UN