Luminosity Conference
Inspire. Innovate. Illuminate.
A conference for pastors, church leaders, and friends to inspire imagination.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NRSV
What is the Luminosity Conference?
In a world of constant change, leadership requires fresh vision, innovative thinking, and a deep commitment to growth. This year’s Luminosity Conference is all about sparking imagination and equipping leaders with practical wisdom—because effective ministry isn’t just about what we do, but how we envision, steward, and sustain our impact.
Through powerful keynote/plenary sessions, dynamic workshops, and meaningful conversations, we’ll explore how to navigate challenges, maximize resources, and lead with confidence. Whether you’re shaping the future of your church, organization, or community, this is your moment to be inspired, equipped, and empowered for lasting influence.
Let’s dream boldly, lead wisely, and shine brightly — together.
Speakers
Plenary
Dr. Eric Barreto
Dr. Eric Barreto
Eric D. Barreto is the Weyerhaeuser Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained Baptist minister with a deep commitment to both scholarly inquiry and pastoral care. He is the author of Ethnic Negotiations: The Function of Race and Ethnicity in Acts 16 (Mohr Siebeck, 2010), a work that explores the intersection of race, ethnicity, and early Christian texts. Barreto is also the co-author of Exploring the Bible (Fortress Press, 2016), a comprehensive resource for engaging with biblical texts, and the editor of Reading Theologically (Fortress Press, 2014), a collection that examines the theological significance of biblical reading practices.
Rabbi Sharon Brous
Rabbi Sharon Brous
Sharon Brous is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR, a leading-edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles, and the author of The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Heal Our Hearts and Mend Our Broken World, a national bestseller.
In 2013, Brous blessed President Obama and Vice President Biden at the Inaugural National Prayer Service, and in 2021 returned to bless President Biden and Vice President Harris, and then led the White House Passover Seder in 2021 and the Hanukkah candle lighting with the Vice President and Second Gentleman in 2023. She was named #1 on the Newsweek/The Daily Beast list of most influential Rabbis in America and has been recognized by The Forward and Jerusalem Post as among the most influential Jews alive today. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, and her TED talk, “Reclaiming Religion,” has been viewed by more than 1.5 million people.
Brous is in the inaugural cohort of Auburn Seminary’s Senior Fellows program, which unites top faith leaders working on the frontlines for justice, she sits on the faculty of REBOOT, and serves on the International Council of the New Israel Fund and national steering committee for the Poor People’s Campaign.
A graduate of Columbia University (both undergraduate and M.A. in Human Rights), she was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and children.
Jack Hess
Jack Hess
A nationally recognized speaker, Hess shares his expertise on civic innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and systems thinking with organizations and communities across the country. His work has helped shape initiatives that strengthen regional learning systems, workforce development, and entrepreneurship.
Jack Hess serves as President and Co-Founder of CivicLab, a pioneering institute dedicated to advancing civic collaboration and community innovation. Under his leadership, CivicLab has become a national leader in equipping communities with the tools and strategies needed to drive transformative change. He teaches collaborative community teams how to better approach complex social problems by redesigning the way they work together, fostering more effective and sustainable solutions.
Through his career, Hess has been recognized for his ability to bring together diverse stakeholders to tackle complex challenges, positioning communities for long-term success.
Rev. Dr. Tom Taylor
Rev. Dr. Tom Taylor
Rev. Dr. Tom Taylor joined the Foundation as President and CEO in 2010. He has led the staff and board in new directions through visionary and inspiring leadership, working to cultivate vitality in the mission and ministries throughout the church.
Prior to Tom’s work with the Foundation, he served as the Deputy Executive Director for Mission at the Presbyterian Mission Agency, where he oversaw the operations of the U.S.-based and international work of the denomination’s national offices in over 100 countries worldwide. He also served for 12 years as a minister in Southern California and Utah. Tom began his career as an attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah, practicing in litigation with the law firms of Snell & Wilmer and with Snow, Christensen & Martineau. Tom has taught courses and educational seminars for Princeton Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, the University of Illinois—Urbana, and Fuller Theological Seminary.
Tom has published numerous academic and popular articles on the interaction of Christian faith, law and culture. His books include the award-winning Seven Deadly Lawsuits: How Ministers can Avoid Litigation and Regulation (Abingdon Press 1996) and Paradoxy: Coming to Grips with the Contradictions of Jesus (Baker Books 2006).
Mark Yaconelli
Mark Yaconelli
Mark Yaconelli is a community-builder, retreat facilitator, and author of Between the Listening and the Telling: How Stories Can Save Us as well as five previous books. As founder and director since 2010 of The Hearth nonprofit, Yaconelli has worked with The Ford Family Foundation, Compassion International, The Greenbelt Arts Festival, The Lilly Endowment, Inc., The American Burn Association, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, The Center for Congregations, The Mexican-American Center of Austin, among other organizations. Yaconelli holds an MA in Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union and received a spiritual direction diploma from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Interviews and profiles of Mark’s work have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC Radio, and ABC World News Tonight. He and his wife have three grown children and live in Ashland, Oregon.
Worship Leaders
Rev. Dr. Jerry L. Cannon
Rev. Dr. Jerry L. Cannon
The Rev. Dr. Jerry L. Cannon serves as Vice President, Ministry Innovation at the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). His service began as the agency entered a season of rebuilding, and he is responsible for strengthening connections to ministries that represent the growing diversity of the denomination.
Jerry leads and directs the Board’s dues incentive programs, exploring solutions that will break new ground in the support of small church and nontraditional ministries. He also manages the Board’s relationship with churches and caucus groups, including the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches, and Hispanic/Latinx National Presbyterian Caucus.
A lifelong Presbyterian who has long been active in the national Church, Jerry served more than 30 years as pastor of C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church, a thriving congregation in Charlotte, North Carolina, and one of the largest Black congregations in the PC(USA). The congregation nearly tripled in size during his service and engaged in extensive community-based ministry and bridge-building.
Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Virginia State University, a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center (Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary), and a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary.
Rev. Jenny Warner
Rev. Jenny Warner
Jenny is a curator of sacred space, a writer and an artist, a strategist, a listener and world adventurer. In her 30+ years of ministry, she has been an intercultural trainer, spiritual director, graphic designer, church administrator, board member at some fabulous non-profits, presbytery moderator, and stay at home mom. She has been the Lead Pastor at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley since 2017.
Jenny’s interests include travel, jazz, poetry, hiking, biking, Pilates, knitting, cooking, eating great food and drinking strong coffee and fabulous wine. She and Chris have been married for 27 years and take their greatest delight in two daughters (26 and 22), one son-in-law and two black dogs. She occasionally writes on Substack @jennywarner.
The Nettletons
The Nettletons
Formed in 2018 to lead music for the 2019 Presbyterian Youth Triennium, The Nettletons (NETTLETON being the Hymn TUNE name of “Come Thou Fount”) bring an eclectic mix of musical gifts and influences to every stage they step onto. Hailing from various corners of the Southeast, they don’t get together all that often—but when they do, it’s a party!
At the heart of their music leadership is a counterintuitive goal: to essentially work themselves out of a job. The Nettletons aim to keep the focus on the people, the songs that bring them together, and the God who lies at the very heart of it all. Their repertoire blends familiar favorites with fresh new sounds, always aiming to reflect the global church. More than anything, they hope their music inspires, brings joy, challenges, and empowers — so that when the gathering ends, the songs continue on.
Their most recent musical endeavors have been the 2022 NEXT Church Gathering in Montreat and what would have been the 2022 Presbyterian Youth Triennium. And now they are thrilled to reunite in Louisville this July for PYT 2025!
Innovate. Inspire. Illuminate.
Our first-ever pastoral leadership conference is a transformative event designed to empower and equip pastors and church leaders for the challenges of today’s world. With a focus on innovation, inspiration, and illumination, this conference offers a unique opportunity to explore fresh perspectives, ignite passion for ministry, and discover new strategies for leading with purpose. Through dynamic sessions, powerful speakers, and meaningful connections, we aim to inspire growth and impact that will extend far beyond the conference itself.
What to Expect
Get ready for an inspiring and transformative experience filled with insightful teaching, practical strategies, and meaningful connections.
This year’s Luminosity Conference will equip you with the tools and vision to lead with confidence and make a lasting impact.
- Inspiring Speakers – Learn from seasoned pastors, and ministry leaders sharing wisdom to elevate your leadership.
- Engaging Workshops – Gain practical strategies on church vitality, financial stewardship, and community impact.
- Networking & Collaboration – Connect with other leaders, share ideas, and build relationships that will strengthen your ministry.
- Real-Life Ministry Stories – Hear firsthand how others are navigating challenges and achieving breakthroughs.
Join us as we learn, dream, and grow together — because the future of ministry starts with leaders like you.
"The work of life and the work of faithfulness is not the work of individuals alone, it's communal work that we do with each other."
“The call to awaken to the image of God, to the dignity of every person, has been the driving force of my religious life, the very heart of my faith…. What would it mean to build a society in which every person is treated as an image of the Divine? How would this affect our relationships with our neighbors, our coworkers, the stranger lying beneath the stained blankets and trash outside Starbucks?”
“All human divisions, both within and between us, can begin to be healed through listening and sharing stories.”
Register for the conference
Grants are available to support pastors and church leaders with the cost of attending the Luminosity Conference.
For more information, including details on how to apply, please visit the Presbyterian Foundation website.
$229
Early-Bird Ticket
Register by December 31, 2025 for a reduced rate.
$279
Regular Price Ticket
The regular price ticket helps us sustain the conference.
$199
Reduced Rate Ticket
A lower ticket price for anyone with low or no continuing education funds. Please use this ticket if the lower price allows you to join us!
Accommodations
The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs® Resort Complex is an official Walt Disney World® Hotel. The resort, which is comprised of two connected hotels is conveniently situated directly across the street from Disney Springs which is Walt Disney World's world-class shopping, entertainment, and dining district which offers more than 150 venues.
The Wyndham Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista’s 232 lakehouse-themed guest rooms feature amazing views of the surrounding Theme Parks and Disney Springs®. Book your conference stay at the rate of $179/night.
The Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista
Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista’s newly-renovated 394 guest rooms, located in a five-story courtyard style building, provide affordable accommodations on a resort-style campus. Stay for a rate of $149/night.
1850B Hotel Plaza Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-8406
