Christian Leadership Summit
Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, April 19, 2024 | 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Keynote Speakers: Raymond Harris, Dr. Randel Everett, and Dr. Mary Nelson
Location: Pilgrim Chapel, DBU Campus
The Christian Leadership Summit is an annual event hosted by DBU's Gary Cook School of Leadership for the goal of equipping, training, and developing leaders for their distinctive, God-given callings. The purpose of the Christian Leadership Summit parallels with the overall mission of the School of Leadership to develop Christian servant leaders, scholars, and global thinkers for the glory of God alone.
Since 2014, the Christian Leadership Summit has featured amazing lecturers, panel discussions, paper presentations, and networking opportunities for leaders and aspiring leaders from a variety of vocational backgrounds.
This year, the summit will be focusing on issues related to faith, vocation, and leadership, with a variety of paper presentations and three outstanding keynote speakers.
Presentations and discussion will cover a variety of topics, including:
- Marketplace Leadership
- Empathy and Leadership
- Leading in a Global Context
- Financial Leadership
- Weakness and Leadership
- Leadership Change
We welcome you to join us for this special event!
April 18th
6:00 p.m. – Keynote 1 Dinner
April 19th
8:30 a.m. – Registration
9:00 a.m. – Keynote 2
10:00 a.m. – Breakout Sessions 1
11:45 a.m. – Lunch/Panel Discussion on Faith and Work
1:30 p.m. – Breakout Sessions 2
3:15 p.m. – Keynote 3
4:15 p.m. – Conclusion
Raymond Harris
Senior Fellow of Entrepreneurship with the DBU Institute for Global Engagement, Raymond Harris is the 2018 recipient of the DBU Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award and founder of one of the largest architectural firms specializing in corporate architecture. The author of The Anatomy of a Successful Firm, The Heart of Business, and Business by Design, he is also an executive producer for numerous movies distributed by Sony Pictures and Lions Gate Entertainment.
Dr. Mary Nelson
Director of the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies program and Professor of English at DBU, Dr. Mary Nelson has been a part of the DBU faculty since 2004, completing her B.A. in English and Theater from Baylor, a M.A. in English from SMU, and a Ph.D. in English from Rice. Dr. Nelson is a two-time recipient of DBU’s Piper Outstanding Professor of the Year award (2010, 2019) and has presented papers around the world, with a focused research on the intersection of literature and leadership.
Dr. Randel Everett
Dr. Randel Everett was recently named Senior Fellow for Religious Freedom with DBU's Institute for Global Engagement, having served for the past decade as the Founding President of the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative. Prior to his work with Wilberforce, Dr. Everett served in a variety of roles in local church and denominational life. Dr. Everett is the author of Speak Freedom: Developing Emergent Leaders in the Struggle for Justice.
Moderator: Dr. David Cook | Dean of Global Studies and Pre-Professional Programs
Dr. Stephen Mansfield | Dean, DBU College of Business & Former CEO, Methodist Health System
Dr. Tempress Asagba | Manager of Talent and Leadership Development, Southwest Airlines
Jeff Ward, J.D. | In-House Counsel and Director of External Focus, Watermark Community Church
Stephen Boyd | Project Manager for International Affairs, Lockheed Martin & former Staff Assistant to Senator James Lankford
10:30 am Session
Dr. L. Kelley Ridge | Behavioral Specialist, Mansfield ISD
Communication as the Intersection of Faith & Work
Dr. Dale Braswell | Lead Pastor, Wedgwood Baptist Church
Boasting in Weakness as Leaders
Dr. Chris Stapper | Lead Pastor, Third Coast Church & Vice President, Mission and Finance, Stark College and Seminary
Biblical Ministry and Fiscal Responsibility
CSL Faculty
Degree Programs Information Session Room
1:30 pm Session
Dr. Nancy McGruder | CEO, NMc Coaching & Consulting
Biblical Coaching and Mentoring Room LL05
Dr. Jason Moore | Business Communications Professor, University of Texas at Dallas
Strategic Biblical Leadership
Dr. David Reyes | Manager of Talent & Leadership Development, Southwest Airlines
Personal Brand/Personal Faith Room
Frequently Asked Questions about the CLS
The cost for attendance at the Christian Leadership Summit is $20 per registration, which helps to partially offset the cost for meals and snacks for the event.
Yes! In the registration portal, there is a place for you to enter any guests you plan to bring with you. At checkout, you will be able to purchase each of your tickets for the event.
If you are planning to bring groups of 5 or more, please email leadership@dbu.edu in order to receive a group discount.
Business casual (slacks and collared shirt).
For questions or concerns, please contact the Cook School of Leadership main phone number: (214) 333-5484