Network Council and Leadership Seminar
APRIL 20 - 22, 2026
Guest Speaker: Karl Vaters
Missoula, Montana
The Montana Ministry Network exists to serve the church and strengthen its leadership. Network Council and the Leadership Seminar are an important part of our effort. We have planned carefully to provide an excellent slate of speakers to help church leaders be more effective. Thank you for your participation!
$50.00 – Churches with up to 50 Sunday AM attendance
$150.00 – Churches with up to 50 – 99 Sunday AM attendance
$250.00 – Churches with up to 100 – 199 Sunday AM attendance
$300.00 – Churches with up to 200+ Sunday AM attendance
$25.00 – Missionaries/Persons not registered under a church/Other
FREE – Senior retired ministers & spouss
This church registration allows all persons of that congregation to participate in the Leadership Seminar and Council.
Blocks of rooms are held at he following hotels under: “A/G – Network Council”
Please get your reservation in early – dates in red are the release dates!
Sleep Inn: (406) 543-5883, $84.00 + tax for single queen, $94.00 + tax for double queen, includes breakfast, pool and hot tub. April 5. This property is closest to Canvas Church.
Comfort Inn: (406) 203-5761, $145.00 + tax, includes breakfast. March 20.
Stay Bridge: (406) 830-3900, includes breakfast. April 4.
Monday, April 20
6:00pm: Credential Candidates meet
7:00pm: Ordination Gathering featuring Karl Vaters, Guest Speaker
Candidate reception following with light refreshments
Tuesday, April 21
8:00 – 9:00am: Registration
9:00 – 10:15am: Leardship Session 1 featuring Karl Vaters
10:15 – 10:30am: Break
10:30 – 11:45am: Leadership Session 2
7:00pm: Evening Gathering featuring Karl Vateres
Wednesday, April 22
9:00 – 12:00pm: Business Session / Missions
Karl Vaters
Guest Speaker
Karl comes to us from Fountain City, California. He produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive and has authored 5 books. His heart is to help pastors of small churches (up to 90 percent of us) find the resources to lead well, and to capitalize on the unique advantages that come with pastoring a small church – something virtually every pastor will spend at least some of their ministry years doing. He also believes that big and small churches can and should work together more often – to the benefit and blessing of everyone.
Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry. Episodes feature in-depth interviews about the topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context. Karl has served in a small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience. He and his wife, Shelley have three children and two grandkids.