Seminars
Please scroll down to find the seminars for VLG A.
Monday 27 April
Click the ‘+’ to view more details including speakers, rooms and bios.
+ Leading Healthy Teams
// Andrew & Rosie McNeil
Room G 1/2 // 2.30-3.30pm
A Leadership Seminar exploring how to build and lead teams that are healthy, resilient, and fruitful through different seasons. Drawing on years of experience in local church and national leadership, Andrew and Rosie will unpack the key dynamics that shape team health, from culture and communication to pace and shared responsibility. This session will help leaders and team members recognise what strengthens or undermines team effectiveness and how to engage in a way that fosters long-term healthy growth.
Andrew and Rosie are Associate National Directors of Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland, and Senior Pastors of Birmingham Vineyard.
+ Artificial Intelligence, Leadership, and Discernment
// Bob Pigott & Nino Moscardini
Room F5 // 2.30-3.30pm
Artificial Intelligence isn’t coming; it’s already here, reshaping how we work, communicate, and even engage with Scripture. This seminar will equip you to respond wisely in a rapidly changing world. We’ll explore both the promise and the pitfalls of AI, from productivity and making your own to pastoral care, from discipling young people to shaping church communications. Together we’ll unpack real examples, practical tools, and biblical wisdom for navigating bias, ethics, distraction, and misuse. Come ready to think, discuss, and dream about how the Church can respond with creativity, discernment, and hope in an AI-shaped future.
Bob Pigott is a Senior Pastor and AI consultant. Along with his wife, Sal, he leads Leicester Vineyard. A graduate of St Mellitus College (BA Theology, Ministry and Mission) and Trent University (MBA), alongside church ministry, he assists businesses, charities, and churches in increasing their AI literacy. This includes guidance and training on effective AI tool usage and the establishment of governance frameworks.
Nino Moscardini is a Vineyard senior pastor, leading Vineyard25 for over 25 years and a former global technology executive who advised FTSE 100 C-suite leaders on strategy and transformation. He worked in US technology labs and engaged with AI long before it became mainstream. Earlier in life, he represented Great Britain in fencing. Nino recently stepped down from his secular role to focus fully on Vineyard25. He brings a rare blend of pastoral leadership and deep technical experience, offering clear and grounded thinking on AI, digital change, and leadership in a fast-moving world.
+ Raising and Releasing Leaders Beyond Yourself
// Chuck & Taryn Freeland, Scott & Sarah Robertson
Room F5 // 4.00-5.00pm
How do we move from simply leading to being a leader who releases others? This seminar explores how we can create a sustainable culture of leadership development in our churches. Sharing stories and real life examples this seminar will unpack how leaders have learned how to notice emerging potential, name and affirm leadership gifts in others, and confidently release people into their areas of calling. The session combines practical teaching and Q and A alongside hearing a bit of Chuck and Taryn and Sarah and Scott's story of practically navigating succession and multiplying their leadership.
Chuck and Taryn are the Senior Pastors of Verso Vineyard Church in St. Albans and also serve as Associate National Directors for Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland. They have three grown children, love long walks and good food.
Scott and Sarah are the Lead Pastors of Catalyst Vineyard Church in Aberdeen and Sarah also serves as the Director of Training for Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland. They love exploring forests and mountains with their two kids and Friday night pizzas.
+ The Kingdom and Creativity
// Dana & Andy Masters
Room G1/G2 // 4.00-5.00pm
This seminar will look at how creativity is not an optional extra but a vital expression of the Kingdom, reflecting the nature of God as Creator.
Dana Masters is an American-born soul and jazz singer-songwriter based in Northern Ireland. Through her music, she invites people into a more honest, courageous and deeply human way of living. Her life is a beautifully chaotic mix of jazz clubs and airports, school runs and trying to get everyone to bed on time.
Andy Masters is the lead pastor of Lagan Valley Vineyard Church in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He is married to Dana, and they have three mischievous children. They live on the side of a mountain with two dogs and two pigs. Andy is passionate about Jesus, his church, and the future!
Tuesday 28 April
+ Trustees, Governance, and Leading with Confidence
// Andy Smith & Clive Sillito
Room F5 // 2.30-3.30pm
Governance is often viewed through the lens of "what we have to do," but at its heart, it is about "how we lead well together." Join Clive Sillito and Andy Smith for a session that moves beyond mere compliance to explore the dynamic relationship between trustees and church leaders. We will dive into the essentials of board recruitment, creating effective team dynamics, and navigating the vital balance of support and accountability.
Andy, along with his wife Harmony, leads the Belfast City Vineyard and is the Regional Leader for Ireland. Andy also serves as a member of the National Vineyard Leadership Team and is the lead for the Vineyard National Governance Review 2024-26.
Clive is the Chair of Trustees for Vineyard Churches and Vineyard Worship. Clive is a self-employed business consultant focusing on strategic planning and organisational change. He previously served as Pharmacy Director for Boots from 2007-2012.
+ Evangelism and Worldview
// Rachel Binder
Room G1/2 // 2.30-3.30pm
Diverse cultures see the world differently and certain aspects of the gospel resonate more strongly in some worldviews than others. In this seminar, we will explore how adapting our approach and language can help us to share Jesus more effectively in multicultural contexts.
Originally from Albany, NY, USA, Rachel has lived the last 22 years overseas, 16 of those in Asia and the last six in Birmingham, UK. In addition to being a mission partner with Interserve since 2004, Rachel has been a site pastor in Birmingham Vineyard Church for the last three years. Originally trained as a Nurse Practitioner, Rachel obtained a Master of Ministry while living in Asia. She is passionate about preaching the Bible and introducing people to Jesus. With extensive experience in working with people from other worldview and faith backgrounds, she and her site congregation are actively exploring different ways to reach out to Birmingham's diverse population.
+ Leading When Culture and Contexts Collide
// Elba Dolan
Room G1/2 // 4-5pm
A seminar on cross-cultural leadership and mission that draws practical lessons from long-term Brazilian church planting, and adapting leadership in different environments and contexts.
Elba Dolan is Senior Pastor of Vineyard Belém, Regional Leader for Northern Brazil, and part of the national leadership team of Vineyard Brasil. She is also the founding president of CDR, a nonprofit serving the Amazon region through holistic mission.
With 30 years of ministry experience and a Master’s in Leadership from Trinity Bible College, Elba is passionate about equipping the Church to live out the Kingdom of God through spiritual formation and practical mission. She is married to Steve and is the mother of Camilly and Alyssa.
+ The Role of a Worship Leader: Priest, Shepherd or Both?
// Jon Solway & Tom Thompson
Room F5 // 4.00-5.00pm
In this seminar we will unpack the role of a shepherd and the role of a priest in the Bible, and what that means for anyone facilitating times of worship.
Jon Solway is the Director of Worship Development and oversees the regional team, training and has national oversight for Worship development. He is also associate pastor at Birmingham Vineyard.
Tom Thompson is Senior Pastor at Croydon Vineyard, having planted the church with his wife Lesley in 2013. Tom is part of the Vineyard Leadership Team with a focus on Theology, and one of the teachers for Vineyard Theological Training. Tom has an MA in Theology from Cambridge, an MA in Diplomacy from SOAS and is now studying for a Doctorate in Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary in California.
