Development Day 26

For Leaders who serve on Sessions & Presbyteries

4th May | 11am to 5pm

Lunch & Afternoon Tea included

Cost: FREE

4th May | 11am to 5pm

Lunch & Afternoon Tea included

Cost: FREE


Leaders attending from regional MDC grant-receiving charges will be provided complimentary accommodation at The Victoria Hotel on the night of Monday 4th May ahead of Tuesday’s Commission.


Optional dinner & discussion from 5.30pm.

Please note: it is requested that delegates pay for their dinner, remembering the rest of the Day is FREE.


Development Day 26 is the inaugural gathering of leaders from grant-receiving churches, and all those engaged in leading revitalisation from Sessions and Presbyteries.

This is a one-day conference intentionally placed on the day before the PCV Commission of Assembly, tailored for leadership and ministry development for the work of revitalisation in congregations and Presbyteries.

During the day everyone will be able to engage with experienced ministry practitioners in congregational and presbytery revitalisation.


The Speakers

Darren Middleton

North Geelong Presbyterian Church, Geelong Presbytery

Darren and Ruth have been married for 30 years, they are blessed with seven children, two iconic 1960's Land Rovers, a 1967 Triumph Trophy and two lazy Australian bulldogs.

Darren was converted at the age of 23 from a non-Christian home when reading the Bible for the first time.

After theological college, he has served as a Presbyterian minister for nearly 30 years in Vic and NSW, with the last 16 years as the teaching elder at North.

Gary Stephens

Bairnsdale Presbyterian Church, Gippsland Presbytery

Gary has been minister at Bairnsdale Presbyterian, his Exit appointment, for 20 years and married to Natalie for 31. Gary came to faith when, in God’s grace, he found himself teaching children the gospel while part of a SU beach mission team. He and Natalie have four children, their youngest currently in year 12, as well as one annoyingly intelligent cavoodle, a couple of chickens and a blue tongue lizard who decided to call their yard home. They also disagree over the merits of coffee. Gary also serves as the Convener of the Exit Students Committee.


Our Approach to Development

  • Learning from Christ and not the way of the world.

    Christ Centred

    Learn, love and lead like Christ is our our targeted outcome. The word of God is our focus rather than the way of the world.

  • Collaborative

    Collaborative leadership development that is more adaptive than hub & spoke legacy models.

  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and circle lines.

    Tailored Training

    Tailored for Presbyterian ecclesiology and polity, because Presbyterianism is leadership biblically designed.

  • Geometric drawing of an outline square with sections divided by vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.

    Applicable for All

    Leadership development that is accessible, scaleable and affordable.