Join us for Fall Clergy Day 2025, a full day of learning, discussion, and practical guidance for clergy navigating the complex challenges of ministry today. This year’s theme, “Case Studies for Today’s Church,” will explore real-world scenarios clergy face in leadership, worship, parish life, and personal well-being.
The day will be led by James Weller, Esq., Chancellor of the Diocese of Long Island, and Charles Janoff, Chancellor of the Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, who will guide participants through six key case study topics:
- Ethics & Transparency in Leadership – Responding to allegations of misconduct, breaches of trust, or ethical dilemmas in leadership.
- Worship & Liturgical Experimentation – Balancing tradition with innovation: when and how to adapt liturgy for younger generations, multicultural contexts, or online/hybrid worship.
- Responding to Social Issues & Public Witness – Discernment about parish engagement in social justice issues while managing diverse political opinions in the pews.
- Conflict Resolution in the Parish – Handling interpersonal conflict between parishioners or between clergy and lay leadership, including situations where legal action may be threatened.
- Clergy Wellness & Boundaries – Navigating burnout, overwork, and self-care while balancing parish expectations, family, and personal spirituality.
- Financial Stewardship & Transparency – Building a culture of giving in parishes with no endowment or passive income, while maintaining transparency and trust.
This is an in-person event designed for clergy to engage in discussion, gain practical tools, and learn from experienced diocesan leaders.
Advance registration is required. Please register using the form below.
Register Here
Meet our Program Leaders
James W. Weller, Esq. serves as Chancellor of the Diocese of Long Island, acting as the Bishop’s principal legal advisor. In this role, he provides guidance on a wide range of legal matters, including both civil and canonical law, and serves as the chief legal officer for the Diocese. In addition to advising the Bishop, Mr. Weller is available to counsel parishes throughout the Diocese on legal issues, helping ensure that both diocesan and parish activities align with applicable laws and church canons.
Charles Janoff, Esq., is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A. with highest distinction 1974) and of the Harvard Law School (J.D. cum laude 1977). With his wife Kathleen and his daughter Elizabeth, Charles has lived in Garden City South since 1981. Beginning in 1985, after several years in corporate practice, he was engaged by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its predecessor institutions in its legal department specializing in all aspects of real estate. At his retirement in 2015, he had attained the rank of Vice President and Assistant General Counsel.
Charles and his family have been members of the congregation of The Cathedral of the Incarnation of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island since 1984. He has taught in the Cathedral Church (Sunday) School since 1987 and has also served as J2A/Rite 13 mentor preparing high school students for confirmation. He served as interim head of the School from 1999-2000 and thereafter as assistant to four successive Directors of Christian Formation. He was named Chancellor (legal advisor) of the Cathedral in May 2003 and Honorary Canon of the Cathedral in March 2009. He served as a delegate to the 2022 and 2024 General Conventions of the national Episcopal Church.
Schedule
8:30 – 9:00 AM | Coffee and Registration
9:00 – 9:45 AM | Morning Prayer followed by Bishop’s Welcome and Overview of the Day
9:45 – 10:45 AM | Session 1
10:45 – 11:00 AM | Break
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Session 2
12:30 PM | Noonday Prayer
1245 PM | Lunch (Mercer Building)