Leadership Accelerator
The Greek Orthodox Church in America stands at a unique moment, blessed with unprecedented numbers of inquirers and catechumens seeking the fullness of Orthodox faith. Yet many devoted priests struggle with the increasing demands of ministry, often at the cost of their own spiritual health and family life. The Leadership Accelerator program emerged from within the Orthodox tradition to address this sacred responsibility.
Vision
The program draws on the most effective research in adult learning, recognizing that adults are problem-oriented leaders. Our vision includes:
- Strengthening pastoral effectiveness while preserving the contemplative life essential to Orthodox spirituality
- Supporting clergy wellness so priests can serve faithfully for decades, not just years
- Preparing parishes for growth as increasing numbers seek Orthodox faith and community
- Building brotherhood among clergy across metropolises, strengthening the entire Church
The focus of the program is transformation: from servants to servant-leaders, from good leaders to great leaders, from great leaders to leaders of leaders.
The Gap
While seminary education provides priests with essential biblical, theological, and historical knowledge, there is a gap. Seminarians are generally not taught how to be leaders or apostles. The Leadership Accelerator provides experienced guides who serve as trusted advisers to grow Orthodox clergy into leaders, so that priests can both care for and lead their parishes more effectively without sacrificing the values that matter most.
The Program
Two-Year Leadership Formation Journey
Following the principle of gradual growth, priests engage in a comprehensive formation process:
Individual Mentoring & Guidance
Each priest is paired with an experienced coach who provides dedicated one-on-one sessions each month to work through challenges, identify effective solutions, and celebrate progress. Personalized guidance is tailored to the specific realities of each priest's unique context.
Group Learning & Brotherhood
Through regular group and individual calls, priests engage in structured opportunities for mutual encouragement, shared learning, and accountability. These gatherings foster peer-to-peer mentoring and the exchange of practical insights.
Intensive Retreats
Three gatherings per year provide concentrated leadership formation, combining teaching, prayer, fellowship, and practical application.
Daily Leadership Practices
Proven methods for maintaining effectiveness amid pastoral demands, with tools for sustainable ministry and life rhythms.
Impact
The priests who completed the two-year program in December 2024 experienced transformative results:
- Improved Work-Life Balance & Personal Health – from establishing daily routines to returning to physical fitness and prioritizing family time
- Enhanced Leadership Awareness & Decision-Making – moving from reactive activity to deliberate, methodical approaches focused on areas of biggest impact
- Stronger Organizational Systems & Support – implementing concrete improvements including hiring staff, creating mission-focused budgets, and making meetings more effective
- Deeper Ministry Impact & Enhanced Vision – gaining clearer vision of what parishes can achieve while making pastoral work more meaningful
- Valuable Peer Relationships & Community – lasting connections providing ongoing support and collaboration
Read more about the impact Leadership Accelerator has had on devoted clergy in The Metropolis of Chicago's 2024 Annual Impact Report.
Meet Fr. Panagiotis Boznos a graduate of Cohort 1 now a coaching priest with Leadership Accelerator.
Retreat Schedule
All retreats start on Monday with an informal dinner at 6 PM at an off-site restaurant. We recognize that travel schedules or delays are always an issue, so there are no formal events on Monday nights. However, the time with other priests and coaches is important and valuable, so please make this part of your travel plans.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll start with breakfast at 8 AM. Our intensive content, reflection and workshops will start at 9 AM and end at 4 PM, with breaks and lunch during that time. We’ll gather again for dinner at 6 or 6:30 PM.
Thursday is focused on group coaching and application. Breakfast is at 8 AM, followed by the intensive from 9 AM – 12 noon. Lunch will be take-away — we encourage to stay on site and eat if you can, but you can take lunch to-go in order to be on time for your flight.
What's Included
Please note that your program fee includes your room and all meals, with the exception of Monday night dinner for the June and October retreats, as well as all curriculum and required books. You are responsible for your travel to and from each venue, the Monday night dinner in June and October, and any alcoholic beverages at off-site restaurants.
Learn More
Please click below to view our detailed pamphlets. Don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
Rev. David Limiero
Rev. David Limiero
The Reverend David Limiero received his Master of Divinity degree with honors from Emmanuel Christian Seminary in 1992, and is a member of the International Honor Society of Theta Phi. He also holds the Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from the University of Colorado, where he graduated magna cum laude and was elected as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. He received his ordination into Christian ministry in 1992.
David served as a local church pastor for more than 27 years, first serving as an assistant pastor in Colorado, Tennessee, and Illinois before leading congregations in Illinois and California. He started Life Journey Christian Church in Bakersfield, California in 2003, and was instrumental in starting two other congregations in Bakersfield over the next decade, one English-speaking and one Spanish-speaking.
In 2007, David joined the staff at Stadia, an international church-planting mission, where he served until 2021. He brings more than three decades of experience working with local congregations and non-profit organizations. During his time at Stadia, he was involved in supporting 1500 church plants in 23 countries and 46 US States, leading the Pastoral Care and Information Technology teams. In 2018 David and his wife Jan co-founded Eagles Rest, which provides sabbatical care and coaching to cross-cultural and local ministry leaders. In 2020 he co-founded Journey Appalachia, where he served as a faculty member and focuses on helping leaders live and lead from overflow, not overwhelm.
David is the President and Founder of Edens View Coaching and Consulting, where he leads a team that guides small business owners and ministry leaders in how to have a business or ministry and a life, not a business or ministry that is their life. He is a Certified Professional Leadership Coach, a certified Habit Coach, an Associate Credentialed Coach with the International Coaching Federation, and a Full Focus Certified Professional. He has published articles in the Christian Standard, SmallGroups.com, and Leaven: A Journal for Christian Ministry.
In addition to his coaching credentials, David holds numerous technical certifications. His passion is blending soul care and systems to bless leaders and those whom they lead.
David and his wife Jan have been married for thirty-four years and have three grown children and one grandchild. They reside near the Appalachian Mountains in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Fr. Panagiotis Boznos
Fr. Panagiotis Boznos grew up in the suburbs of Chicago attending the Greek Orthodox parishes of St. Nectarios in Palatine and St. Athanasios in Aurora. He earned his BA (2008) from the University of Oklahoma with a double major in Religious Studies and Classical Greek. From there he proceeded to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he received his MDiv (2013). While at seminary, Fr. Panagiotis met and married Presbytera Nichole, who also graduated from Holy Cross the same year with an MTS. Together they have four children. Fr. Panagiotis was ordained to the Diaconate on June 29th, 2013 and to the Priesthood on July 28th, 2013.
Following his ordination to the Priesthood, he served the parish of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL from 2013-2019. Father currently serves as the priest of his home parish of St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church in Aurora, IL. In addition, Fr. Panagiotis currently serves as both the President of the Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Alumni Association, and as Spiritual Advisor to the Student Leadership Board of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF).
Rev. Scott Caldwell
The Reverend Scott Caldwell brings 27 years of leadership development experience through his work in non-profit and ministry organizations. Throughout his career, he has gained deep appreciation for the transformative lessons that challenges can bring, the importance of empowering teams, the impact of strength-based leadership, and the power of shared vision. These principles form the foundation of his mentoring approach as he builds capacity in leaders to achieve their personal and organizational goals.
After completing his studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Scott was ordained into ministry. While he has served in various church capacities, his primary calling has been lived out through Young Life (parachurch ministry to adolescents) and currently through CLC—Christ Led Communities (a men's discipleship and leadership development ministry).
During a particularly challenging season as a ministry leader in his 30s, Scott engaged his first mentor, seeking a new approach to life and ministry. This transformative experience moved him from futility to flourishing and gave him profound appreciation for the impact mentoring can have in a leader's life. That same mentor has remained a consistent presence in his life ever since.
Since 2023, Scott has been mentoring business and ministry leaders with a focus on Leadership, Team-Building, Vision and Alignment as catalysts for organizational growth. His approach helps leaders spend more time conducting the orchestra rather than playing all the instruments. He specializes in walking alongside leaders and teams to provide shape, structure and support as they move from where they are to where they want to be. Scott is committed to putting the "Who" before the "What" in how he approaches leadership development and team building, consistently experiencing what he calls The Double Win of "Winning at Work and Succeeding at Life."
Scott has been married to his wife Susan for twenty-nine years and they have three children: Katy Ann, Austin, and Chesney. He enjoys playing golf, cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals and University of Tennessee sports teams, and playing fantasy baseball.
Our Thanks!
Much of the content of Leadership Accelerator was developed by Michael Hyatt, the founder and Chairman of Full Focus and architect of the Full Focus Planner. Michael is a Deacon in the Antiochian Orthodox Church and a personal friend to His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.
Michael believes strongly in leadership development for Orthodox priests and has graciously allowed Edens View Coaching and Consulting to license and customize his content for Orthodox clergy. We are grateful for his generous support!