ENGAGING GOD’S FUTURE: BUILDING COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CAPACITY FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD
Small congregations have been viable for centuries. Today, many struggle to sustain ministry and vitality, displaying symptoms of grief (denial, anger, fear of loss, yearning for what was, blame, and discouragement) as they endure conflict and uncertainty about their future.
Dialog Works, Wartburg Seminary, and seven mid-west ELCA synods offer Engaging God’s Future, four courses designed to build the courage, confidence, and capacity of leaders.
Courses are stand-alone with no pre-requisites; complete all four and a final project and receive certification as a Small Church Specialist. Online cohorts will discuss materials and share projects.
Learn more here.
Fall course beginnings:
- Practical Tools and Resources for the Journey – Mondays, October 4-November 15; 9:00-11:00 AM
- Discerning God’s Leading – Thursdays, October 7 – November 18; 9:00 – 11:00 AM
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FALL 2021 NEXT CHURCH COACHING COHORTS
NEXT Church is offering Fall 2021 coaching cohorts: a combination of scheduled group cohorts gathered around a particular topic led by teachers and experts, along with individual coaching sessions in-between those cohort meetings with trained/certified coaches to help participants wrestle with the topic for their particular context. Cohort topics include:
ANTIRACISM PRACTICES FOR FAITHFUL LEADERSHIP
Whether you’ve centered racial justice in your ministry for decades or are yearning to take steps to embody antiracist values, this cohort will offer a space to learn, explore, and practice bringing racial justice to the core of your leadership. A day or evening cohort are offered.
Register by October 1, 2021.
Learn more here.
Register here.
Various Mondays, October 4, 2021 – January 24, 2022
BRAVING THE BURNOUT FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR
This cohort will process the present, gain tools for readjustment, and strive for wholeness. Led for and by people of color, the cohort will foster exploration and curiosity in moving toward resiliency together.
Register by October 8, 2021.
Learn more here.
Register here.
Various Thursdays, November 14, 2021 – January 27, 2022
CONVERSATIONAL LEADERSHIP: LEADING WITH ROBUST VULNERABILITY
Being vulnerable as a leader means being honest and sharing your own experience in ways that help others ask appropriate questions that lead to growth in their own spiritual journey. Explore how to lead with “Robust Vulnerability” through cultivating conversations that are worthwhile and meaningful.
Register by October 1, 2021.
Learn more here.
Register here.
Various Thursdays, October 7, 2021 – January 27, 2022
ENNEAGRAM AND LEADERSHIP
By going deeper with the Enneagram, individuals can identify how best to respond to being stretched and where to find release, become conscious of blind spots and triggers, and reflect on how they interact with the people they lead. The aim of the cohort and individual coaching sessions will be to deepen essential strengths and develop new capabilities for effective leadership.
Register by October 1, 2021.
Learn more here.
Register here.
Various Wednesdays from October 6, 2021 – January 26, 2022
NEXT STEPS FOR ANTIRACIST LEADERSHIP
This deeper dive cohort creates space to maintain accountability and dig further into the necessity of an antiracist posture in the church. Participants will engage in the individual work that they must do to disrupt patterns and systems of white supremacy as well as analyze the systems and structures in which they find themselves. Only those who have already taken Antiracist Practices for Faithful Leadership may register for this next steps cohort.
Register by October 1, 2021.
Learn more here.
Register here.
Various Thursdays, October 7, 2021 – January 27, 2022
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SOUL OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: EXPLORING VOCATIONS IN SOCIAL JUSICE
United Theological Seminary’s innovative Soul of Social Transformation: Exploring Vocations in Social Justice fellowship will help participants consider previously unimaginable vocations that link the work of justice and transformation with church or faith-based organizations, while building skills to become transformative leaders.
At monthly mini-retreats, the cohort will receive mentorship from a diverse group of social transformation leaders and change agents who are working at the intersection of faith and justice, including:
- Rev. Dr. DeWayne L. Davis: lead minister, Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis
- Jim Bear Jacobs, director of community engagement and racial justice for the MN Council of Churches and parish associate at Church of All Nations Presbyterian Church
- Carin Mrotz, executive director of Jewish Community Action
- Jamil Stamschror-Lott, founder of Creative Kuponya and teacher of diversity & inequality coursework at Augsburg University’s clinical social work program
- Kelly Sherman-Conroy, Native American theologian
Applications are due September 10.
Learn more and apply here.
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TRAVERSE: A GUIDED EXPLORATION OF LIFE’S NEXT STAGE
Traverse is a 6-month seminar for adults age 55+ seeking to discern and build their “encore” chapter of social purpose and meaning. The course focuses on identifying and addressing critical issues of aging, transition, spirituality and social purpose. The class provides a supportive environment of co-travelers exploring life’s next stage.
Assigned readings and exercises are designed to provoke discernment, self-reflection, and insight. Extensive time is dedicated to guided group discussion. One key outcome is the development of an individual plan for your Encore stage of work or activity.
Learn more here.
Apply here.
October 12, 2021 – March 15, 2022
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FAITHFUL INNOVATION ONLINE COMMUNITY
Even before the pandemic, the Church in the 21st century’s at a crossroads. Isolation, burnout, and fatigue have only added to it. What we do next matters.
Over the course of seven months, you and members of your faith community will discover a Spirit-led way forward – past the noise and beyond the walls that separate us. By activating and encouraging curiosity, you can experiment in a place that’s safe enough to ask hard questions and discover answer that empower and sustain.
$400 or $65/month for 7 months.
Learn more here. Register here.
October, 2021 – May, 2022
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RE-WILDING THE PASTOR’S SOUL
Progressive Christianity’s Seminary of the Wild Fall 2021 Cohort focuses on Rewilding the Pastor’s Soul: A Yearlong Eco-Ministry Immersion for Pastors and Other Spiritual Leaders.
When the inner call to a deeper faith, more connected with the natural world, more challenging to the status quo comes for spiritual leaders, it can be challenging finding support and companionship on that journey. Seminary of the Wild is a safe (yet uncomfortable, as every threshold of change promises) container for the changes happening within you and the changes you’re being call to bing into the world.
Schedule a conversation nor register here.
Begins October 19, 2021.
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ANTI-RACISM TRAINING FOR MINISTERS
Led by Okogyeamon, co-founder of ASDIC, this Antiracism Study Dialogue Circle workshop is interactive and experiential, exploring the ways that racial dynamics play out in and about us, every day, in both personal and institutional spaces. Develop your ability to identify and interrupt whiteness – while exploring the mindset, feelings, social communications (conscious and unconscious), and contexts that support the racial hierarchy in all sectors of our society.
The intent is:
- to share and participate in honest and deep dialogue
- to provide a context of safe space for risk-taking and relationship-building
- to build and strengthen community bonds in our common struggle against racism
The training is open to everyone and meets the requirements for the MN Conference UCC Diversity/Anti-Racism Education for Authorized Ministers.
Learn more and register here.
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FROM ORGANIZED RELIGION TO ORGANIZING RELIGION
LEARN WITH BRIAN MCLAREN
Brian McLaren and Convergence provide an online, on-demand continuing eduction program for clergy and laity who want to strengthen their church while preparing for the cultural changes that impact ministry. Built to train lay and ordained leaders as spiritual activists in a growing multi-denominational movement of just and generous Christianity, the courses include:
- Clarifying Your Church’s Identity
- Your Message Matters
- Curating Change
- Worship Matters
- Your Congregation As a School of Love
- Church Impact
Courses can be purchased individually for $69. Small group and congregation pricing is also available. If interested in purchasing all 6, contact Convergence for pricing.
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PRACTICING COMPASSION
Most religions lift up compassion, yet few people actually teach how to practice it.
The Upper Room’s ecourse Practicing Compassion is based on Frank Rogers’ book by the same title, which offers an interfaith perspective on mercy, kindness, and caring for one another and trains participants to Pay attention, Understand empathetically, Love with connection, Sense sacredness, and Embody new life (PULSE) – beginning with ourselves.
The ecourse includes:
- all essential content from Frank Roger’s book, Practicing Compassion
- video introductions to each chapter with Frank Rogers
- audio recordings of guided medittions
- questions for personal reflection
- a place to exchange comments with others learning to practice compassion
Learn more and register here.
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CLIMATE JUSTICE & FAITH
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary’s certificate in Climate Justice and Faith offers a cohort-based, online curriculum that empowers participants to cultivate moral, spiritual, and practical leadership in the work of climate justice, both in communities of faith and in collaboration with others. Topics covered include theology; ethics and spirituality related to climate justice; climate change knowledge; and social change practices that connect ecological well-being with racial, economic and gender justice.
Lay and rostered leaders throughout the Lutheran World Federation and from other faith traditions are invited to apply.
The program is scheduled for September 2021 – May 2022.
Learn more here.
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PUBLIC CHAPLAINCY: CARE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE
Public Chaplaincy: Care in the Public Square is the first of its kind in the US, providing CPE students opportunities to care for folks at food banks, court courses, public eateries, libraries, the light rail, as well as 3 spaces at Hennepin County Medical Centre.
Unit One: Sept. ’21-Jan. ’22
Unit Two: Feb. ’22 – June ’22
Rural Chaplaincy: Care in Towns and Agricultural Regions connects rural students with sites in their own town, including coffee shops, restaurants, the VFW, a processing plant, treatment programs or a rural hospital.
Unit Three: June ’22 – Sept. ’22
Applications are available now for all three units.
Email Rev. Karen Hutt (khutt@unitedseminary.edu) with questions and for further information.
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AUDIT A COURSE
Members of the community are invited to audit courses at United Theological Seminary. Brush up on the Newer Testament or gain insight into Theology for Social Transformation. Learn pastoral care skills in Intercultural Chaplaincy, or analyze Art, Religion, and Contemporary Culture, just to name a few course offerings.
Whether you’re feeling the need to nourish your spiritual practice or simply desiring to learn more, you are welcome at United! Learn more.
We’re excited to share professional development through our partner, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and other excellent teachers and institutions.
