DISCERNING GOD'S LEADING

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Course Overview:

Discerning God's Leading offers practical pathways to help your faith community thoughtfully explore its mission and ministry options.

We've designed this learning experience to support faith leaders in:

  • > Developing their skills in guiding their congregation to understand its core mission and the diverse possibilities for ministry.
  • > Learning and implementing participatory techniques and processes that encourage broad involvement.
  • > Cultivating enhanced listening skills to better understand the needs and aspirations of the congregation.
  • > Gaining confidence in navigating differing viewpoints and fostering constructive dialogue.
  • > Understanding the principles that lead to meaningful consensus within a faith community.

Our aim is to support your growth as a leader, building your capacity to guide your congregation with wisdom and confidence as you collectively discern the next chapter of your ministry.

Instructors

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Instructors
     Rev. Peter Soli and Rev. Dr. Mark Yackel-Juleen
Contributors
     Rev. Dr. David Anderson-Hooker, JD
     Rev. Jeff Kjellberg

Course Description

HYBRID LEARNING: Our blended learning approach enables self-paced study alongside structured instruction and personalized support. Our six-session curriculum begins and concludes with live sessions, while the intervening weeks allow for self-paced learning with interaction among colleagues and instructors.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS INCLUDED: Participants who wish to earn 2.4 CEU’s are expected to attend the scheduled sessions and engage in providing responses and feedback to the course materials. The CEU's are awarded by Dialog Works and Wartburg Seminary. Those students who enroll in the other three courses in the Engaging God’s Future series will be eligible for the Small Congregation Specialist certificate.

WEEK 1

From Unrest to Address
Live Session

We start with a live, interactive cohort session that addresses key factors and tasks leaders need to consider before initiating a discernment process. Topics include entering, planning, and focusing the process, along with engaging a group of congregations in the discernment process.

WEEK 2

Context, Culture, and Change
Self-paced

This unit centers on discerning God's guidance for congregations through an examination of context, culture, history, and current community and congregational changes, while envisioning future possibilities. It emphasizes the significance of narratives, relationships, and the distinct characteristics of small congregations.

WEEK 3

Loosening the Grip of Conflict
Self-paced

This unit explores narrative mediation as a conflict resolution approach that utilizes storytelling to find common ground. It also examines the difference between creating a "shared vision of the future" and a "vision of a shared future," focusing on the importance of inclusivity and diverse perspectives in shaping collective goals.

WEEK 4

Harnessing the Group's Wisdom
Self-paced

This unit guides participants through two approaches to discerning God's leading in congregations. By exploring context, culture, and change potential, participants gain insights into their congregation's history and dynamics. Leaders are equipped with practical tools to navigate the future while understanding developmental, transitional, and transformational change.

WEEK 5

Mission Clarity 
Self-paced

This unit equips congregational leaders to navigate modern challenges by guiding their churches through missional uncertainty, financial constraints, and questions of relevance. It emphasizes strategic thinking and missional clarity, utilizing external perspectives to catalyze transformative change within congregations. Leaders learn to assess and empower their communities to uncover and actualize their unique identity and vision.

WEEK 6

Final Projects
Live Session

The final project requires students to prepare and deliver a 5-6 minute personal narrative that connects their life experiences with the challenges confronting a congregation, and inspires them to take action. The narrative should exhibit vulnerability and offer insights into the student's values and motivations for ministry. Each student will receive feedback through a colleague's retelling of their story to enhance understanding and reflection.

When is this course offered?

The next session of Discerning God's Leading is expected to start:

Fall or Winter of 2025

View all the Course Offerings here

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