Transforming Church

In May, I got a chance to meet the pastors of the largest churches in the ELCA when I joined in the Larger Church Conference in California. They allowed me to speak about this project, and to network for several days sharing the idea. Several leaders offered their support and help to move forward.

On May 18-19, we gathered about twenty leaders from around the ELCA for a second Focus Group to bring more people into the dialog about leadership development. Wyvetta Bullock, Bishop Hansen’s Executive for Leadership Development, joined us for the day along with Dick Magnus, Ruben Duran and Dave Daubert, from Churchwide.

We clarified that we are talking about a multi-year, post-seminary immersion into a learning community. Participants will journey together with a colleague group, bringing peer learning and accountability. We will look for participants who demonstrate the gift of leadership, are committed to mission, and who show “readiness” for the journey. Readiness will include a deep personal commitment to discipleship, and a commitment to discipling others.

The TransformingChurch.org Learning Community will gather several times a year, primarily in the settings of effective congregations who have joined our mentoring network. Each gathering will be an opportunity to learn new ideas and practices, set specific goals for action back home, share progress on existing goals with the Colleague Group, deepen relationships and grow stronger.

A team is gathering to develop this vision. We are looking at the successful models of the Beeson Institute and the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI) in the LCMS. The week after the Focus Group in Chicago, I traveled to Minneapolis for a follow up meeting with a group of ELCA Large Church Pastors, Luther Seminary, and two Bishops. George Weinman has been pursuing the idea of growing something similar to the PLI within the ELCA for some time. He has created significant interest among pastors in the Twin Cities area. We are joining our efforts together to create a model of leadership development for the ELCA.

The team will gather the last week of July in Colorado for three days of visioning and strategy building. By then, we will begin the move from discernment into action, as we build what the Spirit is calling forth to give hope and courage to a new generation of leaders.

This project springs forth from the Transformational Leader Gathering, a grassroots movement of leaders from the ELCA who seek to bring renewal. The Gathering has grown into a networked community, committed to peer learning in a flat world. Out of that community, a Vision Team has emerged to guide and lead this project. Connections within and beyond the TLG community have made the emergence of this learning community possible. We are now working to intentionally build the infrastructure to support a new reformation that lives out Luther’s call for the Priesthood of All Believers.

To see and learn more about Transforming Leaders Initiative on its home website, click here.