Events

Current events sponsored by the Center for Renewal include:

Sacred Practice Leadership Series Developed in cooperation with The Alban Institute this series of six 3-day events features twelve prominent authors, theologians and leaders in the church. The focus is on using the sacred practices in the leadership of the church. More information can be found here. The series is already underway, but registration for the remaining sessions is still open on an a la carte/space available basis.

The Ankeny Forum A monthly forum held at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Ankeny, Iowa (just north of Des Moines) that provides opportunities for rostered leaders to interact with theologians, church leaders, and community resources. More information can be found here.

Next up at the Ankeny Forum:

January 19 How long, O Lord? Psalms of Lament in a Culture of Praise

A culture fixated on positivism and praise cannot deal with life’s negative experiences. Obituaries become “celebrations of life.” Experiences of fear and loss are virtually silenced in worship. Grief is denied in ways that belie our humanity and trivialize the life of faith. The Bible’s lament tradition, especially as it occurs in the Psalms, gives voice to pain within the context of the Christian experience. Walter (Chip) Bouzard, Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Wartburg College and a Psalms specialist, will explore the psalms’ tradition of lament and the ways that that tradition might be used in worship, pastoral care, and Christian life.

Note: Monday evening, January 18, (7:00-9:00 p.m.) Dr. Bouzard will conduct a forum for the laity, Introducing the Book of Psalms, at Grand View University. Information is available here.

February 16 Administrative Basics for Rostered Leaders

Seminaries provide superb theological education. But many rostered leaders find that when they are called into leadership positions within congregations, they face challenges for which they feel ill-prepared. Beth Lewis, President & CEO for Augsburg Fortress, will help participants learn some “best practices” from business that can be applied to congregational leadership. These include hiring, setting team and individual goals, doing annual performance appraisals, team-building with staff and lay leaders, developing staff members, managing problem employees, and leading for change. Participants will leave with practical tools to use in their congregation.

Note: Monday evening, February 15, (7:00–9:00 p.m.) Beth Lewis will conduct a forum for the laity, Called to Serve, at Grand View University. Information is available here.

March 16 The State of the Seminary Union, or…Reconciling Theological Education

Theological education is being transformed from within and without, in big ways and for the betterment of God’s world. What are the convictions and forces at play in these changes? Is there a shared vision that guides these changes, and what promise do we and our “institutions and agencies” bring to such a vision? Dr. Duane Larson, President of Wartburg Theological Seminary, will provide updates about our ELCA seminaries, the Covenant Cluster, emerging new models for church leadership formation, and, especially, the emerging missional ecclesiology implied in the transformation.

Note: Monday evening, March 15, (7:00–9:00 p.m.) Dr. Larson will conduct a forum for the laity, The Role of the Seminary in a Rapidly Changing World, at Grand View University. Information is available here.

April 20 Seeing Change as Challenge and Opportunity

Change is scary to a lot of people, not least to those of us who are tasked to achieve it in our congregations (preferably without doing anything differently!). The Rev. Sarai Rice, Executive Director of the Des Moines Area Religious Council, will use stories, metaphors, diagrams and charts in order to help participants learn about the different kinds of change and the large group processes with which to both respond to and achieve change.

Note: Monday evening, April 19, (7:00–9:00 p.m.) Pastor Rice will conduct a forum for the laity, Seeing Change as Challenge and Opportunity, at Grand View University. Information is available here.

May 18 Connecting Sunday to Monday through Vocation

In recent years, pastors who want to strengthen their congregation’s ministry have been urged to help their members “connect Sunday to Monday.” Yet, rostered leaders often lack sufficient knowledge of or comfort with their members’ everyday work life to make meaningful connections between Scripture and people’s workplace vocations. Mr. Kent Henning, president of Grand View University, will bring experience in the Lutheran university setting to help pastors (a) recognize the calling that is present in their members’ everyday work life, and (b) suggest ways to relate the Gospel to their members’ vocations. Participants will enhance their ability to converse meaningfully with their members about vocations and will be encouraged to consider more broadly how to relate Christ’s teachings to the work people do, even in our profit-driven, market-based businesses.

Note: Monday evening, May 17, (7:00–9:00 p.m.) Mr. Henning will conduct a forum for the laity, Connecting Sunday to Monday through Vocation, at Grand View University. Information is available here.