Here’s a very thoughtful reflection, written in the context of a spiritual direction training program, on spiritual direction as a form of missional ministry. A brief excerpt: Spurning the attractional methods of much of contemporary American Christianity, the missional church is incarnational — it seeks to be the hands and feet of God at work in the world. Frost and …
Digging deeper into missional identity
This video explores a common struggle in many mainline churches: how can churches address their lingering “establishment” assumptions and practices in a world in which they are increasingly displaced from cultural privilege? How can churches reenvision their relationship with their neighbors in the 21st century? Dwight Zscheile proposes a more radical approach for hospitality and mission that comes from Jesus’ …
Listening for the Spirit
Cheryl Goodman-Morris reminds us that the Spirit blows as she wills, and we must needs keep that in mind as live into Christian community: What if the process of creating a fresh church could come to us in a radical, completely unorthodox new way? What if we remembered to let the Spirit find us instead of us trying to manufacture …
Listening and learning our way into Christian community
Dr. Dwight Zscheile offers new ways to think about inviting people into Christian community.
Teaching, learning and diversity
In addition to Dr. Willie James Jennings’ lecture, we invited a panel of faculty — Dr. Eric Barreto, Dr. Amy Marga, and Dr. Christian Scharen — to “think out loud” with us on the pedagogical implications of his work for our mission together at Luther:
Prairie Star Ministries
Here’s a short introduction to an innovative small church collaborative in southwestern Minnesota:
Missional leadership and the Black Church
Here is the Reverend David Everett talking about his research into missional leadership and a group of very dynamic historically Black churches.
Pentecost on the Prairie
Listen as Laurie Skow-Anderson talks about the challenges of moving from a uniracial congregation to a more multiracial one: Laurie Skow-Anderson: “Pentecost on the Prairie” from Discerning Mission on Vimeo.
Interim ministry as a missional opportunity
Recent Luther DMin alum, Chris Hagen, talks about his research project which sought to approach interim ministry not as an effort to help a congregation “solve a problem,” but rather as an opportunity to help a congregation listen to what the Holy Spirit might be inviting them to engage. Chris Hagen from Discerning Mission on Vimeo.
Leadership lessons
Every so often I run across interesting reflections from people outside of the “church world,” reflections that I think all of us who are seeking to serve in missional leadership could learn from. Here’s a great post about inter-cultural learning, written by Susan Campion, who is a consultant and businesswoman based in the Twin Cities. Among other aspects of her …