Nebraska Synod ELCA
Event
Course Overview
Designed specifically for congregations who want to find new ways to live out the old faith Dwight Zcsheile, Michael Binder and Tessa Pinkstaff’s Leading Faithful INNOVATION challenges pew sitters, council members, pastoral leaders, and disciples of all ages to engage in conversation. The book provides an invitation to explore the changesthat church and society are undergoing and ask ourselves what God might be up to amid those changes. Hands-on and practical idea Leading Faithful Innovation begins with three key steps: listening, acting, and sharing our stories. We will explore why church, God questions, innovation, leadership, age of authority vs age of authenticity, risk, and resources.
Reading Assignments
March 13 – Introduction and Chapter One (pages 1 – 37)
March 20 – Chapter Two, Three (pages 37-89)
March 27 – Chapters Four and Five (pages 89-126)
April 3 – Chapter Six, Conclusion and Resources (page 12-end)
Facilitator:
Deacon Sunni Richardson has long been involved in asking questions, engaging in possibilities, and equipping leaders, lay and ordained, teaching them to color outside the lines. She is an avid reader, photographer, trained ELCA coach, consultant, and workshop leader. Her career has taken her from the Iowa woods to the mountains of Alaska, the lakes of Minnesota to the prairies, rivers and forest of Nebraska. Sunni currently lives in Lincoln with her four-legged buddy Zadie Grace. Her favorite question is “why?” answered with “why not?”
Target Audience:
This course is for disciples of all ages who are curious/ possibility thinkers, who want to explore how God might be calling us to be church in new ways in our communities and are willing to read a book and engage in conversation. The book is 150 pages written for those of us who consider ourselves ordinary.
Participants will benefit by having a friend, congregational partner or pastoral leader also taking the course to encourage further conversation and the development of faithful action steps. Invite your council or church leadership to participate together! This is a great new year, new council training.
Course Details:
Dates: Thursdays. March 13, 20, 27 and April 3, 2025
Time: 7:30-9:00 pm Central/6:30-8:00 Mountain
Format: This Emmaus course is offered online using Zoom. A link and additional information will be sent to participants March 10. With participants’ permission the course may be recorded for personal use by registered participants.
Materials: Participants will need a copy of Leading Faithful INNOVATION – Following God into a Hopeful Future by Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder, Tessa Pinkstaff
Costs: Covered by a grant, this class is being offered at no cost to you! You will need to purchase the book ahead of time. If the cost of the book is prohibitive for you, please contact the Synod office.
Registration Deadline: Monday, March 10, 2025
No refunds after March 10.
Continuing Education Credits: 6 hours continuing education credit