Join the Church Innovations Institute this fall for a continuation of their free webinars designed to help local churches navigate the unknown territory we find ourselves in. Throughout this fall, they are intentionally placing the conversation in the context of local congregations trying to navigate grief, conflict, discernment, and adaptive change. Church Innovations is an ecumenical consulting group led by Dr. Patrick Keifert, author of Welcoming the Stranger and recently retired from Luther Seminary. Pastor Scot Sorenson, Chief Program Office of Saint John's Program for Real Change in Sacramento, CA, serves as a board member for Church Innovations. They are partnering with Nebigin House at the Graduate Theological Union and the Episcopal Diocese of California.
Grief - Wednesday, September 29 9:00am PT
From Shakespeare to Tolkien to Michael Sarnoski’s new movie Pig, authors, directors, musicians, and artists have given us great works focused on grief. Most of us have felt grief at some point in our own lives. But what happens when an event causes the whole church or even all of society to grieve together? Join Church Innovations for a conversation on grief, grieving together, and starting the journey of healing. Register here today!
Conflict - Wednesday, October 20 9:00am PT
We often think conflict is unhealthy and dangerous. And it can be. But conflict can also be an opportunity for new imagination, new mission, and new energy. Our years of research, consulting, and participating in local churches reveals that most churches engage in unhealthy conflict. What can we do to change unhealthy conflict so that our conflict can lead to new missional imagination and renewed energy? Conflict can be the spark that creates energy for us to live deeper into the mission of God. Join Church Innovations in exploring how conflict can become the means for renewed energy and renewed mission. Register here today!
Discernment - Wednesday, November 10 9:00am PT
In the book of Acts, we have a unique statement by the leadership of the Jewish Christians, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us . . .” Discernment is vital for living deeper into the mission of God. What practices lead to healthy spiritual discernment? What does discernment look like? Who is involved in the discernment process? Where does discernment lead? As churches move into a post-covid world, careful, thoughtful discernment is essential as we navigate what kind of churches we will be in a post-COVID world. Join Church Innovations in exploring the process of discernment so that the local church can find renewed energy and renewed mission. Register here today!
Adaptive Change - Wednesday, December 1 9:00am PT Technical change is possible when we can define the problem and know the solution. For example, a light bulb has burned out and we know what to do. Adaptive change takes place when we’re not even sure of the problem or the solution. Adaptive change takes place when the old rules or solutions no longer apply or are relevant. Adaptive change brings new imagination, new mission, new opportunity, and renewed energy. Adaptive change is essential for churches seeking identity the mission of God in a post-COVID world. Join Church Innovations, a leader in adaptive change management to find renewed energy and renewed mission. Register here today!