The Spirituality of Leadership

Saturday 8:45-11:45 a.m.

Instructor – Rev. Chris Lee-Thompson, Pastor & Shalom Institute Program

When we begin to serve as leaders in the church, we assume that our spiritual life will naturally follow.  But, in fact, our spiritual lives often suffer in the course of our work.  Are there ways in which our relationship with God can be a more intentional part of our leadership?  Are there spiritual practices that are peculiar to leadership?  Does God work on us through the challenges of leadership in ways we don’t intend?  We will explore these and other questions in this course that is open to pastors, graduates of the lay school, and anyone with significant leadership experience.

Transforming Bible Study 

Saturday 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Instructor – Dr. James L. Bailey, Wartburg Seminary

Engaging the Bible does not simply imply teaching people about the Bible but allowing the Bible to address and engage their lives in deep and meaningful ways.  This course will instruct participants in preparing and leading a method of bible study that seeks to be interactive and transformative.  The method works best with small groups (15 or less) and makes use of carefully crafted questions and mini-exercises.   During the four sessions, the class will consider 8-12 important passages in the Gospels and actually practice an interactive engagement with these texts.  Each participant will be expected to study and prepare for a group’s interactive engagement with two or three of the selected passages.