Leading Change - Day #3

I'm home from the Leading Change class at Luther Seminary.  The class ended at 3:30, and I had an uneventful ride home.  It's good to be home to see Karin and the boys.  Tomorrow I'll be leading a session at the Vermeer Teacher Workshop at PCHS on spiritual formation for teachers.

The Leading Change class was great.  Today we talked about types of change and about theoretical frameworks for understanding and working with change.  I gained some new ways of describing and talking about the process of change, and a better understanding of the way the world and the Church is changing right now.  As was noted in the class -- "Change is inevitable; growth is optional."  So I learned some things about how to handle change in ways that are fruitful and productive for the congregation.  It was an excellent class that will be very helpful for ministry.

It was also enjoyable to sit together with a group of Lutheran pastors for three days.  It was like sitting in on another family's reunion.  It was interesting to meet others who struggle with the same kinds of denominational and congregational and ministry issues.  The ELCA, like the CRC, is an ethnic denomination (Scandinavian) which is struggling with the reality of a low multi-ethnic constituency (I think one of them said about 3.5%), and with the trend in the USA toward a constantly growing multi-ethnic percentage in the population as a whole, both the CRC and ELCA are facing very serious viability issues now and for the next 25-50 years.  We share a lot of things in common, and it was good to talk with them about ministry and leadership.

It was also wonderful to celebrate the Lord's Supper with the Luther Seminary community.  The minister had a great sermon on Isaiah 6:1-8, and it was wonderful to be nourished together at the Lord's table.