Student Projects
If you are having difficulty viewing a PowerPoint file, try Microsoft's free PowerPoint viewer download.
If you are having difficulty viewing an Acrobat Reader file, try Adobe's free Acrobat Reader download.
Biblical and Theological Foundations
"Missional Ecclesiology in Church Facility Design"
Author: Michael Peck
A missional understanding of the church is used in this paper to reflect critically on the process recently used by his congregation to design a new worship space. A model is proposed for how congregations might better utilize a missional ecclesiology in planning for the construction of facilities.
"Thinking About God"
Author: Mark Woelte
Thinking about God requires us to think theologically in light of scripture, tradition and our experience. This power point offers a constructive approach for helping persons think theologically about God, both communally and individually in relation to the issues and problems of everyday life. (The Word file provides notes for the power point slides.)
"Toward A Missional Polity"
Author: Bill Enns
This paper draws on the inter-relationships and power dynamics within the Trinity to offer insights into how congregations can better shape leadership practices and form structures. A transformational framework based on Romans 12 is offered as a key foundation for the construction of a missional polity.
Congregations in Context
"God's Mission—Our Mission"
Author: Mel Wallschlaeger
This power point presentation (with notes) provides a understanding of how the mission of God—the Missio dei—can be translated into a congregation in terms of a Lutheran confessional perspective. The author interfaces this understanding with the mission and ministry of the local congregation in its context.
"Perceptions of Mission and Practices of Ministry"
Author: Rob Sachs
This power point presents the social and religious history of two Danish congregations (one Sad Danes and the other Happy Danes) that eventually merged in this small rural farm community. The challenges of defining a mission and focusing a vision for the congregation are explored, with biblical and theological foundations for such being offered.
"Where Do We Go Now?"
Author: Lon Kvanli
This power point is a series of three presentations with guided discussion that were used to lead a planning team through an assessment of the congregation’s life and ministry. The focus is on framing a vision for the future. In pursuing this, biblical stories are used to invite theological reflection, and statistical data is used to name various realities.
Leadership Identity and Formation
"Communal Resilience: Reimagining Mission As Empowered Leaders"
Author: Loren Mellum
Sexual misconduct that came to light after the retirement of a long-term pastor led to serious difficulties in the author’s congregation. This paper develops an insightful analysis of the problems leading to and resulting from this misconduct. A biblically and theologically grounded strategy is used to foster communal healing and empower congregational leaders.
"Identity, Leadership, and Spiritual Life"
Author: Jill Dant
A seven-week, interactive study is presented that the author’s congregation used to help them live into forming communal faith practices that express the values of the Kingdom of God. Complete outlines of all study materials are provided.
"Saying No to Say Yes: Toward Good Use of God's Gift of Time "
Author: Peter Vorhees
Learning to use one's time effectively in ministry is a challenge all Christian leaders face. The author first reflects critically on his current practices of managing time. Then he uses biblical and theological foundations for constructing a redemptive and strategic approach one can use for stewarding the use of time in his/her life and ministry.
Ministry Practices
"'Tell the World' Somali Outreach Discernment Plan"
Author: Chris Hagen
The changed context around this congregation due to an influx of Somali immigrants led the author to think theological and creatively about the congregation’s mission. Biblical and theological foundations are offered to frame a detailed discernment plan that the author used in leading the congregation into consideration of this changed mission.
"A Process of Discipleship, Gifts Discovery, and Spiritual Formation For New Households of Ascension Lutheran Church"
Author: Randy Olson
This paper outlines the approach used by the author in leading his congregation into the development of a process for welcoming new households into the church and helping to form them into disciples. A relational theology under girds this process, and a biblical understanding of spiritual giftedness supports it.
"Preaching as Faith Practice in the Land of Liminality"
Author: Chris Schneewind
The challenge of preaching to a postmodern and post-churched culture audience serves as the context for this paper. Using the central theme and key excerpts from actual sermons preached, the author provides helpful insights into how preaching both models faith practices and also relates faith practices to the hearers.
"Spiritual Formation in the Congregation: 5 Dramas to Present Spiritual Styles"
Author: Joel Xavier
Five drama sketches are used to creatively highlight and critique different understandings that persons have about spiritual formation. This paper provides the background for understanding how these dramas can be used within a congregation in relationship to a sermon series.
"Sunday Worship and Faith Practices in the Home: Making Connections"
Author: David Tryggestad
The author provides a detailed set of lesson plans for advent that provide for an integration of worship at home with the worship of the gather community. The focus is on cultivating faith practices in the home. A variety of activities and projects are provided in each lesson.
"Toward a Common Missional Liturgy: Participating in the Redemptive Rule of God through Christian Worship"
Author: John Paulson
The Trinitarian foundations for understanding God’s mission in the world are used as the basis for shaping the theology and practice of worship in the missional church. Missional worship and a missional liturgy draw deeply on the historical Christian faith, but relate this faith in contextually relevant ways for God’s people.
