To: NT-NL Congregations

From: Bishop Erik K.J. Gronberg, PhD

RE: Leadership for Faithful Innovation, NT-NL Involvement

The Northern Texas-Northern Louisana Synod has long been dedicated to leadership formation with a clear focus on mission. We are grateful for this history and recognize that our mission territory continues to change and as such our leaders must adapt and learn.

Learning leadership is a key component to effective innovation and practice in parish ministry. To help facilitate this learning in our synod NT-NL will be partnering with Luther Seminary and other ELCA synods in the Leadership for Faithful Innovation Learning Community cohort program. This work will build on our growing culture of coaching, innovative practice, and collegiality, recognizing we are truly #InMissionTogether.

Five congregations will be taking part in this first cohort of Learning Community. Participating congregations will receive monthly coaching and multiple in person training sessions with Luther Seminary faculty and other ELCA synod leaders. The cohort will learn together what is and isn’t working in a variety of contexts, reflect on their context, and make action plans for being church in their unique context.

This program is ideal for pastors and congregations that want to learn, desire to be innovative, and are interested in taking concrete action.

This valuable expertise, coaching centered on the pastor and leaders, and consulting is made possible at a significantly reduced rate due to a Lily Grant received by Luther Seminary ($2,000/yr for the 3 yr program). This is significantly less than the cost of individualized consulting programs and individual coaching.

Please see the information sheet about this program and contact Bishop Gronberg at BpGronberg@ntnl.org if you are interested in learning more. The first training events will begin late this fall, so if you are interested, please contact Bishop by September 19, 2018.