Congregational Vitality Training Event Week & Border Experience
San Diego, California, February 17-21, 2020
UPDATED DECEMBER 4, 2019
SAVE THESE DATES:
February 17: Travel Day & REDIL/Latinx Leaders Meeting
February 18: Worship at United States ̶ Mexico Border
February 19-21: CV Training Event
Events and Timing
- Homeless and Justice Network Gathering – Sunday and Monday — Plan arrival for Saturday PM or Sunday early AM
- Boundaries Training for Mission Developers – Monday (8:00 am – 5:00 pm) — Plan arrival for Sunday PM
- ELCA Level 1 Coach Launch Training – Monday and Tuesday (8:00 am – 5:00 pm) (Contact Jill Beverlin, ELCA Coaching Coordinator, to learn more — also, keep scrolling in this article to find more info.) — Plan arrival for Sunday PM
- REDIL/Latinx Leaders Meeting – Monday
- United States – Mexico Border Experience – Tuesday (8:00 am – approx. 4:30/5:30 pm) — Plan arrival for Monday PM
- CV Training Event Facilitators Meeting – Tuesday evening (approx. 5:30 pm — stay tuned for details)
- CV Training Event: Wednesday – Friday — Plan arrival for Tuesday PM
- Wednesday – Thursday timing: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday timing – 8:00 am – 2:30 pm — Friday evening flights home are strongly encouraged. Friday housing is not provided.
Keep reading to learn details about who should come to each track and applicable fees.
A moment of prayer, captured at the Baltimore CV Training Event. Photo courtesy of Katie Simbala, Metro DC Synod creative director.
CV Training Event Tracks
The Congregational Vitality Team is offering all the tracks from the Baltimore training event, with one addition: Anchor Churches.
Please note that the Prison Congregations track will not meet in San Diego. The goal is to offer it at the Chicago CV Training Event (August 26-28, 2020).
Two groups are in the cohort-developing process, which means they will be focusing on curriculum building with a smaller group (not training). These two groups are Arab – Middle Eastern Churches and the Synod Vitality Focus Group.
If you are a new DEM or anyone with questions about any of these training tracks, please contact a member of the CV Team.
MISSION DEVELOPMENT
Fees:
- No Registration Fee for NEW (2019-2020) mission developers (and other approved leaders) and accompanying DEMs.
- Housing is included (double occupancy, up to three nights). You may pay a fee ($88 per person per night) to upgrade to a single room.
- Flights (up to $500) for approved mission developers and sponsoring DEMs are covered and may be booked through Direct Travel, ELCA (budget code will be provided in registration communications)
- Please read ALL the event information and Travel & Logistics information before booking flights.
Expectations:
- PART 1 TRAINING: For new developers (2019-2020) and their accompanying DEMs. To bring any previous leaders who have not been trained, please consult with Rev. Ruben Duran or Rev. Anna-Kari Johnson.
- PART 2 TRAINING: Returning developers and lay leaders who need part 2 training are welcome, but please consult with Rev. Ruben Duran or Rev. Anna-Kari Johnson before registering.
- FOR SEMINARIANS: Contact Rev. Rob James to plan student participation before registering.
- ALL OTHERS: Returning leaders (developers from previous years) and other ministry leaders are welcome, but please consult with Rev. Ruben Duran or Rev. Anna-Kari Johnson before registering.
If you are a new director for evangelical mission or anyone with questions about any of the training tracks, please contact a member of the Congregational Vitality Team.
New Start Tracks (for mission developers)
- African Descent Churches
This course readies developers who will be serving in an African descent context for all aspects of development through a foundation that embraces the tenets and practices of the historic black church and the African descent community through a Lutheran lens. It includes best practices for many areas not limited to, but including: self-care, financial practices, mission planning, leadership development, marketing, technology, evangelism, stewardship and more.
- African National Churches
This training track is designed for African national mission developers in the ELCA who desire to grow in theological, pastoral, liturgical, missiological, apologetic and practical leadership in their own contexts. It helps participants to understand an increasingly fast changing American cultural environment, the place and role of Lutheran churches in local communities and American society at large. It’s an opportunity to teach, learn, share common experiences and strengthen networks.
- American Indian – Alaska Native Churches
- Arab – Middle Eastern Churches (INVITATION ONLY, developing curriculum)
- Asian Churches
This track provides insight and information for Asian developers and lay leaders as they are developing their ministries. Participants will learn from several developers in the field who will share their real experiences. Several issues that are unique to Asian community will be presented and discussed.
- Church Launch
Basic principles and best practices, including nuts and bolts and practical tools in developing a new church.
- Churches Starting Churches
This track is content-heavy and covers key aspects of church planting, including helpful concepts and models from the business and nonprofit world. Some of the modules we cover are especially helpful for those who are considering becoming a multisite church or planting a new church out of an existing church. DEMs can invite pastors (not just mission developers) from their synods to attend, in consultation with Rev. Ruben Duran.
- Multicultural Churches – description coming
- Postmodern Churches
This track empowers mission developers and lay leaders to listen and respond to the spiritual needs and varied contexts of those outside of traditional church models. Developers and lay leaders will gain and share tools to design innovative ministries and unconventional worship experiences that are feasible, desirable, and sustainable while engaging in Jesus’ way of love, justice and transformation.
- Poverty Justice / Homeless Justice Ministries Network
This track provides resources and support for developing new ministries of accompaniment with people experiencing poverty, hunger and exclusion. Together we will explore how loving our neighbors as ourselves, especially the marginalized, creates a space for the “Balm of Gilead” to heal our broken communities. We will look at ways to be in partnership with other ministries within the ELCA and across denominational lines, and how to find other community partners.
- Prison Congregations — The Prison Congregations track will NOT meet for the San Diego training event. The goal is to offer it at the Chicago CV Training Event, coming up August 26-28, 2020.
- Recovery Churches
Building communities of worship that are in ministry with individuals, families and neighborhoods affected by and recovering from addictions.
- Reentry Churches
Ministries that develop out of and around ministry with people reentering society after incarceration. How congregations can be a welcoming place and provide spiritual support and community connections to help people transition back into the community.
- REDIL / Latinx Churches — REDIL stands for: Red Ecumenica Para el Desarollo de Iglesias Latinas (translated: Ecumenical Network for the Development of Latinx Churches)
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EXISTING OR NEWLY FORMED CONGREGATIONS
(for church pastors / leaders)
Note to DEMs: If you are accompanying one or more mission developers, you may use the “Mission Development” (no-fee) link for yourself.
— Anchor Churches (contact Rob James for more details)
No fee for registration. | Participants will cover hotel expense via the registration link. | Participants must cover travel expenses.
- If you are a lead pastor of a potential or active Anchor Church who has attended an Anchor Church Conference, this track is the next step! Join the ELCA Congregational Vitality Team and Anchor Church facilitators to more deeply explore how your vital congregation can partner with other congregation(s) through Accompaniment or Adoption to grow and enhance vitality for God’s reign. Follow-up activities will include one-on-one coaching and regular Zoom cohort participation for support and sharing tools and ideas.
- If you are interested but have not yet participated in an Anchor Church Conference, contact Rob James to learn more and explore this option.
— Newly Organized, Merged and Consolidated Churches (contact Anna-Kari Johnson for more details)
No fee for registration. | No fee for double-occupancy housing (up to three nights). You may pay a fee ($88 per person per night) to upgrade to a single room. | Participants must cover travel expenses.
- For leaders of congregations in (or on the way toward) new seasons of shared ministry, including consolidations and mergers. This track will explore the realities of finances, language as a tool to shape change, the importance of visioning at each stage, the impact of naming core values for partnering work, and resources for attending to grief throughout the transitions.
- We welcome DEMs to bring one pastor and two lay leaders for this track. Contact Anna-Kari Johnson for more details.
— Vital Congregations (for church leaders focused on revitalization)
Registration Fee: $250 | Participants will use a special link to reserve housing ($149 per night [plus required hotel fees and taxes] per room; please find a roommate as needed) | Participants must cover travel expenses.
Please find a roommate as needed. You will be able to note whether you want final payment arrangements to be separate (per person) at hotel check-out, in the “Additional Requests” field of the room-reservation link.
You may also contact the Town and Country reservation department directly by calling 800-772-8527, Option 2, and reference the “Sub 2020 C. V. Training Event” room block. A reservation agent will then be able to assist.
- This training track is for rostered leaders involved in leading a congregational process toward revitalization, renewal and/or transformation. Participants will receive training with a team of experienced practitioners who will share principles, best practices and tools. Topics to be discussed include: spiritual transformation, congregational history, discovering assets, re-rooting in the community, identifying guiding principles and purpose, changing congregational culture, stewardship, evangelical outreach, faith sharing, mission/action planning, and more.
- Participants will be invited to learn both from the trainers and from each other as they engage in small group discussions. This is not Part 2 of what was offered in Baltimore.
- Nancy Nyland, DEM for the Indiana – Kentucky Synod, will support this team. DEMs: If you have a leader currently engaged in, or about to begin a revitalization, renewal or transformation process, we encourage you to attend this training with your leader(s).
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SYNOD VITALITY STRATEGIES
— Synod Vitality Strategy Basics for DEMs (for DEMs only)
Registration Fee: $250 | Participants will use a special link to reserve housing ($149 per night [plus required hotel fees and taxes] per room; please find a roommate as needed) | Participants must cover travel expenses.
Please find a roommate as needed. You will be able to note whether you want final payment arrangements to be separate (per person) at hotel check-out, in the “Additional Requests” field of the room-reservation link.
You may also contact the Town and Country reservation department directly by calling 800-772-8527, Option 2, and reference the “Sub 2020 C. V. Training Event” room block. A reservation agent will then be able to assist.
Join Maristela Freiberg, DEM for the New Jersey Synod; Amsalu Geleta, DEM for the Delaware-Maryland Synod; Matthew Short, DEM for the Greater Milwaukee Synod; and Erika Uthe, DEM for the Southeastern Iowa Synod, for a time of collaborative learning and sharing specifically for new DEMs and other DEMs who are working toward developing a framework for building a synod vitality team and strategies. This track will also include 2.5 hours for developing a coaching system in your synod. This is not team training, but rather a collaborative time for DEMs only, who will begin to work on a plan over the 2.5 days of training.
Synod Vitality Strategy Basics for DEMs will include the following components:
- Listening to each participating DEM as they tell and describe: their synod context, what they are noticing and wondering about synod vitality strategy planning, as well as naming the strengths, opportunities, hopes and challenges going forward.
- Answering questions and providing guidance on: What is a synod vitality strategy? Why have a synod vitality strategy? What are key components to developing and actualizing a synod vitality strategy? How to assemble a synod strategy planning team or table. What resources are available to the synod? What are some of the key learnings and practices resulting from other synod vitality strategies? How to prepare for bringing a synod vitality team for training at the August 2020 event in Chicago.
- One synod will present their Synod Vitality Strategy. We rely on a cadre of other DEMs, presenters and partners for this track.
- Takeaways will include: an action plan reflecting the DEM’s next steps, ongoing collegiality among the participants via Zoom conversations, and availability of ongoing coaching and mentoring.
- This is about a collaborative conversation to share and encourage as well as to learn and support each other in the journey. We aim to become a learning community in 2.5 days of training.
— Synod Vitality Focus Group (INVITATION ONLY — DEMs and synod teams)
Registration Fee: $250 | Participants will use a special link to reserve housing ($149 per night [plus required hotel fees and taxes] per room; please find a roommate as needed) | Participants must cover travel expenses.
Please find a roommate as needed. You will be able to note whether you want final payment arrangements to be separate (per person) at hotel check-out, in the “Additional Requests” field of the room-reservation link.
You may also contact the Town and Country reservation department directly by calling 800-772-8527, Option 2, and reference the “Sub 2020 C. V. Training Event” room block. A reservation agent will then be able to assist.
DESCRIPTION: This track is for synod teams who desire to develop relationships and capacity within their synod to foster a culture of congregational vitality. Outcomes will include enhanced ability to offer synod-based training for congregations and their leaders to become more vital in their ministry. Participants must come as a team with a director for evangelical mission and minimum of two additional synod vitality team members (teams can be and are encouraged to be larger than this). Participation in this track also requires the presence of an established coaching network within the synod or the intention of fostering one as a commitment to being in this track. This track will be led by Pastor Dave Daubert; DEM Richard Jorgensen, Lower Susquehanna Synod; and Melanie Wallschlaeger, Southwest Washington Synod.
Attention will be given to:
- Building a strong synod vitality team
- The importance of coaching in renewing congregational vitality
- Building shared accountability for success
- Developing your own contextually sensitive delivery system
- Curriculum for revitalization within the church
A pre-event Zoom session will be held to help leaders prepare and know what to expect from the event. In addition, participants will receive two follow up times: a shared Zoom coaching session and an individual coaching call after the event as a part of this module.
Pre-Event Activities
BOUNDARIES TRAINING FOR MISSION DEVELOPERS
February 17 | Monday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Registration Fee: $95 | Housing Fees: double occupancy: $88/person per night; single occupancy: $176/person per night [includes required hotel fees and taxes] | Participants must cover travel expenses.
Note to DEMs: Please share this link with your mission developers who need to take Boundaries Training. Note that the Boundaries Training link will NOT be included in other links. Participants must use the Boundaries Training link. You will need to send it to them.
ABOUT BOUNDARIES TRAINING:
- Boundaries Training is required every 24 months for all mission developers who have not completed this
8-hour training in their home synods.
- Contact Terri Novak, administrative coordinator, Congregational Vitality (or call 773-380-5072) to send in previously earned Boundaries Training certifications.
- Plan to arrive by 7:45 am Monday, February 17, to attend Boundaries Training. Class begins promptly at 8:00 am.
ELCA LEVEL 1 COACH LAUNCH TRAINING
February 17-18 | Monday & Tuesday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- DESCRIPTION: Coaching is a skill of using deep listening and powerful questions as you journey with others to empower them to live more fully into their vocations in life. Coaching is a posture that helps you move forward (even through the most difficult things), builds on learning from relationship and is a powerful catalyst for congregational vitality. This course will introduce you to coaching basics and provides an opportunity to practice these skills. Upon completion, you will have a framework to begin using these tools in formal and informal coaching relationships and you will be a Level 1 Coach in the ELCA.
- Contact Jill Beverlin, ELCA Coaching Coordinator, for criteria and availability (or call: 773-380-2692).
UNITED STATES – MEXICO BORDER EXPERIENCE: FRONTIERS FOR MISSION
February 18 | Monday, 8:00 am – approx. 4:30/5:30 pm
Visit this page to learn more.
Questions and Contacts
- ONCE REGISTRATION OPENS: For registration questions or problems, contact Kholoud Khoury (773-380-2830), or Philip Rivera (773-380-2553).
- For overall event logistical questions, contact Kris Mainellis (773-380-2749).
Stay tuned for more details and updates!
by Kris A. Mainellis, program director for communication and events
