LENS Resources

Lutheran as well as ecumenical.

First Parish Project www.hintoncenter.org/spiritual_overview.php
The First Parish Project (FPP) is a program of colleague support, leadership development and spiritual growth for clergy serving their first appointment in a church of smaller membership. The program is open to clergy from all Christian denominations and began in October of 2003.  FPP includes a group of 20 participants. Each group meets at Hinton for 6 sessions over a two-year period. Accommodations (including meals) and travel for participants is covered by a grant from The Lilly Endowment. The only cost to each participant is a $150 per week program fee.  Pr. Aimee Bruno of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Milwaukie, OR, writes, "I've really enjoyed my experience."

Clergy Leadership Institute Appreciative Inquiry Based Training Programs
See web site: www.clergyleadership.com for more details.

Appreciative Tip:  Thinking about Lent, Sin, and Grace  
Many people at our appreciative inquiry training programs, because of its very positive approach,  ask what is an appreciative inquiry understanding of sin. While we take sin seriously, we take growing in grace even more seriously and make that the focus of our attention.  We don't try to reduce the presence of sin directly, for that leads to St. Paul's conundrum in Romans, where the harder he tries not to sin the worse it gets.  What we focus on is grace and how we can grow in that, and discover like St. Paul that where grace abounds, sin cannot.

When Jesus healed the blind man he refused to entertain ideas about the origins of sin and whose sin caused the man to be blind.  He focused instead on the grace of God that was to be manifested in the man's healing.  The traditional focus during Lent has often been on reflecting on the commandments and how we have broken them, which just makes us experts on sin, which can be very demoralizing and not lead to a grace filled life.  An appreciative approach would be to also reflect on the times that we have kept the commandments, what enabled us to keep the commandments, and how that has been a blessing in our lives and in the lives of our neighbors.

"Jesus didn't come that we might have less sin and death, he came that we might have life, and share it abundantly with our neighbors"
more information

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Free DVD: "Reconciliation: The Calling, Task and Challenge in the Church and in the World." This was the 06 Winter Theological Symposium presented in a new way. A must-see for you and members of your congregation. Contact the PLU Office of Church Relations at crel@plu.edu or 253-535-7423.

Luther Seminary's Doctor of Ministry Programs.
Learn from home and come to campus one to two times a year. "Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Preaching" or "Doctor of Ministry in Congregational Mission and Leadership" www.luthersem.edu/dmin or 651-641-3203

Region 1 Resource Center - Going Public With Your Faith or "How to Take Evangelism Out of the Religious Box and Weave it Into Your Life at Work". This 6-part video series is perfect for small groups, walking a group through an approach to evangelism that respects the unique relationships folks have with their co-workers, clients and customers.

Bioethics and the Book of Life. Ten segments drawn from today's headlines. Lively discussion for adult groups. Discussion guide included. 800-755-5831 ext. 100