Fifteen Lutheran (ELCA) pastors from four states and six synods gathered for the first week of their Transforming Leaders Initiative three-year learning journey.  Pastors formed peer-coaching triads and quads.  They learned basic coaching skills for equipping leaders in the parish and their own monthly peer-coaching.  We unpacked self assessments and instruments including DISC to increase self awareness and team-building skills.  Missional theology framed this journey into the future, exploring our paradigms of faith.  Each practiced personal visioning and began to discern their own vision of call, and what the journey will look like from here.

The Pilot class began working together in June.  They laid the groundwork with their leadership to take the Reveal Survey in each church this fall to establish a baseline of spiritual health.  Introductions to coaching and personal visioning were subjects of monthly webinars.  We began to interface together in a private social network for the class, sharing ideas and starting discussions.

Evenings brought time for relationship.  Sandy Mitchell, pastor of our host church, Trinity Lutheran in Ashland, spoke with the group about how to raise up and equip leaders and fund the mission after a dinner at the church.  Another night, John Bradosky from Epiphany Lutheran in Dayton, spoke after dinner. Several folks got in 9 holes of golf on a couple of nights.  Fall was beautiful in Ohio, with splendid colors and crisp, sunny days.  And, my bride and I celebrated our 37th anniversary up there that week.

David Daubert, executive director of the TLi and owner/partner of A Renewal Enterprise, oversaw the event, and taught the missional theology and coach training.  Beth Marie Halvorsen, our Board Chair, led us in bible studies on the focus of her work, centered flexibility.  Nathan Swenson-Reinhold, board member and learning journey team, joined us to team teach the coaching with David.  Gregg Burch led the sessions on personal visioning, personal mastery and creating what matters.