Leadership for Mission [LD]

LD0500 Theological Frameworks for Ministry I

Ministry is a theological task done with and for living persons. Students in this course explore a theology of ministry that helps children, youth, and their families interpret God’s action in their actual lives. The course assists students in thinking about ministry from the location of divine action, recognizing how the leader’s own theological conceptions fuel his or her imagination for ministry with children and youth. Students are asked to construct their own “theology” of ministry. Each student is encouraged to focus on their own area of specialization (children’s ministry, youth ministry, pastoral care ministry, etc.) but is also moved into examining a theology of ministry that explores the centrality of God’s action in intergenerational dimensions of human communities.

Full course

LD0505 Theological Frameworks for Ministry II

This course continues the focus, themes, and attention of LD0500. Students will be given further opportunities to think about God’s action as a framework for ministry, taking the next steps in integrating experience, practice, and ministry.

Full course

LD0530 Missional Leadership in Professional Settings

This course serves as a final capstone course for the three MA degrees in the Leadership Division. Students will demonstrate their ability to integrate theology, theory and practice in the creation and defense of a capstone project centered on a current issue in their concentration area. Capstone projects might include a practical ministry project or an article for publication. In addition, students will reflect on themselves as professional Christian leaders in light of their program learning and prepare professional development plans for their first two years after the program.

Full course

LD0535 Portfolio Capstone Project

This course serves as the capstone project for the MA in Lutheran Ministry. Students will demonstrate their competency for Christian ministry by developing a portfolio with particular attention to a specific area of ministry. The portfolio will contain artifacts developed during their field education (contextual learning) requirement/s and demonstrate their ability to integrate theology, theory and practice as they lead Christian ministry. Students will complete a structured conversation with their faculty advisor and a member of the contextual learning staff. This course is to be taken in the term in which they are completing their field education requirement.

Full course

LD0540 Innovation with Congregations and Other Faith Based Organizations

This course addresses the adaptive challenges congregations and nonprofits face with a missional imagination and a disciplined approach to innovation. Drawing from the disciplines of theology and the fields of innovation theories, change management, and design, students will develop capacities for discovering adaptive challenges, practice using design-thinking, gain capacities for leadership agility, and learn theories of innovation.

Full course

LD0550 Faithful Innovation in Practice

This course addresses faithful innovation as a theological understanding of Christian leadership. Building on the learnings from the Innovation within Congregations and other Faith-based Communities course, this course integrates Christian practices, innovation theory, and a practice-oriented approach to leading change to discern a community's future, cultivate creative experimentation, and expand leadership and organizational imagination in the midst of complexity. Students will develop a theology of innovation, practice agile leadership, lead others in faithful innovation, and develop tools for leading in the face of resistance. Prerequisite: LD0540 Innovation within Congregations and other Faith-based Communities

Full course

LD2510 Voices of Women of Color in Early American Ministry

This course provides an examination of the social, political, cultural, and religious impact of women on color in their context. Special attention is given to the African American woman’s experience in U.S. slavery through the civil rights era, to issues facing women in the church today. The class also addresses the contribution of women of color in the history of the church and the global church today.

Full course

LD3510 Introduction to Chaplaincy

This course is designed to help students understand the basic nature of chaplaincy. Students will explore various types of chaplaincy ministry professions, explain the historical development of chaplaincy from biblical models of pastoral care to contemporary chaplaincy, illustrate the key roles of chaplains, and begin to develop a spiritual care program for a given community.

Full course

LD4597 Guided Reading and Research in Leadership for Mission

An independent study for qualified students under the personal supervision of a member of the division. Consult faculty within division.

LD6598/8599 Guided Reading and Research in Leadership for Mission

An independent study for students in Advanced Theological Education. Consult faculty within division and Advanced Theological Education Office.

LD6925 Introduction to Research Methods

An introduction to graduate level research within a theological perspective and with particular attention to the methodologies students will employ in their summative degree research (Th.M., Ph.D., D.Min.). Research processes for empirical (social science field research) and literature-based dissertations will be considered. Topics include the research question, literature review, research methods, processes for data gathering and analysis, thesis writing, the ethical implications of research, and the complex nature of subjectivity. Participants will explore potential topics of interest for their research and develop a draft research proposal (including a draft IRB application if appropriate). Participants will also reflect on how personal and professional experiences affect the process of research and consider ways that their work can influence both the academy and the church. Companion course to GR8930.

Full course