leadership academy

Equipping & Developing Healthy Leaders

With the Leadership Academy - an educational program hosted by industry and theological experts - the goal is to equip, educate and develop rostered and lay leaders within the Metro D.C. Synod with the knowledge and tools they need to lead vibrant ministries.

From developing a successful planned giving program to learning about communication tools to better tell your story, you can expect to leave each session uplifted and empowered to serve in the capacity God is calling you.

Resources from Previous Sessions

2025

Youth + Family Update

2024

Crucial Conversations: Techniques for When Opinions Vary

Racial Equity Team member Duke Taylor led an online Leadership Academy workshop on how to navigate conflict through Crucial Conversations: Techniques for When Opinions Vary. The Crucial Conversations workshop focuses on recognizing when a conversation becomes crucial, and introduces ways to prepare your heart by mastering your story, making it safe to state your path while exploring others, and moving to action while facing tough challenges.

Session 1 | Originally presented on Thursday, September 19.

Session 2 | Originally presented on Thursday, October 17.

Session 3 | Coming November 21

View Resources Here

Youth + Family Update

The Impact of Lived Theologies on Pastoral Practices

The Impact of Lived Theologies on Pastoral Practices, led by Rev. Dr. Rode Molla, provided pastors and leaders with care practices to create welcoming spaces. Dr. Molla's book, A Postcolonial Political Theology of Care and Praxis in Ethiopia's Era of Identity Politics, provided the basis for this session exploring how leaders may sustain lived and embodied theologies that impede holistic flourishing for their congregations or institutions.

This session was originally presented on May 16, 2024.

View Resources Here

Learn, Live, and Love God's Good Creation

Let’s Talk: Are Children Spiritual Enough?

Creation Care: We Carry the Fire

Council Member Orientation & Training

Council Members, new and returning, were invited to an orientation led by the synod staff and synod attourney, John Van De Weert.

We walked through church leadership best practices, constitution & bylaw processes, financial management, membership roles and answered any questions about council leadership roles.

This session was originally presented on February 17, 2024.

View Resources Here

Strategies for Coordinating Volunteers

2023

Leadership Summit 2023

Creation Justice: UN Sustainability Goals

2022

Receptive Ecumenism

Receptive Ecumenism is both a way of thinking and a process that enables unity to be built by receiving gifts from others. It challenges us to not think of what others might benefit from receiving from us, but instead invites us to recognize our needs and to put ourselves in the place of being a recipient. Instead of asking what other Church traditions need to learn from us, we ask what our tradition needs to learn from them – what we can receive which is of God.

The presenter is Fr. John Crossin, a lifelong ecumenist, a moral theologian, and a dedicated servant of the whole Church. The moderator is ELCA pastor, Scott Ickert.

This session was originally presented on December 1, 2022.

View Session Materials Here.

Racial Equity Network: November 2

This Racial Equity Network meeting includes:

Learning about the Sacred Ground small group discussion opportunities - what the Synod has done and how you can share in this amazing program.
Sharing the ways we are connecting such as a private Facebook Group for the Faith in Action Racial Equity Network; and resources we are developing.
Hearing from members of the network and what they are doing in their churches since our last meeting.

This session was originally presented on November 2, 2022.

View Session Materials Here.

Youth + Family Ministry Town Hall

Ecumenical Webinar: World Council of Churches

One in the Spirit Ecumenical Series

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Communications: 5 Focus Areas

Faith in Action: Racial Equity Network

Earth Day

This webinar focused on the ecumenical and inter-religious perspectives regarding Earth Day, with helpful information about Earth Day, the biblical and theological basis for environmental work, as well as relevant policy documents, and information about upcoming events and activities related to Earth Day. Hosted by Pastor Sarah Scherschligt of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Sarah is the convener of the Metro DC Synod’s Creation Justice Team and is also a board member of the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions.

Session Originally held on April 5, 2022.

Click here for resources.

Bishop's Renewal (February)

2021

Transformative Storytelling

Andrew Steele of LIRS and Rev. Lucille “CeCee” Mills of the North Carolina Synod, presented a 90-minute session titled “Transforming Generosity Through Storytelling”.

Learn why sharing our stories is important and impactful
Practice sharing a story in a small group guided by proven methods from our speakers
Shift your mindset from transactional giving to the transformational joy of generosity

Session Originally Presented on April 22, 2021

Click here for Workshop Resources

Telling Your Story With a Narrative Budget

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Ending Well for Rostered & Lay Leaders

Planned Giving from Scratch

Emmanuel Lutheran in Vienna, VA established an endowment fund that grew 4-fold in 4 months. Filled with hope and vision, members are investing in expanding Emmanuel’s ministry now and in the future through current and planned gifts. Learn more in this conversation with the ELC Endowment team & Yvonne Lembo.

Session Originially Presented on October 14, 2021.

Click here for workshop resources.

2020

Role of Rest in Innovation

Suicide Prevention & Mental Illness

Discipleship in Democracy

Council Leadership 101

Council Leadership 102

Council Leadership 103

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Grief and Self-Care

Climate Justice & Creation Care

Imago Dei

Online Worship & Digital Ministry

Stewardship in Uncertain Times

Preaching in Crisis

leadership academy

Equipping & Developing Healthy Leaders

Resources from Previous Sessions

2025

2024

2023

2022

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2021

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2020

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