It's time for a reset at the individual and congregational levels

I have thoughts about how to go about that.

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Time flies! I am 2 1/2 years into the Doctor of Ministry program at Lexington Theological Seminary, and I have completed all coursework except for my project and the class that sets me up to do it. I only considered LTS for my D.Min. because of its focus on congregational transformation. I want to be equipped even more fully to coach pastors and churches in this time of great change.

I have come to believe by way of my classes and my coaching conversations that before congregations and the Church at large can move faithfully, imaginatively, and joyfully toward the vocation of being Christ in and to the world, some inner work is in order. We are hurting individually and collectively from traumas of all kinds. These past and present events that continually hijack our hearts, minds, and bodies prevent us from seeing God's image reflected in ourselves, others, and the planet. They keep us from living into the fullness of our charge as disciples.

Photo of a button and sticker that says “push to reset the world” by Jose Antonio Gallego Vázquez on Unsplash.

As a result, we need to develop ways to stay more consistently grounded in God and to build resilience. If we can grow these capacities as individuals and congregations, we will be more able to know and be known and to discern and act in partnership with God's dream for a world built on love rather than division and fear.

I will be looking to incorporate into my congregational coaching an approach that allows churches to