Pastoral Care for LPAs
Led by Pastor Grant Barnett Christenson
This class is designed as continuing pastoral care training for people who already received LPA training, those involved in the TEEM program and also, for lay people who are interested in learning more about pastoral care. Topics that will be covered include:
- Hospital Visitation
How to make a meaningful hospital visit under various circumstances:
When someone is in hospice. When someone is receiving cancer treatment. When someone has suffered a trauma.
Suicide - It’s not “if” you will encounter a suicide, but “when.” We will talk about: support for survivors, dealing with the emotional fallout when a community member dies by suicide, addressing the stigma when no one wants to talk about it and suicide prevention, breaking the silence of the epidemic of suicide here in Montana.
Creating a pastoral care team to help you out. Protecting the confidential situations you may encounter. Turning to the Lord in prayer.
Theology of pastoral care: Caring for others. Caring for ourselves. Following the example of our Lord. Together we get to be the Body of Christ.
Pr. Barnett Christenson Bio:
Pastor Grant Barnett Christenson currently serves Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bozeman, overseeing pastoral care. He also works at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital as an on-call chaplain.
His previous parish experiences include serving a rural two-point parish in Illinois, a suburban church near Chicago, and a corporate size congregation in Phoenix. The wide range of pastoral care situations that have occurred in Pastor Barnett Christenson’s ministry will illuminate our conversation and learning.
Locations and Dates:
Thursday, Sept. 26 – Glendive, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Friday, Sept. 27 – Glasgow, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Saturday, Sept. 28 – Havre, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Cost: $55
5 Contact Hours
Click here to Register
In Memory of Her: Voices of Biblical Women
Taught by Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker, Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary.
In this class, we will explore anew the books of Ruth, Esther, and Song of Songs. These are all small Old Testament books, often overlooked in Christian preaching and teaching. Yet they contain hidden treasures - great stories, beautiful poetry, humor, and strong women's voices. Come explore these little gems of the biblical narrative and re-acquaint yourself with the themes found in them: love, loyalty, beauty, courage, and faith.
Online class through Zoom;
Monday, Nov. 4th from 9am to 2:45 pm
4.5 contact hours
Dr Schifferdecker will be teaching at the Synod House and we will broadcast her class via Zoom. You can either access the class online live on Nov. 4 or watch a recorded version later.
Cost: $65 clergy or $45 for New to Ministry (first 3 years) LPA, Lay and Retired Clergy
4.5 Contact Hours
Click Here to Register
Community Clergy Training to Support Rural Veterans' Mental Health
October 10th from 9am - 3pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson
Please RSVP to pastormelaniegslc@gmail.com or call 406-560-6371
Continuing Ed Credits Available
Mark Your Calendars:
Midwinter Theological Conference at the Izaak Walton Inn, Essex, MT
January 27-29
A Look at New Paradigms for Theology and Ministry with Dr. Mary Jane Haemig
Midwinter Theological Conference at the Izaak Walton Inn, Essex, MT
January 27-29
A Look at New Paradigms for Theology and Ministry with Dr. Mary Jane Haemig
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Shoulder to Shoulder Training
“Shoulder to Shoulder” is a national coalition-based campaign of religious denominations and faith-based organizations and communities that are committed to ending discrimination and violence against Muslims in the United States by equipping, connecting, and mobilizing faith leaders to effectively take action.
Omaha, NE
Saturday, November 2, 2019: 5:00 - 8:00pm & Sunday, November 3, 2019: 2:00 - 7:00pm
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/vvjvx2NSUxhzMF1c6
Louisville, KY
Sunday, November 10th from 5:30 - 9:00pm & Monday, November 11th from 9:00 - 5:00pm
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/FMbKfp8HA7YBAhPM6
Willmar, MN
Friday, November 15, 2019 & Saturday, November 16, 2019
Details & Registration Link coming soon
Charleston, WV
Monday, December 2nd, 2019 from 8:00am - 6:00pm
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/5W5wqQyzA6C5XF64A
Shoulder to Shoulder Training
“Shoulder to Shoulder” is a national coalition-based campaign of religious denominations and faith-based organizations and communities that are committed to ending discrimination and violence against Muslims in the United States by equipping, connecting, and mobilizing faith leaders to effectively take action.
Omaha, NE
Saturday, November 2, 2019: 5:00 - 8:00pm & Sunday, November 3, 2019: 2:00 - 7:00pm
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/vvjvx2NSUxhzMF1c6
Louisville, KY
Sunday, November 10th from 5:30 - 9:00pm & Monday, November 11th from 9:00 - 5:00pm
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/FMbKfp8HA7YBAhPM6
Willmar, MN
Friday, November 15, 2019 & Saturday, November 16, 2019
Details & Registration Link coming soon
Charleston, WV
Monday, December 2nd, 2019 from 8:00am - 6:00pm
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/5W5wqQyzA6C5XF64A
NRIT Digital Courses
An NRIT Digital Offering: download onto your computer or stream online
An Introduction to the New Testament
with Dr. James Aageson
The New Testament documents are central to the Christian faith and to historic Christianity. By ecumenical consensus among all Christian traditions, the New Testament is central to the faith, life, and worship of the church. It is the word of God and it conveys the word of God. Even as the New Testament is central to all Christian traditions, interpretations of these texts often vary widely. This makes for a rich and fascinating tapestry of readings in the history of New Testament interpretation. This course is an introduction to the New Testament designed for a general audience and for lay people who may be preparing themselves for congregational leadership.
You can purchase this class now and watch at your convenience anytime in the coming months. The format allows you to watch in any time increment you choose and also allows you to return to sections you’ve already watched or go back and forth between sessions.
$75 to purchase class
6.5 Contact hours of continuing education. (And no travel costs!)
Click Here to Register
An Introduction to the New Testament
with Dr. James Aageson
The New Testament documents are central to the Christian faith and to historic Christianity. By ecumenical consensus among all Christian traditions, the New Testament is central to the faith, life, and worship of the church. It is the word of God and it conveys the word of God. Even as the New Testament is central to all Christian traditions, interpretations of these texts often vary widely. This makes for a rich and fascinating tapestry of readings in the history of New Testament interpretation. This course is an introduction to the New Testament designed for a general audience and for lay people who may be preparing themselves for congregational leadership.
You can purchase this class now and watch at your convenience anytime in the coming months. The format allows you to watch in any time increment you choose and also allows you to return to sections you’ve already watched or go back and forth between sessions.
$75 to purchase class
6.5 Contact hours of continuing education. (And no travel costs!)
Click Here to Register
An NRIT Digital Offering: download onto your computer or stream online
St. Paul:
From Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle of the Lutheran Reformation
with Dr. James Aageson
Apart from Jesus, Paul is arguably the most important figure in the history of Christianity. Paul and his legacy have continually shaped, fed, and challenged the church from the first century to the twenty first. Paul’s letters form the theological heart of much of the New Testament, and along with the memory of his ministry, they have continued to be read, preached, theologically interpreted, and applied to contemporary ethical issues.
You can purchase this class now and watch at your convenience anytime in the coming months. The format allows you to watch in any time increment you choose and also allows you to return to sections you’ve already watched or go back and forth between sessions.
$50 to purchase class
4 Contact hours of continuing education. (And no travel costs!)
Click Here to Register
St. Paul:
From Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle of the Lutheran Reformation
with Dr. James Aageson
Apart from Jesus, Paul is arguably the most important figure in the history of Christianity. Paul and his legacy have continually shaped, fed, and challenged the church from the first century to the twenty first. Paul’s letters form the theological heart of much of the New Testament, and along with the memory of his ministry, they have continued to be read, preached, theologically interpreted, and applied to contemporary ethical issues.
You can purchase this class now and watch at your convenience anytime in the coming months. The format allows you to watch in any time increment you choose and also allows you to return to sections you’ve already watched or go back and forth between sessions.
$50 to purchase class
4 Contact hours of continuing education. (And no travel costs!)
Click Here to Register
FREE RESOURCE FROM THE MONTANA SYNOD
SERVING ON THE CONGREGATION'S COUNCIL
Church councils provide positive leadership within a congregation. As a support to your council, we have prepared five short videos, ranging from five to ten minutes, that are intended as an introduction to the work of councils and their role within the church.
Click Here to Register
On the next page, you will need to provide contact information, including an email. Then click on the "submit" button and you will be taken directly to the five videos, plus an introduction.
We hope you find the videos helpful in leading to deeper conversation about what it means to be church together.
Available DVDs at the Synod House
(Click Here)
NRIT Digital Education Store
(Click Here)
Northern Rockies Institute of Theology is a continuing theological education ministry of the Montana Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
NRIT exists to provide and promote lifelong learning for the people of the Montana Synod (and their neighbors) , for the purpose of equipping them in their lives of ministry.
For more information about NRIT click here.
NRIT exists to provide and promote lifelong learning for the people of the Montana Synod (and their neighbors) , for the purpose of equipping them in their lives of ministry.
For more information about NRIT click here.