Communicating in the Faith: Talking together as Chistians about Tough Topics
A Skills Workshop with Dr. Laurie Jungling
When people are in community, difficult issues about how we should live together will arise. From the beginning, the Christian Church has had to find ways to communicate about difficult realities facing their communities. Not all of our ways have been healthy or faithful to God's desire for our abundant life together. Yet, there are ways for congregations and Christian communities to have healthy, transforming, Spirit-led conversations about difficult issues without being torn apart. This workshop explores positive, practical ideas for talking together as Christians about tough "living together" topics.
Monday Nov. 19 - St. Paul Lutheran, Missoula
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
January 28 - Helena
10 a.m - 4 p.m. (hours for the Helena class)
5 Contact Hours
$75 clergy or $50 New to Ministry, LPA/$25 lay and retired pastors
Click Here to Register
The Midwinter Theological Conference: Dwelling in the Word
With Dr. Pat Keifert: Professor Emeritus of systematic theology, Luther Seminary and Dir. of Church Innovations
The practice of Dwelling in the Word clearly belongs within the long tradition of the Lectio Divina, and in particular, in Luther’s evangelical form developed in his “On the Beginning of the Study of Theology.”
Recently, Pr. Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, Dir. Of Evangelical Mission for the MT Synod and her Vitality Team encouraged the synod to join together in a process of “Dwelling in the Word” starting during the Epiphany Season.
In support of this call from the Vitality Team, NRIT would like to invite you to the Midwinter Theological Conference as an opportunity to delve into this spiritual practice. Join us in discussing various ways to use "Dwelling in the Word" in your ministry setting, learn what recent research says about Dwelling in the Word and what other congregations around the world are doing. And, perhaps most importantly, take time to go deeply into this practice in order to prepare yourself for Lent, entering the Lenten season renewed.
Together, let us pray our way into Lent, strengthening ourselves and our congregations by deepening our interaction with the scriptures.
March 3 - 5 at the Izaak Walton Inn, Essex, MT
Conference starts with a group supper, Sunday evening. Ends at noon on Tuesday.
11 Contact Hours
Click Here to Register
Theology of the Land
With Dr. Eric Meyer
People in Montana have a deep connection to the land that sustains us. We even say that we love the land. In Montana, we are fortunate to be surrounded by clear water, clean air, and wild places—even as the land and its creatures suffer under numerous ongoing threats. Yet, our connections to the land are seldom expressed in explicitly Christian terms and many people have the sense that other religious traditions instill a deeper intimacy with the natural world. This course explores biblical and theological concepts (flesh, water, blood, wind, soil) through which Christians can understand and deepen their relationship to the land and fellow creatures. The course is designed to develop a bridge-building vocabulary that can overcome polarizing rhetoric and hardened political positions through common conversation and common commitments to conservation.
Eric Daryl Meyer, PhD teaches at Carroll College as Assistant Professor of Theology and the Gregory Roeben and Susan Raunig Professor of Social Justice and the Human-Animal Relationship. Raised in the mountains of Colorado, he worked as a wildland firefighter, a wilderness guide, a ski-patroller, and an environmental educator in Montana, Colorado, and California before taking up full-time academic work. He teaches courses in ecological theology, early Christian history, and theological ethics.
Thursday, March 21 9:30 - 3:30 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, MT
Friday, March 22 9:30 - 3:30 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Shelby, MT
5 Contact Hours
Click Here to Register
Face-to-Face Faith Formation
with Dr. Dick Hardel
After doing your best to be “a workman who does not need to be ashamed, correctly handling the word of truth,” investing time, effort, sacrificing in your ministry… How much of what you share will they remember?
Researchers find immediately after hearing a message, people tend to remember 50% of what they have heard. By the next day this drops to 25%. At the end of the week this is 10% and the amazing thing is that you don’t get to pick the 10% they remember!
Building Strong Relationships Is Essential In Faith Formation
I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink: instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together, face to face 3rd John: 13,14
Come join us for this hands-on event focused on resources for faith formation:
Thursday, April 11 at Pella Lutheran in Sidney 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 at Bethlehem Lutheran in Billings 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(4 Contact Hours)
Click Here to Register
with Dr. Dick Hardel
After doing your best to be “a workman who does not need to be ashamed, correctly handling the word of truth,” investing time, effort, sacrificing in your ministry… How much of what you share will they remember?
Researchers find immediately after hearing a message, people tend to remember 50% of what they have heard. By the next day this drops to 25%. At the end of the week this is 10% and the amazing thing is that you don’t get to pick the 10% they remember!
- What if there was a way that would help those to whom you are ministering to remember 90%?
- What if there were resources to help individuals, families, and friends tell faith stories face-to-face?
- What if there were resources to help children engage actively in worship in the congregation and devotions in the home?
- What if there was a way that encouraged people to share what they learn from you with others?
- What if there was a way to spur people on to keep processing what the Lord is saying to them through what they have heard so the can live it out?
- What if there was a way to help people wonder about God and the world and discuss together, face-to-face, what God might be up to in their lives.
Building Strong Relationships Is Essential In Faith Formation
I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink: instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together, face to face 3rd John: 13,14
Come join us for this hands-on event focused on resources for faith formation:
Thursday, April 11 at Pella Lutheran in Sidney 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 at Bethlehem Lutheran in Billings 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(4 Contact Hours)
Click Here to Register
Coming in January: An Introduction to the New Testament
Digital Class taught by Dr. James Aageson, Professor Emeritus of Religion at Concordia College, Moorhead
This class is designed to be a resource for congregational education in small groups or for personal study.
(Contact Hours for continuing education will be available.)
More information will be forthcoming.
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.