Leadership Development Mission

Log of activities with constituent groups: Year VI (July 2000 – June 2001)

[ Year I (July '95 - June '96) | Year II (July '96 - June '97) | Year III (July '97 - June '98) ]
[ Year IV (July '98 - June '99) | Year V (July '99 - June '00) | Year VI (July 2000 – June 2001) ]

Since the launch of Worshipful-Work in July of 1995, Ellen Morseth, BVM and Dr. Charles M. Olsen, Staff Mentors, along with 30+ Consultant Mentors have been introducing the model of “worshipful-work” to religious bodies. During the first five years 12,410 clergy and 14,320 lay leaders (total of 26,730 persons) were directly introduced to the model of “worshipful-work” and the practice of spiritual discernment in church administration and governance.

Now in the sixth year of Worshipful-Work, 1,221 clergy and 7,641 lay leaders (total of 8,862 persons) can be added—making a grand total of 35,592 persons! In addition, over 30,000 copies of Transforming Church Boards and 5,000 copies of Discerning God’s Will Together have introduced the model of “worshipful-work”, including the practice of spiritual discernment in meetings and decision making. A series of five guidebooks, three handbooks, a survey for religious lay leaders and one video and six audio tapes have been developed by Worshipful-Work staff. Ritual & The Arts in Spiritual Discernment was published in August of 1999. A new manuscript, Selecting Church Leaders Via Spiritual Discernment will be published by Upper Room Books/Alban Institute in February 2002.

• National Staff/Board Development and/or Consultation
  • American Baptist Churches, USA Denominational staff (AZ)
  • Church of the Brethren General Assembly (MO)

• Judicatory Staff/Council Development/Consultation
  • Church of the Brethren Agency Consultation (MO)
  • Congregational Life Ministries Unit of the Church of the Brethren (MO)
  • Episcopal Diocese of Iowa Standing Committee/Discernment Committee (IA)
  • Episcopal Diocese of Iowa Annual Convention (IA)
  • Episcopal Diocese of Kansas (KS)
  • Maine Conference of United Church of Christ (MA)
  • Parish Life and Leadership Team, United Church of Christ (OH)
  • Leadership Team, New England Conference, United Methodist Church in America (MI)
  • Southeast Michigan Synod Assembly, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (MI)
  • Spiritual Discernment in Judicatory Decision Making, Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (MI)
  • United Methodist District Cedar Rapids (IA)

• Judicatory Sponsored Leadership Development Events
  • Central Massachusetts United Church of Christ (MA)
  • Church of the Brethren, Association of the Arts (MO)
  • Interim Ministers (United Church of Christ and Disciples) (MO)
  • Iowa Conference United Methodist Church (IA)
  • Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ Clergy Convocation (MN)
  • North Carolina Baptist Convention (NC)
  • Parish Ministry Association Team of the Central States Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church In America (NE)
  • Professional Leaders Conference Southeast Michigan Synod Evangelical Lutheran ChurchIn America (MI)
  • United Church of Christ/Disciples of Christ Interim Ministers (MO)

• Judicatory Sponsored Leadership Development Events Listed by Denominations
  • Lutheran Church
    • Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod (PA)
  • Presbyterian Church USA
    • Presbyteries:
      • Central Nebraska Presbytery (NE)
  • United Methodist
    • Workshop for Congregations, New England Conference United Methodist Church (MA)

• Theological Seminaries, Colleges, and Conference Centers Sponsored Events
  • The Alban Institute (MD)

• Conferences
  • Collegium: The Practice of Spiritual Discernment in Decision Making in National & Regional Religious Bodies (MO)
  • Conference: Introducing Spiritual Discernment (MO)
  • Conference: School for Discernmentarians (MO)
  • Training Event: Worshipful-Work Consultant Training (MO)
  • Conference: Consultant Training for the Reformed Church in America (MO)
• Congregations
  • The Presbyterian Church, Bowling Green, KY
  • St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, MO
• Consultations/Meetings/Seminars in New Zealand
  • Anglican Church Diocese of New Zealand
  • Gisborne Presbytery, New Zealand
  • Knox Presbyterian School for Ministry, Dunedin, New Zealand
  • Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
  • St. Andrew’s Presbytery, New Zealand