Ben Sternke

Field notes on life and mission with God after Christendom

dave fitch

DMin in Missional Leadership

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UPDATE 9/30/10: Check out the videos below of Fitch, Roxburgh and Van Gelder talking about the program.

In January of 2011 my friend Dave Fitch is launching a DMin cohort at Northern Seminary in Missional Leadership. Al Roxburgh and Craig Van Gelder will also be teaching within the program. Between the three of them, Northern’s particular bent toward spiritual formation and missional theology, and the affordability/accessibility of the program, some of you who read my blog may be interested. The whole framework is “learning community”style education.

Some things about the program to highlight:

  • Affordability – Under $16,000 over 4 years that can be paid monthly
  • Accessibility – courses take place through week-long intensives here in Chicago
  • Structure – this is a cohort-based program so that students have the opportunity to form a “community of learning” as opposed to just engaging individualistically.

If you’re interested, here’s a few links:

A PDF of the program overview is available on the main landing page of for this particular DMin.

Missional Leadership – Intro. & Leadership Issues from Northern Seminary on Vimeo.

Missional Leadership – Issues of Theology & Cultural Context from Northern Seminary on Vimeo.

Missional Leadership – Congregational Formation & Change from Northern Seminary on Vimeo.

Missional Leadership – Northern Features from Northern Seminary on Vimeo.

Ecclesia’s Church Planter Training

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Last year, when I was starting to seriously consider planting a church, I was trying to find a way to get some training for the kind of church I felt I wanted to plant. It seemed to me a lot of church planter training “boot camps” were high on testosterone and bravado, but didn’t have a lot to say to someone like me, who wanted to plant a more “organic” natural-growth kind of church.

Through a friend (Dave Fitch) I found out about the Ecclesia Network, which ended up being a great fit for our church plant to associate with. After a few conversations with Chris Backert and JR Woodward (who mostly coordinate the network), I raised some money and attended their church planter training, which they call ??????? [aggelos – apparently my blogging engine can’t do the Greek letters?], which is a transliterated Greek word, pronounced like “angle awes”, meaning “one who is sent, a messenger from God”. I’m not sure why they actually spell it in Greek, incidentally. Makes it difficult for people to talk and blog about it. Maybe they should “re-brand” next year 😉

Anyway, our worship leader and I went to the training, and found it to be really helpful. Some of the great things about it:

  • A great balance between theological and practical training,
  • Because everyone stays in the same place (including the equippers/teachers), there was plenty of time to talk informally at lunch, in the evenings, etc.
  • Takes place in an ecumenical monastery where you participate in their prayer rhythms during the day.
  • There weren’t hundreds of people there, more like 20.
  • Multiple voices were heard throughout the week. There was no “guru.”

This year’s training takes place May 17-21. Equippers this year include Jon Tyson, Dave Fitch, Bob Hyatt, JR Woodward, JR Briggs, Winn Collier, and Brian Hopper. I’ve met all of them, and I can tell you they are smart and experienced as well as humble and approachable. These are quality people.

If you are interested in church planting or have recently planted a church, I highly recommend it. Download the brochure here, and get all the info on the Ecclesia site here.