Lay School for Mission
Lay School For Mission Information
Sponsored by the Northern Great Lakes Synod
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CHURCH
Enroll in the Lay School for Mission!
--- Grow in Faith.
--- Develop your Spirituality.
--- Discern your Baptismal Vocation.
--- Learn more about Prayer, the Bible, and the Church?
All This and more is available in the Lay School.
Lay School for Mission Purpose
The Lay School for Mission provides a unique educational opportunity in a number of sites around the Synod. To find a similar opportunity one would need to travel to seminaries in Chicago, St. Paul, or Dubuque.
Lay School classes are taught by pastors and qualified lay persons. There is no tuition for classes; the only cost is for books, transportation, and any meals. Although some academic work may be required, grades are not assigned, and students learn what they want to learn, at their own pace.
While “graduates” of the Lay School are not entitled to any specific position in the church, they are equipped to engage in greater ministry within congregations. They acquire new ministry skills and increase their understanding of scripture and theology. Most of all they deepen their faith and discipleship. All this happens as they gather on a regular basis with others, creating a caring community that learns and grows together.
Lay School classes are open to all members of the Synod. We also welcome persons from other Christian traditions to be a part of the experience. Their presence adds to the richness of the learning!
Anyone with an interest in growing in faith, discipleship, knowledge, and skills, is encouraged to consider Lay School classes. Imagine the impact on the ministry of your congregation if the pews were filled with persons who have grown in faith and discipleship, and who have new insights and skills in the work of the Jesus Christ!
For more information, or a curriculum description contact Pastor Jonathan Schmidt, Dean of the Lay School for Mission. 906-428-4565 or write him at 1212 Minneapolis Ave., Gladstone, MI 49837.
pastorjon@firstlutheran-gladstone.org
Lay School Campuses
Bethany Lutheran Church, Ishpeming, MI Coordinator: Rev. Warren Geier, 906-486-4351.
revwgeier@charterinternet.com
First Lutheran Church, Gladstone MI, Coordinator: Rev. Jonathan Schmidt. 906-428-4565
office@firstlutheran-gladstone.org
Shepherd of the Lakes, Sayner, Wisconsin, Coordinator: Rev. Mary Weinkauf, 715-358-5488
maryweinkauf@charter.net
Good Shepherd / Houghton and Gloria Dei / Hancock: Pamela Long, 906-482-4065.
pamelalong@charter.net
The Lay School also engages in a cooperative ministry with the Presbytery of Mackinac through the classes of the Lay Academy meeting in St. Ignace and in the northern lower peninsula. For more information on the Lay Academy click here
Curriculum and Course Description
Downloads:
Course Descriptions
Courses by Semester
Note: Semesters will be repeated in order
Students can join the Lay School at the
beginning of any semester.
Semester I (Winter, 2010)
Gospels (18 hours) - An examination of the four gospels exploring the common message presented by the four evangelists, but also the unique aspects of each work.
World Religions (12 hours) - An examination of the essentials of the Christian faith, and then a comparison with other religions of the world including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
Evangelism (9 hours) - A course that will explore how sharing the good news is a part of discipleship. How can evangelism be done, both as a individual discipline and as part of the life of the community? How can we see evangelism as a natural part of discipleship, and not something scary or bizarre?
Worship and Liturgics (15 hours) - This class will focus less on leading worship and more on understanding the symbols we use, the church calendar, and the liturgical structure of worship.
ACoordinator=s Choice@ (6 hours) – A class unique to the site that will allow instructors to share material of importance for the life of the church and for which they have a passion.
Semester II
New Testament Epistles (22 hours) - A review of the letters of the New Testament and the various ways in which they reflect the gospel message. Consideration will be given to the context of each letter and how it spoke B and speaks today.
Acts (12 hours) - The Book of Acts will be studied with an emphasis on how it proclaims the power of the gospel to create community, and how that power is working in churches today. This course will be in essence a course of the life of contemporary community of faith in light of witness of the Book of Acts.
Systematics - First Article (11 hours) - A study of the first article of the Nicene Creed B what do we believe about God as creator of all that exists? What are the historical foundations behind the development of these beliefs?
Ecumenism (9 hours) - A study of ecumenism, with a special emphasis on how ecumenism plays out in the local community and how we find common mission with members of other communities of faith.
ACoordinator=s Choice@ (6 hours) – A class unique to the site that will allow instructors to share material of importance for the life of the church and for which they have a passion.
Semester III
Pentateuch (12 hours) - A study of the first five books of the Old Testament. The stories of the Pentateuch will be examined, not merely as history, but as theological statements, and the legal material will be considered in light of our contemporary culture.
Systematics - Second Article (11 hours) - A study of the second article of the Nicene Creed B who and what is Jesus, and what is it about the human condition that necessitates Christ and the cross? What are the historical foundations, especially regarding the nature of Christ?
Ethics (6 hours) - A brief course on ethical behavior in light of the cross and God=s call to righteousness.
Spiritual Development (9 hours) - An exploration of spiritual practices, especially prayer, and how as we develop them they develop us in our faith journey. There will be an emphasis on learning and doing spiritual practices, not just learning about them.
Overview of Ministry in the Congregation (16 hours) - This class will take a quick overview of a number of congregational ministries including education, stewardship, social ministry, youth ministry, and other ministries that are routinely a part of congregational life. The course will introduce students to resources available in each area of ministry.
ACoordinator=s Choice@ (6 hours) – A class unique to the site that will allow instructors to share material of importance for the life of the church and for which they have a passion.
Semester IV
Prophets (15 hours) - A study of the Old Testament prophetic material, including the former prophets and the latter prophets. Consideration will be given to how the prophetic message is heard today.
Exegetical Techniques (10 hours) - An introduction to the way in which texts are Aexegeted.@ This course will be of value in considering any Biblical text.
Systematics - Third Article (11) - A study of the third article of the Nicene Creed B how does the Spirit work in our lives? Included in this course will be an examination of our theology of the church and the historical background that impacted the theological beliefs.
Preaching (18 hours) - Students will learn how a sermon is developed and deliver one sermon in class or a worship setting. The focus will be on the thought process that goes on in preparing a law-gospel message rather than on the mechanics of delivery.
ACoordinator=s Choice@ (6 hours) – A class unique to the site that will allow instructors to share material of importance for the life of the church and for which they have a passion.
Semester VWritings (12 hours) - A review of the Awritings@ of the Old Testament, especially the Psalms.
Apocalyptic in the Bible and in Contemporary Society (12 hours) - An exploration of the apocalyptic books (Daniel and Revelation), along with other apocalyptic passages, as well as how apocalyptic is a part of popular theology.
Lutheran Confessions (22 hours) - This course will introduce and explore the Lutheran confessional documents, especially the Augsburg Confession and Luther=s Large Catechism. Other confessional documents will be briefly noted. The history of the Reformation and the historical events that led up to the Reformation will also be examined.
Stewardship and Spiritual Gifts (9 hours) - An examination of stewardship as central to discipleship. What are the gifts we each have, and how do we use them in the context of faithful living?
Polity: Life Together (5 hours) - A course on the structure and life of the church, with an emphasis on how we work together to accomplish the mission of Jesus Christ. Generally this course will be taught by the bishop.