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Homepage / Pivot Podcast /#65: Exploring Pastoral Leadership Models: Micro Church

#65: Exploring Pastoral Leadership Models: Micro Church

Discover a revolutionary ministry model with collaborative leadership in microchurches.

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Looking to engage your neighbors in a new way? Exhausted and overwhelmed leading your church alone? In this episode, we’ll look at a new ministry model and how micro churches might be perfect for you and your church.

Are you wondering how to engage collaborative leadership instead of leading solo? A lot of clergy we talk to know that leading a church by themselves is unsustainable but they aren’t sure what it might look like to lead differently. Here’s a case study of a thriving congregation that relies almost exclusively on lay leaders who are supported by clergy. If you aren’t sure you want to join the micro church movement, then you’ll want to watch this episode to learn how clergy can equip bivocational ministry leaders to start new ministries.

Show Notes

Featuring

Sean Steele
Guest in Pivot Podcast

The Rev. Sean Steele is an ordained Episcopal priest, church entrepreneur and traditioned innovator. Currently, he is Vicar of St. Isidore Episcopal Church in Spring Texas. St. Isidore is a complex organization comprised of 11 different Christian missional communities, The Warrior Church Gym, The Abundant Harvest, which served over 110,000 families in 2023 with over 1.2 million lbs of food, and The Abundant Harvest Kitchen and Bistro which operates a Bistro, Catering Company and Food Truck.

He received an MA in Theology from Creighton University, an MDiv from Seminary of the Southwest, and is a fully trained mediator, Licensed Daring Way Facilitator, and ICF Coach. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Wonder at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Hosts

Terri Elton
Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Rev. Dr. Terri Martinson Elton began teaching at Luther Seminary as an adjunct instructor in 2004 before becoming the director of the Center for Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2008. In addition to her continued work with the Center, Elton accepted the position of associate professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2010 and associate professor of Leadership in 2014.

Prior to her call to Luther Seminary, Elton served as an associate to the bishop in the Saint Paul Area Synod where her responsibilities included working with congregations, leadership development, First Call theological education and youth and family ministry.

Elton holds a B.A. degree in communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. (1986). She earned both her M.A. (1998) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary.

Faith+Lead Headshot of Dr. Alicia Granholm, Senior Director of Faith+Lead.
Alicia Granholm
Senior Director, Faith+Lead, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dr. Alicia Granholm is senior director of Faith+Lead at Luther Seminary and a leadership and church consultant based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She helps pastors and leaders engage culture to make a lasting impact. For nearly two decades, she has trained, equipped, and empowered followers of Jesus to engage their local communities by contextualizing the Gospel and its application. Alicia compassionately crosses cultural boundaries having lived, studied, traveled, and served in 25 countries on six continents. Alicia has a Doctor of Strategic Leadership, Global Consulting (Regent University), M.Div. (Bethel Seminary), and M.A. in Teaching (University of St. Thomas).

About Pivot Podcast

Join us on Pivot Podcast, where we journey beyond church-as-usual to discover how God is reshaping ministry for today’s world.

Each week, we dive into conversations with innovative leaders and practitioners who are navigating four game-changing pivots: shifting from quick fixes to deep listening, from membership to discipleship, from rigid models to creative ministry ecosystems, and from clergy-centered leadership to unleashing everyone’s gifts.

Whether you’re a member of the clergy seeking fresh inspiration or a volunteer stepping into new leadership territory, Pivot Podcast equips you with the insights and practical wisdom to follow Jesus into a faithful future.

Through their work with diverse cohorts of preachers, they’ve discovered that the most compelling sermons aren’t necessarily the most polished – they’re the ones where preachers have learned to listen deeply to both God and their congregations. Learn practical tools for gathering meaningful feedback, understand why vulnerability matters more than ever in preaching, and discover how shifting from evaluation to understanding can deepen your sermon’s impact. Plus, hear why reimagining God’s agency in preaching might be the key to unlocking more powerful proclamation.

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Featuring

Sean Steele
Guest in Pivot Podcast

The Rev. Sean Steele is an ordained Episcopal priest, church entrepreneur and traditioned innovator. Currently, he is Vicar of St. Isidore Episcopal Church in Spring Texas. St. Isidore is a complex organization comprised of 11 different Christian missional communities, The Warrior Church Gym, The Abundant Harvest, which served over 110,000 families in 2023 with over 1.2 million lbs of food, and The Abundant Harvest Kitchen and Bistro which operates a Bistro, Catering Company and Food Truck.

He received an MA in Theology from Creighton University, an MDiv from Seminary of the Southwest, and is a fully trained mediator, Licensed Daring Way Facilitator, and ICF Coach. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Wonder at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Hosts

Terri Elton
Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Rev. Dr. Terri Martinson Elton began teaching at Luther Seminary as an adjunct instructor in 2004 before becoming the director of the Center for Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2008. In addition to her continued work with the Center, Elton accepted the position of associate professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2010 and associate professor of Leadership in 2014.

Prior to her call to Luther Seminary, Elton served as an associate to the bishop in the Saint Paul Area Synod where her responsibilities included working with congregations, leadership development, First Call theological education and youth and family ministry.

Elton holds a B.A. degree in communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. (1986). She earned both her M.A. (1998) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary.

Faith+Lead Headshot of Dr. Alicia Granholm, Senior Director of Faith+Lead.
Alicia Granholm
Senior Director, Faith+Lead, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dr. Alicia Granholm is senior director of Faith+Lead at Luther Seminary and a leadership and church consultant based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She helps pastors and leaders engage culture to make a lasting impact. For nearly two decades, she has trained, equipped, and empowered followers of Jesus to engage their local communities by contextualizing the Gospel and its application. Alicia compassionately crosses cultural boundaries having lived, studied, traveled, and served in 25 countries on six continents. Alicia has a Doctor of Strategic Leadership, Global Consulting (Regent University), M.Div. (Bethel Seminary), and M.A. in Teaching (University of St. Thomas).