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Leadership in New Christian Communities
Discover the calling, practices, and resilience it takes to start and sustain new Christian communities in a changing world.
About this Course
This course introduces an international, cross-tradition collaboration between two complementary instructors. Together, they combine North American theological and academic depth in congregational mission and innovation with front-line practitioner experience from the Church of England's fresh expressions and pioneering movement.
What You’ll Be Able to Do:
More and more people are drawn to faith but not finding their way to traditional church. This course explores what it looks like to respond to that reality—to listen for where God is already at work and join in starting communities that can meet people where they are.
Leadership in New Christian Communities guides you through the essential questions every pioneer leader faces: How do I discern my calling? How do I follow the Spirit's leading with others? How do I try things, learn from what doesn't work, and keep going when the journey gets hard? Led by Dwight Zscheile and Dave Male—two internationally recognized voices in missional leadership and fresh expressions of church—this course weaves together theological grounding, real-world practitioner conversations, and spiritual practices for the road ahead.
Whether you're sensing a new call or already in the thick of starting something, this course offers companions, tools, and encouragement for the journey.
Modules
Beginning the Journey
In this module, you will:
- Understand the need for new contextual communities in today's contexts.
- Develop an eagerness for the personal and vocational journey of starting a new Christian community.
- Investigate qualities of leaders in new contextual communities.
Calling in Context
In this module, you will:
- Understand biblical and theological principles for God's call to leaders to start new communities.
- Identify your "why" for starting a new community.
- Explore the importance of local context as a setting for this call.
Discerning God's Leadership Together
In this module, you will:
- Deepen your understanding of the Holy Spirit’s leadership and influence on the new community.
- Practice holding lightly your own visions and seek God’s will above all.
- Develop practical insights into how to discern God’s leading alongside your team.
Embracing a Posture of Experimentation
In this module, you will:
- Understand that the best way forward is to try small experiments rather than invest lots of resources into predetermined plans.
- Embrace a posture of risk-taking in the journey.
- Practice the process of designing and carrying out small experiments and then developing initial trials into next steps.
Navigating the Icebergs: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
In this module, you will:
- Identify primary challenges that often confront leaders starting new Christian communities.
- Develop patience and trust in God’s timing and process.
- Practice skills to address these challenges.
Keeping On: Developing Resilience
In this module, you will:
- Learn skills and mindsets to address inevitable difficulties.
- Develop inspiration from Scripture about leaders persisting through difficulty.
- Identify resources to support you in navigating difficulties.
One-time purchase
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- Modules:
6 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Dwight Zscheile
The Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile is professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He is the author of Embracing the Mixed Ecology (with Blair Pogue, Seabury Books, 2025), Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future (with Michael Binder and Tessa Pinkstaff, Fortress 2023), Participating in God’s Mission: A Theological Missiology for the U.S. (with Craig Van Gelder, Eerdmans 2018), The Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncertain Age (Morehouse Publishing, 2014), People of the Way: Renewing Episcopal Identity (Morehouse Publishing, 2012) and The Missional Church in Perspective: Mapping Trends and Shaping the Conversation (with Craig Van Gelder, Baker Academic 2011), editor of Cultivating Sent Communities: Missional Spiritual Formation (Eerdmans, 2012), and co-editor (with Ed Olsworth-Peter) of The Starter’s Way: Leading New Contextual Christian Communities (Church Publishing, 2025).
A graduate of Stanford University (B.A.), Yale University (M.Div.), and Luther Seminary (Ph.D., Congregational Mission and Leadership), Dwight previously served congregations in Minnesota, Virginia, and Connecticut. Dwight’s experience growing up in a secular home in California has shaped his commitment to helping the church cultivate Christian community with neighbors in today’s changing world.
Dave Male
Dave Male is the Co-Director of Vision and Strategy for the Church of England and Visiting Instructor, Luther Seminary. He leads a team that helps churches, dioceses, and networks implement the strategy. One part of the strategy is the creation of 10,000 new worshipping communities over the next 10 years. Previously, he served as the Church of England’s National Adviser for Pioneer Development, developing national leadership pathways for those starting new churches, and was before that, Tutor in Pioneer Mission Training at Ridley Hall and Westcott House, Cambridge, creating the first training pathway for those starting new churches. Dave led one of the first fresh expressions in the UK and has trained and equipped many others to do the same. He has authored several books on evangelism and pioneering issues and spoken on these issues across the world.
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Enroll in this on-demand course today or unlock free access to this and all Faith+Lead’s on-demand courses, plus more with a Faith+Lead Membership.
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- Access to this on-demand course
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- Access the course workbook for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
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- Access every live and recorded workshop
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- Access to this on-demand course
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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course
You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.
Know
Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.
Be
Do
Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.
Every Academy course is designed to
Help your growth in one of these core areas:
Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.
Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.
Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.
Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior experience starting a new community to take this course?
No, the course is designed for those exploring the call as well as those already in the process.
Is this course for clergy only?
No, it is designed for any ministry leader or innovator sensing a call to start or support new Christian communities
Who are the practitioner guests in the course?
The course features conversations with experienced church starters, including Rev. Dr. Eun Strawser, Rev. Sean Steele, and Rev. Inés Velásquez-McBryde, among others.
What can I expect when I take an Academy course?
Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).
How long will it take me to complete a course?
Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.
What resources are available if I’m a group leader?
Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.
What do I need to know about the free private online social group?
The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.
What should I do if I have questions or problems with my registration?
Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.
What if I have a suggestion or request for a course topic?
The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.
Don’t see your question addressed?
Email us at support@faithlead.org for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!