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Michael Binder

Michael Binder

Assistant Professor of Congregational Mission and Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dr. Michael Binder is an assistant professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. His teaching focuses on starting new congregations, leading change, and practicing Christian witness and evangelism amidst secular cultures. 

Binder was a founding pastor of Mill City Church in northeast Minneapolis. He was the director of preaching for Bethel University from 2006-2013 and worked as a young adult pastor for Woodridge Church before that.

He has worked as a consultant with hundreds of congregations and denominations in the U.S. and Canada. Binder is a graduate of Carleton College, Bethel University (M.Div., 2008), and Luther Seminary (Ph.D., Congregational Mission and Leadership, 2017).

Note: Biographical information was updated as of the latest contribution. Author profiles may not reflect author’s current employment, status, or location.

five friends eating a meal together and talking

By Michael Binder

3 Steps to Leading Faithful Innovation

Listening, acting, and sharing our way to something new

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By Michael Binder

Leading Sustainable Change

Listen, Act, Share

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People seated holding hands.

By Michael Binder

Learning from the Seeds God Is Sowing

Connection and encouragement for innovative leaders

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By Michael Binder

Pastors and Churches Ask, ‘Now What?’

Equipping each other for post-pandemic life and ministry

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By Dwight Zscheile

What’s Really Causing Church Decline … and What We Can Do About It

How can we renew the church's identity and help in join God's work in the 21st century?

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Man looking at flow diagram with other person's finger pointing at post-it array

By Michael Binder

Why Does the Church Need Innovation?

How design thinking can apply to ministry—not for its own sake, but to discover and follow where the Holy Spirit is leading.

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Showing 1-6 of 6 posts

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Large group of church volunteers huddle up before cleaning up their community.

How to Start a New Ministry

Faithful Innovation

Instructor: Michael Binder
This course walks emerging ministry leaders into a clear vision of their ministry plan through discernment practices and practical strategies.

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Showing 1-1 of 1 courses