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What is the Mixed Ecology?
How innovative and inherited forms of church can thrive together.
About this Course
What is the Mixed Ecology? introduces a Spirit-led model for church that embraces both tradition and innovation—helping leaders reimagine ministry as a sustainable, community-rooted practice that meets people where they are.
What you’ll learn:
A small congregation gathers in a century-old sanctuary on Sunday mornings. Midweek, a dinner church meets in someone’s backyard. Nearby, a lay leader hosts Bible study at a brewery.
One church. Multiple expressions. All part of the same body of Christ.
This is the mixed ecology.
It’s not a program or a trend—it’s a way of being church that makes room for both sacred tradition and Spirit-led innovation. The mixed ecology recognizes that no single form of church can reach everyone. So we tend gardens in many places: inherited congregations, new ministries, and fresh expressions that meet people where they actually are.
But here’s the challenge: many leaders hear this and assume it means doing more. More work. More complexity. More pressure.
What if it didn’t?
This mini-course offers a fresh, grounded introduction to the mixed ecology. You’ll learn what it is (and isn’t), explore stories from real ministry settings, and reflect on what it might look like in your context. Most of all, you’ll discover a more sustainable, Spirit-led way to engage your neighbors and live out your call.
If you’re longing for new possibilities—but unsure where to start—this is for you.
Modules
What is the Mixed Ecology?
In this course you will:
- Learn the definition of the mixed ecology through direct instruction and examples.
- Develop an openness to God's leading about the Mixed Ecology in your setting.
- Consider how the Mixed Ecology opens opportunities for the current and future church.
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- Modules:
1 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Dwight Zscheile
Vice President of Innovation and Professor of Congregational Mission and Leadership
The Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile is vice president of innovation and 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) and editor of Cultivating Sent Communities: Missional Spiritual Formation (Eerdmans, 2012).
A graduate of Stanford University (BA), Yale University (MDiv) and Luther Seminary (PhD, 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.
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- Access to this on-demand course
- Access the leaders guide for group study
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- Access every live and recorded workshop
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- Access to this on-demand course
- Access to all 40+ on-demand courses
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- Access all leaders guides for group study
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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
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 faithlead@luthersem.edu for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!
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