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You’re on the Church Council: Now What?
Equip your church council to lead with faithful discernment and strategic vision.
About this Course
Designed specifically for church council members, this course provides a theological and practical foundation for your vital leadership role. Whether you're a seasoned elder or new to the council, this training will equip you and your team to navigate the responsibilities of governance with faith, wisdom, and unity.
What You’ll Be Able to Do:
Move beyond meeting agendas and budgets to lead from a place of spiritual discernment and strategic purpose. This course integrates the crucial work of prayerful listening with the practical skills needed for effective stewardship and decision-making. It is an ideal experience for an entire council to take together or for a pastor to facilitate with their leadership team, fostering a shared language and vision for faithful governance.
Modules
Start by Listening
In this module, you will:
- Learn skills to listen to and analyze your community and its needs.
- Reflect on how Jesus’ ministry was intentional and inclusive.
- Develop a profile of your church and community that can guide your work on the council.
Purpose, Vision, and Values
In this module, you will:
- Articulate the theological foundations and values that underpin a church's purpose statement and consider what that purpose statement looks like in practice.
- Recognize and express gratitude for the calling that God has on your life and your community.
- Explore your church’s values and purpose.
Decision Making
In this module, you will:
- Differentiate between various decision-making approaches based on congregation size, stakeholder involvement, and constitutional requirements.
- Practice discernment methods that invite the Holy Spirit's guidance in council deliberations, moving beyond simply voting to seeking God's wisdom.
- Practice decision-making in considering both culture and constitution.
Governance
In this module, you will:
- Understand various possible governance and decision-making approaches and how they are reflected in a church constitution or bylaws.
- Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance to balance the structural and human parts of serving on the council.
- Explore the alignment between your church’s practice and its constitution.
Stewardship
In this module, you will:
- Learn to interpret budget documents to understand how financial resources align with ministry priorities and organizational structure.
- Enter into God’s call for stewardship.
- Explore the alignment between your church’s mission, vision, and values and its budgetary decisions.
Volunteer Recruitment and Support
In this module, you will:
- Compare different organizational models (committees, working groups, task forces) and identify which structures best serve particular ministry needs.
- Cultivate gratitude for the spiritual gifts present in yourself and in your community.
- Explore your church’s volunteer structures and recruitment strategies and consider what is and is not working well.
Communication and Leadership
In this module, you will:
- Understand effective meeting facilitation techniques and appropriate confidentiality boundaries for council business.
- Investigate and integrate prayer practices into council meetings that invite God's presence and guidance throughout deliberations, not just as bookends.
- Practice personal communication strategies that foster transparency with the congregation while appropriately handling sensitive information and presenting a unified voice around council decisions.
One-time purchase
$55
With Faith+Lead Membership
$0*
Get a free public display license to use for group study.
$0*
*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month
- Modules:
7 Modules
- Format:
Self-Paced, On-Demand
- Access:
Lifetime Access
Get to Know Your Instructors
Sara Cutter
Rev. Sara Cutter is the Senior Director of Operational Effectiveness for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Churchwide Organization. She previously worked as a pastor for the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Savannah, Georgia; Zion Lutheran Church in Middleton, Ohio; and Epiphany Lutheran Church in Dayton, Ohio.
Sara earned her MDiv from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in 2008. Before that, she earned an MBA from Xavier University and worked as an engineer.
Sara believes that solid administration is the key to healthy and thriving congregations. “My love to share these tools with others is closely matched with my love for my daughter, my dogs, and the Ohio State Buckeyes.”
Ready to Enroll?
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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One-time purchase
- Access to this on-demand course
- Access the leaders guide for group study
- Access the course workbook for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access to 40+ on-demand courses
- Access every live and recorded workshop
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- Access to this on-demand course
- Access to all 40+ on-demand courses
- Public display license for all on-demand courses and workshop recordings
- Access all leaders guides for group study
- Access all course workbooks for individual study
- A private, supportive online community
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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 support@faithlead.org for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!