Disciples Home Missions

Connecting People to the Life-Changing Love of God

Congregational Transformation

Black Leadership Project Grant Applications

May 2, 2025
It is time for Black Leadership Project Grant Applications! Thanks to generous donors, we are able to offer $1,500 grants to strengthen African American leadership in your congregations. The application deadline is June 13, 2025. Apply now!

Black Leadership Project Grant Applications

by Elijah Darden

It is time for Black Leadership Project Grant Applications! Thanks to generous donors, we are able to offer $1,500 grants to strengthen African American leadership in your congregations.

The application deadline is June 13, 2025. Apply now!

Family Systems Theory: Connecting the Pieces – Leadership and Systems Wisdom

Apr 21, 2025
Family Systems Theory - Summer 2025. This interactive and immersive course introduces ministers to Family Systems Theory (Bowen), inviting deep personal reflection and bold self-leadership. Participants will explore how vulnerability and curiosity lead to transformation—not just in their ministry contexts, but in themselves.

Family Systems Theory: Connecting the Pieces – Leadership and Systems Wisdom

by Scott Woolridge

Tuesday evenings – June 17 – August 12, 2025 – 7:00 to 9:00 pm Eastern Time

Offered by Disciples Interims

Course Description

This interactive and immersive course introduces ministers to Family Systems Theory (Bowen), inviting deep personal reflection and bold self-leadership. Participants will explore how vulnerability and curiosity lead to transformation—not just in their ministry contexts, but in themselves.

You will gain:

✅ A strong foundation in the Eight Concepts of Bowen Theory

✅ Insights into your family of origin through genogram work

✅ Tools to observe and lead in anxious ministry systems

✅ A supportive community for peer consultation and coaching

✅ Clarity in how vulnerability becomes a strength in leadership

Course Details:

📍 COURSE DATES and TIMES: Tuesdays June 17 – August 12, 2025
- 7:00 – 9:00pm Eastern
(We will not offer a class session on Tuesday, July 15 during General Assembly)

📍 FORMAT: Online, interactive sessions – via Zoom and our learning platform –
Disciples Leadership Network

📍 FACULTY: Rev. Donald Chase, Rev. David McVey, Rev. Dale Matherly


📍 Cost is $600.00

💬 LEARN MORE / REGISTER:

Rev. Scott Woolridge,

swoolridge@dhm.disciples.org

Why It matters:

When leaders grow in self-awareness, they become less reactive, more present, and more effective. This course supports ministers in reclaiming clarity, purpose, and resilience.

Tag line:

🌀 “It’s an inside job. 
Change begins with you!”

Green Chalice Online Gathering

Jan 30, 2025
Green Chalice Online Gathering- February 20, 7pm ET At this free gathering you will meet Green Chalice Ambassadors: Apostle Sharyn Cosby with National Convocation and Yoli Barragan with Obra Hispana. Rob Morris, E.D. of Christmount Christian Assembly will also share impacts and responses to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.   Clergy, Lay Leaders of established […]

Green Chalice Online Gathering

by Scott Hardin-Nieri

Green Chalice Online Gathering- February 20, 7pm ET At this free gathering you will meet Green Chalice Ambassadors: Apostle Sharyn Cosby with National Convocation and Yoli Barragan with Obra Hispana. Rob Morris, E.D. of Christmount Christian Assembly will also share impacts and responses to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.   Clergy, Lay Leaders of established or emerging Green Chalice churches and people interested in active hope are welcome to join in this informative and spirit led conversation. Together we will learn and offer support and prayer for one another as we care for creation and our neighbors in these times. You can register for the free event here.

Weightlifters

Jan 2, 2025
This season in our churches, homes, and schools feels heavy, but our collective capacity to strengthen one another and our communities is great. We are an extension of our magnificent Creator--one who emboldens, loves, and heals us toward a world that is unlike empire. The Realm of God moves by the Spirit in all living things, cultivating justice and harmony one precious load of anointing at a time. It is imperative we lift up and carry the power of the Holy Spirit in refreshing ways. Our legions of lay leaders fortify the church for every season, especially those seasons that dare us to follow Jesus. “Weightlifters” provides you with enough development materials for monthly laity training over the next year. Let us lean into intentional conditioning and be well!

Weightlifters

by Brian Frederick-Gray

2025 Laity Readiness Resource

This season in our churches, homes, and schools feels heavy, but our collective capacity to strengthen one another and our communities is great. We are an extension of our magnificent Creator–one who emboldens, loves, and heals us toward a world that is unlike empire. The Realm of God moves by the Spirit in all living things, cultivating justice and harmony one precious load of anointing at a time.

It is imperative we lift up and carry the power of the Holy Spirit in refreshing ways. Our legions of lay leaders fortify the church for every season, especially those seasons that dare us to follow Jesus. “Weightlifters” provides you with enough development materials for monthly laity training over the next year. Let us lean into intentional conditioning and be well!

Rev. Monique Crain Spells
Vice President for Mission, Advocacy, & Programs

WHAT’S INSIDE?

  • Laity Sunday Litany
  • (7 ) Trainings Videos
  • (3) Downloadable Workshops
  • (1) Youth Study
  • (1) Men’s Study

Family Systems Theory Webinar Series

Dec 12, 2024
Disciples Interims presents our newest opportunity: Family Systems Theory! Here is a chance to learn more about Family Systems Theory and apply it to our own lives and to the lives of our congregations. Students will gain insights into Bowen Theory concepts, increase self-awareness, use genograms to learn about their family of origin, and use case studies to practice "systems thinking" in their congregations. Led by Rev. Donald Chase, Rev. Dale Matherly, and Rev. Scott Woolridge.

Family Systems Theory Webinar Series

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Disciples Interims presents our newest opportunity: Family Systems Theory!

Here is a chance to learn more about Family Systems Theory and apply it to our own lives and to the lives of our congregations. Students will gain insights into Bowen Theory concepts, increase self-awareness, use genograms to learn about their family of origin, and use case studies to practice “systems thinking” in their congregations.

Led by Rev. Donald Chase, Rev. Dale Matherly, and Rev. Scott Woolridge.

When: Tuesday evenings, January 14-March 4,2025 from 6pm-8pm Central Time and are on Zoom.

Cost: $600

Email Scott Woolridge (swoolridge@dhm.disciples.org) for more information and the registration link.

Communal Faith Formation for Today

Dec 2, 2024
Theological Manna Conversation: Communal Faith Formation for Today. A Webinar featuring Dr. William Crowder, Dr. Young Lan Kim, Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Dr. Bill Kincaid, and Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano

Communal Faith Formation for Today

by Brian Frederick-Gray

Theological Manna Conversation — Communal Faith Formation for Today

A Webinar featuring Dr. William Crowder, Dr. Young Lan Kim, Dr. Kimberly Johnson, Dr. Bill Kincaid, and Dr. Yara Gonzalez-Justiniano

Hybrid Faith Formation

Jan 9, 2022
The key to hybrid faith formation is the integration of in-person faith forming with online faith forming into one holistic integrated experience. A program design can begin online and then move to in-person and back to online or it can begin in-person and continue online.

Hybrid Faith Formation

by Brian Frederick-Gray

by Tim Roberto

The key to hybrid faith formation is the integration of in-person faith forming with online faith forming into one holistic integrated experience. A program design can begin online and then move to in-person and back to online or it can begin in-person and continue online.

​

Hybrid programming can be synchronous (real time) and asynchronous (on your own time)—thereby expanding the opportunities for people to engage in faith-forming experiences that are responsive to their time, commitments, and availability. We can deliver synchronous faith formation using physical gatherings, livestreaming, video conferencing, online courses, and online small groups. We can deliver asynchronous faith formation using online playlists, video and audio programs, online discussion groups, online learning platforms, websites, and more.

The Jesus Way

Jan 1, 2022
The Jesus Way ministry is built on several core beliefs: 1) Each man is uniquely gifted by God; 2) God established relational principles and priorities foundational to the life God wills for each individual; 3) Each man is the center of his own “realm of influence.” Within this realm, he influences the lives of those around him. His influence can build up or tear down those within his realm; 4) As one who has confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, each man holds citizenship in the realm of God; 5) Jesus shows us the way to live into those relational principles and priorities that build up rather than tear down as citizens in the realm of God.

The Jesus Way

by Brian Frederick-Gray

A New Men’s Ministry for the men in your congregation

Welcome to The Jesus Way!

This ministry is built on several core beliefs.

  1. Each man is uniquely gifted by God.
  2. God established relational principles and priorities foundational to the life God wills for each individual.
  3. Each man is the center of his own “realm of influence.” Within this realm, he influences the lives of those around him. His influence can build up or tear down those within his realm.
  4. As one who has confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, each man holds citizenship in the realm of God.
  5. Jesus shows us the way to live into those relational principles and priorities that build up rather than tear down as citizens in the realm of God.

This journey will enrich each man’s life and the lives of those around him. Each man will (re)discover God’s unique purpose for his life and what active citizenship in the realm of God can mean for his life.

The Learning Congregation

Apr 13, 2017
This essay from the President of the Center for Congregations, discusses eight behaviors of congregations that learn well.

The Learning Congregation

by Brian Frederick-Gray

by Tim Shapiro
Center for Congregations

This essay discusses eight behaviors of congregations that learn well.

The Special Meaning of the Word “Practice”

Jul 12, 2016
Congregations often invite us to deeper thinking, not just about beliefs but about life. The congregation in which I grew up had an open forum Sunday School class. This class helped people talk about so many important things in life: parenting, politics, marriage, vocation, education, health, medical ethics, science and much more.

The Special Meaning of the Word “Practice”

by Brian Frederick-Gray

by Tim Roberto
The Congregational Resource Guide

Congregational life includes beliefs. Some congregations ask folks to believe certain things in order to be members. Your congregation may welcome questions about certain beliefs. Your congregation may host learning experiences that help you go deeper into theology. Yes, congregational life includes beliefs.

Congregations often invite us to deeper thinking, not just about beliefs but about life. The congregation in which I grew up had an open forum Sunday School class. This class helped people talk about so many important things in life: parenting, politics, marriage, vocation, education, health, medical ethics, science and much more.

Handprint on Congregational Transformation

Oct 1, 2013
What is Congregational Transformation?Transformation is the intentional spiritual journey that a congregation systemically undertakes in order to realize what God has called it to be as church and to do in mission in today’s world. Transformation is a fundamental change in the congregation’s conception and implementation of ministry. A transforming congregation will be oriented around […]

Handprint on Congregational Transformation

by Brian Frederick-Gray

What is Congregational Transformation?
Transformation is the intentional spiritual journey that a congregation systemically undertakes in order to realize what God has called it to be as church and to do in mission in today’s world. Transformation is a fundamental change in the congregation’s conception and implementation of ministry. A transforming congregation will be oriented around mission to the unchurched, nurturing them into the loving, caring fellowship of Christ. It will be notably different from one oriented primarily around ministering to current members. The needs of members will still be met. In the context of a church in mission, everyone is important, both churched and yet-to-be churched.

Is this something new?
Since 2005, Disciples Home Missions has been working to provide events and resources geared to congregational transformation. There have been six events with 677 individuals (from pastors, lay leaders, regions and the general office) interested in congregational transformation. They have either attended one of the transformation events, served on a transformation team or are part of a transforming congregation. These individuals and congregations are under the umbrella of 30 regions within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Is there a goal?
By the year 2020, the goal of congregational transformation is for 1,000 transformed congregations to realize the 2020 Vision of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Congregations currently in transformation The list of transforming congregations is growing. Within this booklet is a list of congregations in transformation, each of which has signed up on the DHM website.

What about resources?
Some of the resources available through DHM are included. You will find resources geared to those just beginning the process and other resources geared to those further along in the process. This list is not exhaustive. There are many other resources available for your use at www.discipleshomemissions.org or by contacting the office of Evangelism and Congregational Transformation at (317) 713-2641.

Teaching a Living Theology

Nov 15, 1996
How can faith be proclaimed in a manner that will be both satisfying and challenging? How can people come to be embodiments of faith, whose lives reflect their baptismal covenant and the good news of Jesus Christ? These complex questions defy a simple response.

Teaching a Living Theology

by Brian Frederick-Gray

by Stacy Johnson
Sojourners
November-December 1996

How can faith be proclaimed in a manner that will be both satisfying and challenging? How can people come to be embodiments of faith, whose lives reflect their baptismal covenant and the good news of Jesus Christ? These complex questions defy a simple response.

Critical theological thought, however, must be at the center of Christian education curricula. Of course, many other criteria must be considered when selecting Christian education curricula, but fostering the ability to think theologically needs to be given due regard.