Announcing a two year process of spiritual formation and theological and practical education for members of the congregations of Southwest California Synod

New Foundational Series Beginning at
South Bay Campus and Central Coast

Saturday, September 6, 2008, will mark the beginning of a new Project ELM Foundational Series.  The dates of the courses, all on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. are September 6, 13, 20, 27.  A registration form is available below. 

South Bay
Dr. Paul Egertson:  September 6, 13, 20 and 27
Dr. Guy Erwin:  November 1, 8, 15 and 22
Dr. Clay Schmit:  February 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2009
Bishop Dean Nelson: March 28, April 4, 18 and 25, 2009

Central Coast
Dr. Guy Erwin:  September 6, 13, 20 and 27
Dr. Paul Egertson:  November 1, 8, 15 and 22
Bishop Dean Nelson:  February 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2009
Dr. Clay Schmit:  March 28 and April 4, 18 and 25, 2009

DESCRIPTION OF FOUNDATIONAL COURSES AND INSTRUCTORS - OFFERED FIRST YEAR

  1. The Bible:  Cradle of Our Faith

Course Description:  Taking our clue from Luther’s view of the bible as “the manger in which Christ lies,” the four segments of this course will cover everything you ever wanted to know about the bible but were never told.  We will hear that Amos Wilder called “The great story and plot of all time and space” as we follow the acts of God in history and clarify their meaning for our lives today.  The portions of this drama to be covered in each four-hour segment are:

1.   The Law (Torah/Pentateuch)
2.   The Prophets and Writings
3.   The Gospels and Acts
4.   The Epistles and Revelation

 The Rev. Paul W. Egertson, Ph.D. is Senior lecturer in religion at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, where he has taught continuously on a full time or part time basis since 1984.  He has previously served for 21 years as Pastor of four congregations; for 12 years as Director of Continuing Theological study for Lutheran clergy and laity in the Southwest; and over six years as Bishop of the Southwest California Synod, ELCA.  He and his wife Shirley are the parents of six sons and have ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

 2. Evangelical and Catholic:  Lutheran Theology and History

Course Description:  This course provides a basic understanding of the doctrines and theology which under gird the ministry and mission of this church.  A review of the history of Lutheranism and the polity of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will also be presented.

 R. Guy Erwin, Ph.D. is the Associate Professor of Religion and History at California Lutheran University.  He is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Graduate School where he earned his Ph.D. in Arts and Sciences.  Dr. Erwin holds the CLU Gerhard and Olga J. Belgum Chair of Lutheran Confessional Theology.  He is the Director of the Segerhammar Center of Faith and Culture at California Lutheran University.

 3. Worship as the Center of Our Life Together

Course Description:  This course will explore the basic shape and theology of Christian Worship and its expression in the Lutheran Church.  It will consider historical patterns of worship as well as the shifting nature of worship in today’s church.  Two key focuses of the course will be 1) skills and techniques for worship leadership, and 2) creating worship that is culturally and contextually appropriate.

 The Rev. Clayton J. Schmit, Ph.D. is the Arthur DeKruyter/Christ Church Oak brook Associate Professor of Preaching and the Academic Program Director for the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology, and the Arts at Fuller Theological Seminary.  Dr. Schmit teaches courses in preaching, worship and church music.  Her is a composer of hymns and other church music and an ELCA pastor with 15 years of parish experience.

4. Leaders for Mission:  Called, Gifted, Sent

Course Description:  This course will focus on the common gifts for discipleship and leadership given to all of the baptized, as well a the unique spiritual gifts given to each of us for building up the body of Christ.  Participants will explore various biblical models of leadership, examine the liturgical orders of our church for their vocational implications, learn their own personality type, identify their unique gifts for ministry, and gain new skills and insights for enhancing their abilities to serve as leaders for mission in their congregations, communities and daily lives.

 The Rev. Dean Nelson, Bishop of the Southwest California Synod, ELCA, elected to serve a second term as Bishop in June 2007.  He has served 31 years as parish pastor of our congregations (First, Torrance; Our Saviour’s, Milwaukee, WI; Park View, Chicago, IL; and Faith, Enid, OK).  Bishop Nelson is the primary instructor for this course, which will include guest instructors in some of the sessions.

1.  Evangelist Track: Outreach and Witness, Personal Witnessing,        
    Communications and Evangelism, Contextual Evangelism, Use of    
    New Technologies for Evangelism, Preparing Lay Callers, etc.

2. Catechist Track: Nurturing Faith Through Stages of Life, Parish         
    Education:    Models and Methods, Adult Catechumenate, Spiritual Gifts,    
    Youth Ministry, etc.

3. Diaconate Track: Community Service, Public Policy, Community
    Organizing, etc.

Instructors will include faculty from California Lutheran University, Fuller Seminary, Synod Staff and Pastors and Lay Leaders from Southwest California Synod

South Bay Campus
First Lutheran Church, Torrance is located at:
2900 Carson Street
Torrance, CA 90503
310.320.9920
Contact:  Rev. William Hurst Jr.

Central Coast Campuses
St. John's Lutheran Church
959 Valley Road
Arroyo Grande, Ca 93420
805-489-1259
Contact:  Rev. Randy Ouimette

Mount Carmel Lutheran Church
1701 Fredericks Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
805-544-2133
Contact:  Rev. Majorie Punk-Pihl

Twin Valleys Campus 
St. Stephen's Lutheran Church
15950 Chatsworth Street
Granada Hills, CA 91344
818-891-1759
Contact:  Rev. Kathy Richter

Academia de Diaconia
located at the Grace Lutheran Church:
6714 Pine Avenue
Bell, CA 90201-2508
Contact: Maria Paiva

1.  Click here for Registration Form

2.  Click here for dates for 2008-2009 Courses

• 116 Contact Hours will be required to receive Synod Certification

• 80 hours in core courses

• 36 hours in specialized track

The cost for the full two year course leading to Synod Certification is $250.

The fee for participants who do not wish to take the full course but wish to attend selected courses will be $20 for each 4 contact hours (ie: a four hour course will have a fee of $20. an eight hour course a fee of $40 a 16 hour course, a fee of $80. Note that the core courses are all 16 hour courses). Text books are not included in the registration fee.

Schedule for Track Courses in 2008-2009 which will all meet at the First Lutheran Church & School in Torrance  on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with a break for lunch.

The Academia de Diaconia - Foundational Courses will meet at Grace Lutheran Church in Bell on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. with a break for lunch

Please begin to plan now to sponsor present or potential lay leaders in your congregation as participants in Equipping Leaders for Mission.