Short Courses and Workshops
Available to alumnae, current participants, and those exploring executive education. A mix of paid and free opportunities, scholarships are available if needed. Please email ironsharpeningiron@ptsem.edu for details.
Connecting Congregations to DEIB Best Practices (August 15 and August 22, 2024)
This is a 2-session workshop that will focus on bringing current research and best practices on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into three different aspects of a congregational leader’s role: supervising staff, stewarding congregations, and partnering with community organizations. Sessions will be led by Lauren Martin of CultureAlly.
- 3 Hours
- Virtual
- Open to pastors, staff and lay leaders
Women, Violence, and Power: Sacred Texts and Modern Conversations (September 10, 17, and 24, 2024)
This short course is designed to further enrich biblical interpretation skills — specifically the work of engaging difficult texts — and bring that learning into how women as leaders address equally challenging modern contexts.
The format for this module includes three synchronous sessions focused on engaging difficult passages of scripture. Participants will then be given access to pre-recorded conversations between our biblical expert and subject matter experts from fields outside of traditional theological education where they explore how church leaders can address individual experiences of trauma or harassment, and how congregations can best support and respond.
- 7.5 Hours Content (4.5 Hours Synchronous Instruction)
- Virtual
- Open to all
The Future of Church Property: Evolving with Integrity (September 20-21, 2024)
This seminar for pastors and congregational leaders is focused on church property — when to stay, when to shift, and most importantly, how to make those decisions with integrity and a justice lens. The two-day program is designed for both virtual and in-person participation. It includes two plenary sessions and a customizable workshop schedule in the afternoon.
- 2 days
- In-Person and Online Options
- Open to pastors, staff and lay leaders
Webinars
These offerings build on Iron Sharpening Iron’s core curriculum, creating content that speaks directly to the expressed needs of our current participants.
Imagination Book Club (June 4, July 18 and Aug. 20)
A sociologist, a game designer, and a pastor walk into a coffee shop. What do they have to say to each other? Turns out, quite a bit… Ruha Benjamin, Jane McGonigal, and Kenda Creasy Dean have each written books that challenge us to prioritize imagination. Not for escapism or whimsy, but as a crucial tool in leading organizations in a time of unprecedented change. In this summer’s book club conversations we’ll explore what lessons these books have in common, where they deviate from one another, what they have to say to us as leaders, and what implications they have for the church.
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Neurodivergence in Ministry Teams
Faith Saenz, founder of NeuroTalent Consulting, speaks with pastors about the leading as a neurodivergent person, supporting neurodivergent staff members, and building a team that can flourish.
Creating Healthy Boundaries: Living in Liminal Spaces, Part I
Navigating Transitions with Integrity: Living in Liminal Spaces, Part 2
Panel discussions will feature Rev. Pam Driesell, Rev. Julie Pennington-Russell, and Rev. Melanie Marsh, addressing some of the deepest questions women bring to us each year.
Managing Volunteers: Secrets to Supervising People Who Aren’t on the Payroll
Led by Luisa Boyarksi, Associate Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership, this webinar offers practical advice for motivating, organizing, and retaining volunteers.
Implementing the Bold Vision: Elected Officials on the Transition from Campaign to Governance
For the first time in its history, the city of St. Paul is represented by all women and majority people of color. Join Councilmembers Rebecca Noecker and Cheniqua Johnson to discuss how we move from designing a leadership vision (campaigning) to implementation (governing), and managing the bureaucracies and stakeholders along the way.
Coaching Skills for Leaders: Tips for Empathic, Effective Supervision
You may know a lot about pastoral care, but how does (or should) that differ from supervising staff? This webinar, led by Anita Kishore, is designed as an entry point into how the coaching model can lead to smarter, more successful supervision.c
