Presidential Listening Post

A couple of years ago, the PLTS faculty completely revamped the MDiv program curriculum. They did so by spending time listening . . . listening to alumni, pastors, bishops, laity, congregational leaders, and others who have ideas about "who our pastors should be." The listening resulted in an invitation from the PLTS faculty (see http://www.plts.edu/academics/invitation.html for details).

Since then, we have taken this process of listening more and more seriously. President Phyllis Anderson, joined by the president of Luther Seminary, have been traveling around the country hosting "listening posts" in congregations. This weekend, I joined them at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Portland (served by PLTS alumna Pr. Kit Neeley) for a listening post. It was so interesting to hear the input of local pastors and laity toward these questions: What does the church need in future leaders? What can the seminaries do to be a resource to you? What kind of leader will your congregation need in order to thrive?