Group-based Learning
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DSF Certificate Program
The DSF Certificate Pastoral Leadership in a Divided World is a 10-course, one-year, online program designed to equip emerging and experienced leaders with theological grounding, practical skills, and culturally aware education. Through participation in the DSF Collective, students join a diverse community dedicated to spiritual growth, justice, and meaningful ministry. With flexible coursework and scholarship support, the certificate helps prepare individuals for ministry — especially within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — while accommodating the realities of work, family, and vocational discernment.
Spiritual Formation Leadership (TEL - Cohort)
TEL Cohort version of Spiritual Formation Leadership considered an introduction and overview of Spiritual Formation, September 2025.
Design Thinking for Social Change (TEL - Cohort)
The TEL Cohort version of Design Thinking for Social Change, October 2025.
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Contextual Thinking (TEL - Cohort)
The TEL Cohort version introduces key to contextual thinking, November 2025.
Christian History and Social Change (TEL - Cohort)
This course explores how Christians have pursued social change from the first century to today, examining the evolving relationship between faith and justice through the lenses of self, other, creation, and God, December 2025.
Theological Thinking (TEL - Cohort)
TEL Cohort version of the Introductory overview of Theological Thinking, January 2026.
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Rhetorical Use of Text (TEL - Cohort)
The TEL Cohort version introduces how to critically analyze text, February 2026.
Introduction to Christian Ethics (TEL - Cohort)
The TEL Cohort version introduces Christian Ethics, March 2026.
Transformative Leadership (TEL - Cohort)
The TEL Cohort version introduces key leadership components, April 2026.
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Igniting Vibrant Ventures (TEL-Cohort)
The TEL Cohort version provides an overview of Igniting Vibrant Ventures, May 2026.
Auburn Emerging Leaders Program '25
This 12-month virtual journey strengthens emerging faith leaders to integrate love, justice, and community-building within their ministry contexts—bridging divides through spiritually grounded leadership and reflective practice.
Auburn Emerging Leaders Program Fall 2025
This 12-month virtual journey strengthens emerging faith leaders to integrate love, justice, and community-building within their ministry contexts—bridging divides through spiritually grounded leadership and reflective practice.
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Leadership Development - Expressing an Inclusive, Anti-Oppressive Vision for the Church and How to Make it Happen
Explore what it means to embody liberative leadership in the church by confronting biases and oppressive structures while cultivating practices that promote inclusion, justice, and faithful collaboration within and beyond the congregation.
Faith, Identity, Community, and Calling
This course invites you to reflect on why you have entered this program and what is shaping your sense of vocation at this moment. Together, we will explore your understanding of faith, discipleship, and personal values, as well as what it means to feel called to ministry. You will consider whether your calling feels individual or communal and identify the questions and concerns you bring with you as you continue discerning your path.
Theologically-Informed Pastoral Leadership
How do we talk about God, and how have ideas about God changed over time? This course explores diverse theological perspectives — feminist, ecological, womanist, postcolonial, minjung, and other liberation theologies — and examines how they shape leadership in the church. Students will be guided in articulating their own theology and applying it in practice.
Biblically-Informed Pastoral Leadership: Old Testament
In this introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, we will explore its major sections — Torah, Prophets, and Writings — and key themes such as salvation, redemption, justice, and righteousness. We will consider the prophetic invitations of the text and practice interpreting scripture by connecting ancient contexts with the contexts in which you serve, whether for spiritual formation, preaching, or other community needs.
Biblically-Informed Pastoral Leadership: New Testament
In this introduction to the New Testament, we will examine its main writings—Gospels and Letters—and what falls outside the canon. By studying both canonical and non-canonical gospels and comparing the portraits of Jesus in the Synoptics and John, we will explore how his boundary-crossing compassion informs Christian practice. Students will learn to interpret New Testament texts by connecting ancient contexts with their own ministry settings, whether for spiritual formation, preaching, or other community needs.
God and the History of God's People
This introductory course in church history looks at where the Church has been and how its past shapes future directions. We will examine the Church’s development in the Americas, in Korea, and in the United States, focusing on how missionary movements, Manifest Destiny, migration, and colonization have shaped Christian communities. We will also consider how this history informs Christian education today.
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The Birth and Growth of the Disciples of Christ Movement – in the United States and Globally
This course surveys the history, polity, theology, and ethos of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from its beginnings to its present expressions, including NAPAD, Obra Hispana, and National Convocation. We will explore the movement’s cultural roots and examine how the church continues to evolve in response to social, ethical, and theological needs.
The Church at Work: Mission, Stewardship, and Hospitality
This course explores how the church lives out its mission, including the issues it addresses and how these shape ministry. We will consider hospitality, inclusion, stewardship, and leading with integrity and creativity. The course also examines managing conflict and sustaining the church’s mission amid differing opinions.
The Church at Work: Worship, Preaching, and Pastoral Care
This course explores sharing the gospel in local communities through preaching, worship, teaching, and pastoral care. It emphasizes storytelling, worship planning, and leading liturgical occasions — like weddings, baptisms, and funerals—within cultural contexts.
The Pastoral Leader: Spirituality, Ethics, and Justice
This course explores how pastoral leaders sustain themselves and their communities while pursuing justice and change. It introduces spiritual practices to ground and energize ministry, helping leaders clarify their values, guide their congregations, and care for themselves along the way.
Self-paced Learning
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Wisdom-based Leadership Learning Path
Each course is designed to assist leaders with a component of social transformation in an environment enriched with intentionality, thoughtfulness and spirituality.
Design Thinking for Social Change Learning Path
You will develop a personal design lens that will be your compass throughout your course and work life. Followed by a deep dive into the mindsets, skills and methods needed to achieve your design goals.
Spiritual Leadership Toward Multiracial Justice
This course explores the intersection of spirituality and racial justice, guiding you through reflection, compassion, and leadership for multiracial healing and belonging.
Spiritual Disruption
Spiritual Disruption invites bold, curious leaders to explore 27 paradigm-shifting parables with Spencer Burke, reimagining ministry as dynamic, evolving, and deeply relevant for today’s world.
Embrace These Hours
This course integrates contemplation and activism, equipping you to pursue justice with spiritual grounding, sustainable rhythms, and the compassionate way of Jesus.
Nonviolence as Biblical Response to Injustice
This course explores nonviolence as a biblical response to injustice, inviting you to follow Jesus’ example through reflection, scripture, and a commitment to justice through peace.
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God with Us in Our Mental and Emotional Needs
This course explores how God’s love and presence meet us in our mental health journeys, offering reflection, healing, and the reminder that we are not alone.
How Our Cultural Identities Reflect the Image of God
This course invites you to explore and embrace your cultural identity as a reflection of God’s image, fostering healing, awareness, and spiritual growth through reflection and creative expression.
From Silencing to Uplifting Survivors
This course equips spiritual leaders to address sexual violence with compassion and truth, fostering healing, justice, and liberating leadership within their communities.
Wisdom-based Leadership 1: Introduction to Wisdom-based Leadership
Wisdom-based Leadership invites faith leaders to cultivate spiritual depth, collaboration, and care for transformative, purpose-driven leadership.
Wisdom-based Leadership 2: Courageous Collaboration
Courageous Collaboration empowers faith leaders to build trust, shared vision, and collective wisdom for deeper connection and lasting impact.
Wisdom-based Leadership 3: Contemplative Care
Contemplative Care guides faith leaders toward sustainable, soul-centered leadership rooted in presence, compassion, and inner well-being.
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Wisdom-based Leadership 4: Creative Communication
Creative Communication equips faith leaders to share their message with authenticity and impact, fostering meaningful connection through intentional and creative expression.
Design Thinking for Social Change 1: Design Lens
This introductory course invites you to explore human-centered design as a tool for social change, blending creative practice with deep theological insight.
Design Thinking for Social Change 2: The Mindsets, Steps, Skills and Methods
In this second course of the Design Thinking for Social Change path, you'll gain insight from past students and design professionals as they share real-world experiences with design thinking mindsets, methods, and practices.
Design Thinking for Social Change 3: The Solo Practicum
In this final course of the Design Thinking for Social Change series, you’ll create a personal Solo Practicum—applying design thinking tools to bring your own inspired project to life.
Spiritual Formation Leadership (TEL)
This course invites you to explore your embedded spirituality and develop accessible, public-facing spiritual leadership rooted in both personal growth and theological insight.
Design Thinking for Social Change (TEL)
This course introduces Design Thinking for Social Change, guiding students to identify community needs, develop solutions, and craft proposals that inspire action and impact.
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Introduction to Christian Ethics (TEL)
This course explores Christian ethics through the lenses of Self, Other, World, and God, equipping students with ethical reasoning tools to address contemporary challenges and build liberative, faith-informed responses.
Christian History and Social Change (TEL)
This course explores how Christians have pursued social change from the first century to today, examining the evolving relationship between faith and justice through the lenses of self, other, creation, and God.
Theological Thinking (TEL)
This course introduces theological thinking through the lenses of Self, World, Other, and God, guiding students to explore justice issues and deepen their understanding of faith and personal formation.
Rhetorical Use of Text (TEL)
This course strengthens critical reading skills by exploring sacred and secular texts, empowering learners to analyze diverse perspectives and engage thoughtfully with contemporary issues like justice, equity, and inclusivity.
Contextual Thinking (TEL)
Rooted in liberative theories, this course empowers you to tell your story, understand your social location, and engage critically with themes of injustice, identity, and empowerment.
Transformative Leadership (TEL)
This course explores core leadership qualities through the lives of transformative leaders and film, guiding students to develop reflective, justice-centered leadership for meaningful change.
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Igniting Vibrant Ventures (TEL)
This course introduces faith-rooted social entrepreneurship, equipping leaders with practical tools to design and launch mission-driven, adaptive ventures in ministry and nonprofit settings.
Breaking the Silence: Film, Memory, and Migration as Acts of Resistance
Documentary storytelling is a powerful act of resistance. By actively listening to the marginalized telling their lived experiences, we can create spaces where their voices resonate—through films, writing, and other forms of storytelling. In doing so, we can challenge systems of fear, oppression, and exclusion, and help shift the dominant, dehumanizing narratives about immigrants and refugees.
Earl Lecture 2025
The 2025 Earl Lecture Series—this year’s theme is Migration: Shaping the Narrative. Through a combination of lectures, workshops, and connections, we’ll explore how stories of migration—past and present—can reclaim power, resist erasure, and shape more just and compassionate futures. We’ll ask what it means to center lived experience, shift dominant narratives, and take collective action toward a world where all belong.
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