Faithful Innovation Learning Communities - Central/Southern Illinois Synod

Discover the unique story God wants to tell through your congregation. Get ideas, inspiration, and tools for ministry. Enjoy the support of interactive workshops and ongoing coaching. Pray, learn, and walk together with other C/SIS congregations.

What's it all about?

Participating congregations will be discerning their unique answer to this question: “As we listen to God, one another, and our neighbors, what future do we imagine God is bringing forth in our midst?” The answer needs to come from Christ and our willingness to ask questions, listen for answers, try new things, and learn from them.

What is a learning community?

A learning community is a group of congregations who commit to one another in a nine-month learning experience. Through prayers, skill-building, action, and reflections, they discover where God may be leading them into the future. The experience includes three Saturday workshops and monthly meetings with a coach.

How will our congregation benefit?

Train effective lay spiritual leaders through workshops and coaching.
Learn to discern and respond to God’s leading.
Deepen your congregation’s spirituality.
Build connections with other congregations.
Engage and inspire your membership.
Affirm your faith that God has a vital role for your congregation to play in the work of the kingdom.

What's the process?

Congregation guiding teams meet for three Saturday training sessions over approximately nine months. Between training sessions guiding teams try out new practices and actions in their congregation and community. Each team is assigned a coach – someone to help them carry out their plans and reflect on what they are learning along the way. The trainings may be held in person or on Zoom depending on where congregations are located. If you would prefer an in person training, please consider inviting other neighboring congregations to be part of the Faithful Innovation process, and consult Pastor Elise Rothfusz to find out about other interested congregations.

Training #1

March 11, 9AM-3PM

Tracing God’s movement in our lives and neighborhood

Training #2

July 8, 9AM-3PM

Learn by doing: Using action learning to discover God’s leading

Training #3

Date TBD

Sharing our learning: Intentional reflection on our actions

Cohort Forming Now

A cohort of C/SIS congregations is planned for this fall (location to be determined) with trainings on November 12, March 11, and July 8 (2022-2023).

what previous participants say:

“It was like taking church outside of the building to see where God is already working and connect to that work.”

“I'm more aware that God is speaking to us and creating our stories and our lives.”

“We asked and heard answers to questions like ‘what are the times you have felt most connected to the church?’”

“I found myself actively looking for where God is acting in our lives, community, and world.”

Interested? Here are the steps...

1

The congregation council prays over, discusses, and approves their congregation’s participation.

2

Complete the application by contacting Pastor Elise Rothfusz (contact info below).

3

Upon approval, the congregation submits the registration fee* and assembles a Guiding Team of 4-6 members who commit to attending the trainings on behalf of the congregation.

(*A $700 registration fee helps cover the cost of training workshops, team coaching for a year, and synod team expenses. Scholarships are available.)

Faithful Innovation Application

Faithful Innovation Synod Team

Rev. Elise Rothfusz, Director for Evangelical Mission, C/SIS
Dr. Eden Blair, First English Lutheran Church, Peoria
Dr. Larry Dodds, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Anchor

To apply or find out more:

Contact Pastor Elise Rothfusz,
Central/Southern Illinois Synod

elise.rothfusz@csis-elca.org
217-494-3043