institute for missional directions

IMD consultations, retreats and workshops

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The Institute for Missional Directions (IMD) assists individuals and communities of faith to move outside of their four walls into the surrounding world, in a missional engagement with culture.

The Institute forms partnerships to learn and to develop together.  Through education, mentoring, and consulting, IMD:

• Addresses the changing culture of the 21st century.  IMD networks churches and groups to help them bear witness to the gospel within a variety of social and cultural situations. 

• Provides ongoing education for leaders.  Through seminars, retreats, and workshops within an open and caring learning environment, IMD provides resources for transformation and leadership development.  IMD seeks to provide an atmosphere of open dialogue, based upon mutual appreciation of one another's contribution to the Christian church. CEUs are offered to help fulfill denominational and parachurch requirements.

• Provides training for individuals preparing for ministry. Through the program, Seminary Without Walls (SWW), students fulfill Lay Pastoral Certification requirements for lay ministry.  Others seeking to deepen their appreciation for and understanding of the church are also encouraged to attend.

• Developes capacities of listening to God, to one another, and to culture. IMD helps judicatories, local churches, and parachurch groups, more clearly understand present activities; determine what areas need to change or be strengthened; and develop new skills that will reinforce ministries to a rapidly changing culture.  We also assist in development of covenantal, peer-to-peer relationships for the development of spiritual disciplines and encouraging leaders in ministry through An Odered Life.
  

• Provides missional direction within and to Western Culture. Impacting change is a monumental task and IMD endeavors to help communities of faith face the challenges of a rapidly changing culture.  IMD coaches and resources churches for the changes necessary to be effective in the twenty-first century. This is accomplished through mentoring, mutuality, teaching, writing, and speaking.