Healthy Boundaries for ELCA Leaders
Successful completion will fulfill the requirement of periodic boundaries training for rostered leaders and Synod Authorized Ministers in the South Dakota Synod
This is a course preview: click the arrows to expand.
Tour of the Learning Platform
What will you learn?
Welcome from Pastor Kari
Anchor: Interview with Kendra Stea, Director for Misconduct Prevention, ELCA
Goal: Build Competence
Anchor: Boundaries as Right Relationship
Focus: Why Boundaries Matter
Apply: Pastor Ned
Apply: Storytime with Pastor Ned
Module One Discussion Forum
Engage: Reflection
Learning Check: Module One
A Word to Carry
Goal: Extend Capacity
Anchor: Power & Trust
Anchor: Power and Your Brain
Anchor: "Understanding the Role of Power" (UMC Document)
Focus: Power is Trust, Carried Well
Focus: Power is Powerlessness
Focus: Power is Powerlessness Discussion
Apply: Dwindling Trust
Apply: More Than a Headline
Module Two Discussion Forum
Engage: Reflection
Learning Check: Module Two
A Word to Carry
Goal: Develop Strategies
Anchor: Bearing Witness
Focus: Boundary Types
Setting Boundaries Doesn't Mean What You Think
Apply: Having Hard Conversations
Engage: Reflection
Learning Check: Module Three
A Word to Carry
Goal: Reduce Violations
Anchor: Interview with Kendra Stea
Anchor: Rock Slides
Focus: Slippery Slopes and Pivot Points
Apply: Ten Pivot Points
Module Four Discussion Forum
Engage: Psalm 51
Engage: Clean Heart
Learning Check: Module Four
A Word to Carry
Reporting Misconduct in the SD Synod
Goal: Integrate Self Care
Anchor: Meet Brene Brown
Anchor: Boundaries Make Empathy Possible
Module Five Discussion Forum
Engage: Prayer Walk
Learning Check: Module Five
A Word to Carry
Rooted in Lutheran theology and real-life ministry experiences, this course blends practical tools with thoughtful reflection. Its story-centered approach and flexible, self-paced format are designed specifically for the needs of today’s church leaders.
Learn at your own pace, on your own schedule—this fully asynchronous course gives you the flexibility to reflect deeply, engage meaningfully, and return to key content whenever it’s most helpful for you.
This course fulfills the South Dakota Synod's periodic boundaries training requirement for rostered leaders (Ministers of Word & Sacrament and Ministers of Word & Service) and Synod Authorized Ministers (SAMs).
What are people saying?
“This is the best boundaries training I have done. I have done an in-person training, a Zoom training, and now this self-paced series of modules. The modules were well-thought out and clear. The information was relevant and helpful. The modules were short enough to complete in one sitting while also relaying important information in an interesting, attention-grabbing manner (the videos, images, etc.). Receiving personal feedback directly from Pastor Kari was a lovely gift, too. ”