“Finding God’s Power to Change Congregations and Communities”

Making positive change in congregations and communities often feels impossible. There are so many barriers! One major problem is that people of faith misunderstand power.  In this class, Fritz Ritsch will use community organizing tools to find the power to do God’s work. We will learn how to understand and work with the hidden power dynamics in congregations or communities that help or hinder change.

This class is especially geared toward teams who are working to create change in the community they wish to serve. We’ll look at a theological understanding of power, learn to do a power analysis, study and implement four frames of understanding group dynamics, and map out effective strategies to further the presence of God’s Reign in the world.

Required Resource: Reframing Power in Congregations and Communities, by Fritz Ritsch. Copies will be available for purchase in class. 

As part of an effort to help those that are facing financial difficulties, we announced a price decrease for 2026 workshops and course offerings. The price for this course was originally $225, but we are now offering it for $75. We think this reduces the barrier for those that are facing economic challenges and also fulfills our desire to swing our doors wide open, be here for the world as it is, and be a place for folks to come to in this time.