The Emergent Leader Facilitator
Facilitation is a core competency for anyone who leads a team, manages a project, or heads up a committee in the church. A skilled facilitator can support groups of people as they collaborate, create, make decisions, and take action. The Emergent Leader Facilitator experience will give participants the capacity to be fully present with groups and the competencies to apply reliable planning and problem-solving strategies.
Who Would Benefit
- Church professionals, men and women, who are actively leading groups of people through planning and decision making.
- Lay church leaders who are elected or volunteer to organize people for action.
- Leaders who are considering a strategic planning process for their congregation.
- Leaders who are willing to offer their facilitation services to other churches or judicatories.
Participants will-
- Discover the Emergent Leader principles of what a facilitator is and what they do.
- Explore their capacity to build trust and openness in the group.
- Gain knowledge for designing the process for a single meeting or an extended planning process.
- Learn how to help groups manage periods of tension and conflict.
- Gain a multitude of techniques and strategies for facilitating divergent and convergent thinking.
- Learn how to apply the skills during virtual and in person meetings.
- Engage in a private coaching session with the instructor.
- Participate in a facilitation practicum with instructor and peer review.
- Become a Certified Emergent Leader Facilitator.
The Certification Process
- The learning group is limited to eight people.
- The process begins and ends with two, two-day in-person meetings in Orlando FL.
-Day One is 2-6 p.m. and Day Two is 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- There will be six, ninety-minute synchronous web meetings. This will include two other professional facilitators.
-Although you will be learning from a distance, you will attend a session, at the same time as your instructor and group members.
- There will be facilitation exercises between the web meetings.
- Participants will have two coaching sessions with the instructor.
- Each participant will design and facilitate a practice session.
- An additional session will be available, at no charge, for those who wish to learn about selling your services as a facilitator.
Dates and Times
The First Two-Day Session in Orlando will be February 20-21, 2025. All other meetings will be coordinated at that time.
Costs
A $100 registration fee which is due December 16, 2024
$1,800 is due at the first event.
This will include:
- Four meals and breaks.
- A $32.00 textbook.
- The Emergent Leader workbook.
- And all supporting PDF materials.
Participants are responsible for their accommodations and travel.
*Limited scholarships are available.
Instructor is Kurt Bickel
Kurt is a master facilitator with thirty years of consulting experience and a list of 176 former clients. He has a master’s degree in human resources, he is a Gestalt certified Executive Coach, and a certified consultant for organizational development with The University Associates. He served as a trainer for the Pastoral Leadership Institute, and the Dean of the Emergent Leadership Training. He is the author of five books and numerous articles in church publications. Kurt has practical experience with twenty years of experience as a Director of Christian Education, serving as President of his home congregation, and board member for The Good Samaritan Society Foundation.
Comments from Other Facilitators
“Kurt, deeply rooted in his strong Lutheran faith, brings a unique and pragmatic approach to leadership development. He gracefully leverages God’s gifts of kindness, accountability, and wisdom to guide participants through meaningful discussions on leadership and conflict management. Kurt’s ability to blend his faith with practical leadership insights creates a transformative experience for anyone looking to grow as a leader. His approach not only equips individuals with effective facilitation skills but also inspires them to lead with integrity and purpose, helping to build the next generation of emergent leaders!”
Jim O’Brian, Chief Operating Officer, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, LCEF
“Kurt Bickel possesses a unique ability to adeptly manage and move forward a roomful of leaders. His vast consulting experience combined with his ability as a teacher par excellence, makes this course a must have for anyone wanting to further develop their own emergent leader facilitator skills. I highly recommend!”
Dr. Kurt Senske, Founder & Principal CEO-Board Services Changing Lives One Organization at a Time , Author – The CEO and the Board: The Art of Nonprofit Governance as a Competitive