About Grow in Grace

the Institute for Continuing Education at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
partnering in the lifelong pursuit of spiritual and professional growth

Grow in Grace was established by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2010 in order to mark a new emphasis on the continuing education work that has long been one of the two tasks that the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod has entrusted to its seminary. Our mission statement, vision, and guiding principles give a quick overview of what this work is all about.

Mission Statement

Grow in Grace exists to partner with and encourage called workers in fellowship with WELS as they pursue continuing education opportunities.

Vision

Grow in Grace will

• be an advocate for the importance of lifelong spiritual and professional growth for every called worker,
• gather, develop, and deliver formal and informal continuing education resources,
• work with individuals, study groups, circuits, conferences, and districts to help called workers set and reach their growth goals under God’s blessing, and
• coordinate and partner with others in our fellowship charged with delivering continuing education.

Guiding Principles

We recognize the most important growth for called workers is growth in faith through the means of grace…

…so we seek to be a partner in growth by providing formal and informal resources to assist called workers to be renewed in the joy of salvation and restored in the privilege of service.

We recognize it is also critical for called workers to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities that enable them to put God-given ministry gifts to work to the fullest…

…so we seek to be a partner in growth by providing formal and informal courses, workshops, and other resources to assist called workers to put their gifts to work.

We recognize some of the most important spiritual and professional growth takes place as individuals, study groups, circuits, conferences, and districts study the Word and wrestle with ministry challenges…

…so we seek to be a partner in growth by providing ideas and resources that can aid such individual and group study.

We recognize providing more formal venues for growth is also important for spiritual and professional growth…

…so we seek to be a partner in growth by providing more formal courses (including quality degree programs), symposia, seminars, and workshops on-campus, on-line, and in satellite locations.

We recognize called workers cannot benefit from continuing education resources that they do not know exist…

…so we seek to be a partner in growth by utilizing communication tools to inform called workers about available resources.

We recognize called workers can more easily pursue spiritual and professional growth when the leadership of their calling body encourages and supports such growth…

…so we offer encouragement and ideas to lay leaders for how they too can be better partners in the growth of their called workers.

We recognize we have synodical partners who share the task of promoting, coordinating, and strengthening continuing education in WELS…

…so we look to coordinate and work closely with the conference of presidents (COP) the committee for the continuing education of called workers (CECW), WLS Alumni, Martin Luther College (MLC), the Congregation and Ministry Support Group (CMSG), and others.