What would theological education and ministry leadership look like if we built them from scratch today?

Leaders gather at the FLC Summit (photo from Garrett Instagram)

That compelling question, originally posed by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (GETS), brought together leaders from across the country for the Faith and Leadership Collaborative Summit (FLC) in early August. Supported by a transformative $10 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, the collaborative unites seminaries, universities, denominational bodies, and innovative ministry hubs to co-create and co-own a future-focused model for developing Christian leaders. Bri Heida, Dakotas Conference Connector for Renewal, and Rev. Kris Mutzenberger, Dakotas Conference Superintendent, represented the Dakotas-Minnesota Area at the gathering of nearly 30 attendees.

Bishop Lanette introduced this budding partnership during the 2025 Dakotas Annual Conference session, inviting Dakotas elder, Rev. Becky Eberhart, to share the seeds of this vision. Eberhart serves as Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships for GETS. The summit was a key step in making this vision a reality.

“Part of the impetus for gathering was that cross-pollination: sharing for inspiration, brainstorming what this could become, and then having practical conversations about delivery, implementation, and questions we need to think through,” explained Mutzenberger.

The FLC initiative aligns with our Wesleyan-Methodist tradition that values social holiness – connectionalism and mutual accountability – as foundational for discipleship. The FLC embodies this spirit on a broader scale, understanding the importance of tearing down traditional institutional silos so both clergy and lay leaders are equipped to share the gospel in rapidly changing communities. “In a world where all of our challenges are interconnected, we need interconnected efforts and institutions,” said Heida. “We can’t accomplish what the church and the world need without each other.”

Bri Heida and Kris Mutzenberger represented the DK-MN Area at the Summit.

Rather than operating out of scarcity or competition, the summit framed the collaborative work through the lens of regenerative farming—creating a healthy, self-sustaining ecosystem where resources, wisdom, and gifts cross-pollinate and enrich the entire soil of the Church.

“God is already at work in exciting, experimental ways within each partner organization,” shared Heida.

One of the “experiments” taking shape is emerGE – a partnership between the Garrett Collective and the Dakotas–Minnesota Episcopal Area. The mission of emerGE is to ignite a renewal of Wesleyan-inspired ministry for today by supporting the emerging needs of faith leaders and communities for ongoing theological education, spiritual formation in community, and practical activation for discipleship.

Each emerGE experience will be offered through the Collective as a kind of Methodist class meeting for 6-10 participants, with a consistent flow, spirit, and set of practices: education, formation, activation, and practical application for discipleship.

A key component of the emerGE initiative will be trained facilitators to help guide these Wesleyan-inspired learning opportunities for both clergy and laity. The facilitators will help these small groups function like a contemporary Methodist class meeting grounded in mutual support, spiritual formation, and discipleship activation. Rather than delivering content, which is provided by educators online via the Garrett Collective, facilitators hold a supportive container where participants can explore, discern, grow, and support one another in a spirit of empowering grace. If you are interested in training to become a facilitator, contact Bri Heida or Rebecca Trefz. The first training event will be held Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11:30 am – 1 p.m. Central Time, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

Dr. Alisha Vincent presents DWU's PCL program (pic: Garrett Instagram)

Because of our vast geography and unique ministry contexts across the Dakotas and Minnesota, our churches have often had to be agile early adopters. From pioneering remote technology years before it became standard practice to cultivating robust clergy well-being initiatives and practical church leadership training, the Dakotas and Minnesota Conferences have developed proven answers to pressing modern challenges. The Faith and Leadership Collaborative and emerGE continue that work.

“For me, it’s really about the brains and energy in the room,” said Mutzenberger. “The Garrett team of professors and administrators is so excited, and you can truly feel that excitement for this collaboration to succeed.”

“While the rest of the world laments the decline of our institutions, we’re busy reimagining a future that the Spirit is just beginning to reveal to us,” shared Heida. “The temptation to withdraw in fear is real; it is almost instinctual in our individualistic culture to hoard and protect what remains, lest we lose even more. But this gathering was an act of resistance against that reflex. God’s not done here.”