President Erik Ankerberg welcomes students and church ministy workers to the Parish Professionals Workshop. Annual workshop connects future church workers with experienced ministry leaders for practical wisdom, mentorship and encouragement
What does it really look like to serve in the Church? For students preparing for lives of ministry, some of the most valuable lessons come from those already doing the work.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, Concordia University Wisconsin students preparing for careers in church ministry gathered with experienced church workers for the annual Parish Professionals Workshop at the Concordia Center for Environmental Stewardship on campus.
Held each October, the workshop brings together Concordia students and called church workers, including teachers, deaconesses, directors of Church Ministries (DCMs) and directors of Christian Education (DCEs). The gathering offers an opportunity to explore the realities of ministry, ask questions and build relationships with those already serving Christ and His Church.
“The idea is that the people out there (the Parish Professionals), working in the church as our students aspire to do, will offer practical wisdom on the practice of it,” said Rev. Dr. Kurt Taylor, professor of theology and director of Church Ministries at CUW.
Learning from those who have been there
The morning began with chapel before transitioning into presentations addressing burnout, church hurt and ministering in a changing world.
Nicole Dollevoet, a 2000 CUW graduate who studied lay ministry and theology, helped organize and facilitate the event. She serves as director of Church Ministries and youth director at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., and is a member of the Parish Professionals group.
For Dollevoet, connecting experienced church workers with students is a natural partnership.
“It just makes sense. You have Parish Pros that meet monthly, and you have a university in our backyard. The idea of mentoring is a natural one!”
The workshop also featured small-group conversations in which students rotated among parish professionals to discuss practical ministry topics, including youth ministry, confirmation instruction, fundraising, congregational communication and supporting pastors.
Lucy Meyer, a CUW sophomore in the Director of Church Ministries program, appreciated the opportunity to ask questions and learn from those already serving in congregations.
“Connecting with people who are already in ministry is so special and helpful. They have so much wisdom to pass on and are so willing to help us learn and grow. They show so much humility and true care for us. It is such a blessing to be able to learn from them.”
Honest conversations about church work
CUW senior Adam Homann, a theology major with a Director of Church Ministries minor, said the workshop has been a valuable experience throughout his time at Concordia.
“I have been at every one of the Parish Pros events from the start of them my freshman year at CUW. They have been really great to connect with people and hear the ‘real life’ stories that are maybe more on the ‘ugly side’ of ministry and how to deal with them in the best way possible.”
Those honest conversations help students understand that church work brings challenges as well as opportunities to share the Gospel.
Dollevoet, who has served in ministry for 26 years, hopes students leave knowing they do not have to navigate those challenges alone.
“I think a big take away of my 26 years in ministry is, you are not in it alone! Church work is not your average 9-5 job. We work weird hours and the only people that ‘get it’ are other church workers. It is important for our students to know that wherever God calls you, (you should) find people that can support you.”
Steve Wilson, a 2003 Concordia University Ann Arbor graduate who studied psychology and religious studies, shares that perspective. Wilson serves as director of NextGen Ministry at Hales Corners Lutheran Church and is a member of the Parish Professionals group.
“Often in ministry, it can be lonely. Finding people you can connect with in ministry outside your own congregation is important. It gives you a place to share frustrations, new ideas, struggles and joys.”
From Concordia students to ministry mentors
For Savannah Henn and Grace Sugg, the workshop offered an opportunity to return to Concordia in a different role, sharing what they have learned since entering professional ministry.
Henn, a 2022 CUW graduate of the Director of Church Ministries program, now serves as director of Children and Family Ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheboygan Falls.
“It is so exciting to see so many young men and women preparing to answer God’s call to ministry. I remember being in their shoes and looking to DCMs serving in the field for guidance and encouragement. It is a blessing to now be in a different role and have the opportunity to mentor and encourage these future church workers as they prepare to serve God and His people.”
Henn credits her Concordia education with helping her develop the relationships, knowledge and practical skills she uses in her ministry. Her experiences since graduation have also reinforced the importance of building relationships throughout a congregation.
“My advice to DCM students would be to prioritize relationships,” she said. “Some of the greatest support you will find in your congregation comes from the people you serve alongside and the parishioners who surround you. Step outside your comfort zone and connect with people throughout the entire church, not just the ministry area you serve in.”
Sugg, a 2024 CUW graduate of the Director of Church Ministries program, serves as community engagement officer and administrator for A Place of Refuge Ministries in Milwaukee. Returning to campus gave her an opportunity to reflect on the mentors who helped shape her own preparation for ministry.
“While I know he would hate me saying this, one of the most influential and equipping parts of my DCM experience was having a relationship with Dr. Kurt Taylor. Not only did he teach the curriculum in class, he shared his faith, love of his family, personal experiences and testimonies, flaws, everything with us DCMs. It is through his service to the Lord and his stewardship of us students that I learned relationship building and servant leadership.”
Sugg said the lessons she learned about servant leadership continue to influence her work. She recalled Taylor emphasizing that no church leader is above even the smallest acts of service, an approach that has stayed with her throughout her ministry experiences.
Reflecting on the students she met at the workshop, Sugg encouraged them to recognize that serving Christ does not begin only after graduation.
“Notice the ways He is already working through you right now,” she said. “Being God’s hands and feet doesn’t just start when you have a DCM degree!”
Different callings, one mission
For Meyer and Homann, the workshop offered encouragement as they prepare to serve the Church in different ways.
Meyer grew up involved in congregational life and LCMS youth ministry opportunities, experiences that helped inspire her interest in professional church work. At Concordia, she has continued growing through Bible studies, campus worship, ministry activities and faculty mentorship.
“I am excited to be able to teach others about what Christ has done for them,” she said. “I look forward to making connections with people in my congregation and showing them the love and compassion of Christ. I hope that in all that I do, I am able to reflect the love of Christ.”
Homann hopes to pursue camp ministry, a calling that took shape during his first summer as a counselor at Camp CILCA. At CUW, he has developed leadership skills through his involvement with BUILD (Brothers United In Life and Devotion), a campus ministry where he has served as a coordinator.
“While my goal is to be in a camp setting, the church and camp, when they work together, can be an extremely powerful duo of ministry.”
The workshop also held personal significance for Wilson, whose son, James, is a CUW senior majoring in family life and planning to attend seminary next fall.
“We talked after the event about the importance of connecting with other workers,” Wilson said. “I will always be there to talk with him about life and ministry, but I believe it is so important to have other mentors and people that are not your family to get other perspectives. Watching him build those relationships and become his own man is a blessing to me.”
Preparing the next generation to serve
The workshop concluded with lunch, allowing students and parish professionals to continue conversations and strengthen the relationships formed throughout the morning.
For Dollevoet, the purpose of preparing future church workers ultimately comes back to the message they are called to share.
“Our message of Christ is more important now than ever,” Dollevoet said. “We have a changeless message to get out to an ever-changing world.”
Through the annual Parish Professionals Workshop, Concordia connects classroom learning with the experiences of those serving in the field, encouraging students as they prepare to share Christ’s love through their own vocations.
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.