Wisdom for a Change
- CONFLICT CONSULTATION: consultations with mainline congregations and governing bodies, 75% rate of progress, In each one, I do not only deep listening and systemic assessment, but also work through recommendations to their conclusions. I also offer training for conflict utilization teams in judicatories
- Indian Nations Presbytery, Abingdon Presbytery, Chicago Presbytery, Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery, Savanna Presbytery, Scioto Valley Presbytery
- CHURCH FUTURING CONSULTATIONS: leading congregations and church organizations through a process of identifying their deep identity in order to discern the future God desires for them, using Appreciative Inquiry and Theory U as models of story gathering and discernment
- Presbytery of the James
- Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, Louisville, Kentucky
- Christ United Church, Berea, Ohio
- Covenant Community Church of Louisville, Kentucky
- St. Matthews United Methodist Church, Louisville, Kentucky
- Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky
- Presbytery of New Covenant
- The Mattingly Center, Louisville, Kentucky
- MEETING KEYNOTING AND FACILITATION for large and small groups
- National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors, June 2016
- PC(USA) Association of Stated Clerks, October 2015
- Diocese of Lexington, 2013-2016
- Georgia Cluster of Presbyteries, April 2013
- Synod of the Sun (PCUSA), August 2013
- Presbytery of Scioto Valley (Ohio) September 2011, January 2014, January 2015
- Presbytery of Cincinnati, October 2010
- Presbytery of Whitewater Valley (Indiana), September 2009
- LIFELONG LEARNING THROUGH PEER LEARNING
- Facilitating a Peer Learning Group for ministry innovators in Mid-Kentucky Presbytery
- Providing peer-learning groups for recent seminary graduates in their first church assignments and for church innovators starting alternative faith communities
- TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR BOARDS, COMMITTEES, STAFF
- Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, Scioto Valley Presbytery, Whitewater Valley Presbytery
EXPERIENCE
- Consultant/Writer, Flourishing Church Consulting and Coaching, 2012-Present
- Professor of Leadership and Administration and Director of Lifelong Learning and Advanced Degrees, Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, 2002-2012
- Taught in the M. Div. and D. Min. programs; developed a cutting edge Doctor of Ministry program with full classes every year; promoted qualitative (narrative) research for new insights in church leadership; designed lifelong learning programs for church leaders; introduced emotional intelligence and group process skills for M. Div. and D. Min. students. Retired in 2012.
- PASTOR, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.) 1966-2002
- Served churches in Illinois, Ohio and Minnesota as pastor, associate pastor and interim pastor
- Presbytery Staff for ministry and church development, Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy, St. Louis and Southeast Missouri
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., Organizational Communication and Managerial Behavior, Ohio University, 1979
- M.Div., Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 1969
- M.A., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1966
Email or call for information on how Dr. Sawyer can work with you or your organization and his fees and availability.