About the Author

Rev. Dr. Rick Rouse serves on synod staff for the Grand Canyon Synod (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) as Director of the Missional Leadership Academy.  Currently he does consulting work with conregations in the areas of strategic planning, stewardship development, and leadership training.  He is the former Executive Director for Church Relations and Theological Education at Pacific Lutheran University.  An ordained pastor for over 35 years, Rouse also served congregations in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington and also as adjunct faculty at Luther Seminary working with pastors in the Doctor of Ministry program in the missional leadership track. 

Rouse is the author of Fire of Grace: The Healing Power of Forgiveness and co-author with Craig Van Gelder of the newly released A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation: Embarking on a Journey of Transformation (forward by Martin Marty).  Rouse is currently president of the North American Association for the Catechumenate (NAAC) and past President of the Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education for Ministry (SACEM).  He is a member of the Board of Directors at Wartburg Theological Seminary and serves on the Covenant Cluster Board.  He is a trained spiritual director, congregational consultant, and a popular conference speaker.  He is married to Beth Lewis, President and CEO of Augsburg Fortress.  They have three grown children.

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