LECNA Fellows

Equipping the Next Generation

The LECNA Fellows Program is a year-long leadership development experience organized around vocation and calling, sustainable leader development, and visionary organizational leadership designed to equip the next generation of leaders for Lutheran higher education, congregations, and church agencies. The program includes three intensive retreats that are the foundation for a webinar series and eight hours of individual executive coaching. Fellows put what they learn into practice by developing a personal integrated leader model and completing a visionary leadership project within their current organization, role, and context.

Who We Are

The Lutheran Education Conference in North America, a pan-Lutheran organization comprising the colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, is able to offer this service to the church through the generous support of the ELCA, the LCMS, and the Kern Family Foundation.

Higher Education

Since 2001, the LECNA Fellows (formerly Thrivent Fellows) Program for Higher Education has served over 200 emerging and accomplished leaders; 18 are currently serving (or have served) as presidents and CEOs, 27 as vice presidents, and 28 as deans or directors. Two former Fellows are currently ELCA synodical bishops.

Church Leadership

Building on the success of the higher education program, LECNA launched a new program in 2018 customized for pastors and leaders of church agencies.

Learn More