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At ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ, we believe that good theology should lead to beautiful, transformative change in both individuals and communities. But that’s so often not the case, and large gaps exist between belief and lived experience.

Listening Labs are designed to bridge that gap. These spaces invite students to slow down the automatic psychological patterns that shape everyday interactions. By doing so, students learn to listen more deeply—not only to others, but also to what’s unfolding within themselves. This intentional slowing creates sacred space for presence, discernment, and the movement of the Spirit, opening the door to connection and lasting transformation.

Meet the instructors who will guide your learning through thoughtful teaching, lived experience, and a shared commitment to formation and integration.

Lauren D. Sawyer, PhD
Affiliate Faculty, ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ & Manager of Currriculum and Instruction, Allender Center
Dr. Lauren D. Sawyer (MATC ’14) is Affiliate Faculty at ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ and Manager of Curriculum and Instruction at the Allender Center, where she helps ensure Narrative Focused Trauma Care teachings are cohesive, coherent, and accessible across learning styles. She teaches primarily in the theology program, including TCE 543: God, Gender, and Sexuality, drawing on her formation as a sexual ethicist and her interest in theological anthropology. Lauren earned her PhD in Religion and Society from Drew University in 2022, is part of the Purity Culture Research Collective, and is the author of Growing Up Pure: White Girls, Queer Teens, and the Racial Foundations of Purity Culture (NYU Press, fall 2025). She lives in North Beacon Hill with her spouse Joel and their child, and spends her free time open water swimming in Puget Sound year-round. Learn more about Lauren.

Dwight Friesen, DMin
Professor of Practical Theology
Dr. Dwight J. Friesen (he/they) is a practical and public theologian whose work explores how local communities cultivate imagination, practices, and narratives that embody God’s shalom in real places and real relationships. At ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ, Dwight draws on decades of contextual pastoral leadership, beginning classes with the resonance of a singing bowl and the light of a peace candle, and describes his vocation as training leaders for the church emerging after Western whiteness Christianity. He has served as Pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Bellevue and as community curate of an Eastside emerging simple church, and he consults with congregations and missional organizations on faithful presence, sustainable funding models, and stewardship for the common good. Dwight earned a Doctor of Ministry from George Fox University, holds a master’s degree from Trinity International University, and a BA in Biblical Studies from Ambrose University College. He co-founded the Inhabit Conference, serves as a founding board member of Parish Collective, contributes internationally through Faith for Cities and the Urban Shalom Society in partnership with UN-Habitat, and continues to teach and speak widely. He lives in Bellevue, Washington with his partner, Lynette. Learn more about Dwight.

Joel Kiekintveld, PhD
Affiliate Faculty, Listening Lab Leader, & Common Curriculum Coordinator
Joel Kiekintveld is Co-Director of the Anchorage Urban Training Collaborative, a Street Psalms Senior Fellow, pastor of Reclaim, host of The AnchorED City Podcast, and an affiliate professor at ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ. He previously served for 17 years as Executive Director and Founding Director of Parachutes Teen Club and Resource Center in Anchorage, a drop-in center for high-risk and street-involved teens, and has served in pastoral and youth ministry roles in Michigan and Alaska. Joel holds a PhD in Practical Theology (University of Pretoria), an MA in Global Urban Ministry (Bakke Graduate University), a BRE (Reformed Bible College, now Kuyper College), and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management (The Foraker Group/University of Alaska Fairbanks); he was ordained as a Commissioned Pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in 2008. He lives in Anchorage with his wife Stacey and their family and is part of an intentional community in the Dimond Estates trailer park. Read more about Joel.

Detailed course schedules & descriptions can be found here.

Certificate schedule
Our certificate programs are staggered, with one certificate offered at a time. This means you can apply for a specific certificate when that program is in cycle (typically every two years).

The next application cycle for the Certificate in Living Theology will be for the January 2028 cohort. Applications will open in the Fall of 2027.

Step 1: Complete your online application

Your certificate application requires:

• Official transcripts from a completed undergraduate degree
• Short answers (under 200 words) to five prompts
  Create your application portal to access the prompts and upload your materials.
  Application fee: $50
  

Step 2: Admissions review
Once your application is complete, it will be reviewed by the Admissions Review Committee. Candidates are selected based on readiness for rigorous academic work, vocational direction, life experience, emotional and relational intelligence, and resonance with ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ’s mission and ethos. Decisions are made in community by the committee.

This certificate is offered at a set program price, with two pricing windows. Early Bird pricing is $337 per month (or $4,050 total). After the early bird window closes, General pricing is $412 per month (or $4,950 total).

How much time do I need to dedicate to this certificate?

Participation and presence are central to the learning experience in the Certificate in Living Theology. In order to successfully complete the Certificate, students are required to attend at least 80% of each class. We recognize that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and our faculty will work with you as best as possible. However, consistent attendance is a top priority for your formation and for the learning community as a whole.

For non-credit certificate students, completing assignments outside of class is optional.

Do I have to have previous theology experience or be a pastor to take this course?

No previous theology experience is required. We have participants from all different backgrounds, but this is also a great fit for pastors who have outdated theological training that would like a deeper dive into fresh and expansive theological frameworks.

Can I receive graduate credit?

Yes – please contact admissions@theseattleschool.edu for more information

If I have taken another certificate course with the ÌìÃÀÊÓƵ, do I need to take the listening Labs again?

Yes, Listening Lab is one of the places we invite you to put into practice what you are learning in the classroom. This is a small-group experience that comes alongside your learning and gives you the opportunity to practice new skills in real time.