Courses

Instructor: Mark Paustian

Description:
This course will lay a theoretical and practical foundation in the thorny matter of interpersonal conflict. On the basis of the best of both secular and Christian scholarship, this will be a highly interactive experience featuring case studies and role plays that involve the most difficult conversations participants have had to navigate in their professional and personal lives. This study will be grounded in the deep Christian optimism that we find in the words of Jesus: "Where two or three come together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

During Winterim 2026, this course runs from 1:30–4:10pm, January 5–9, 2026.

Please note: In 2026, most STM classes are offered only one week and will be separate from the MDiv students' Winterim courses (see schedule for details). Also offered again for 2026, pastors have the option to audit a course instead of taking a course for credit. Check out the Winterim schedule! Room and board will be available for $250 (dorm room plus 14 meals in the cafeteria).

Registration will be available in the Student Information System (SIS) beginning September 8, 2026 and closes December 8, 2025. Use the "Login with Office 365 button" once you've received a student account and are logged in to Microsoft 365 with that student account. Need an account? Request one here.

When you've reached the "cart" during registration, there you will have the option to add the tuition fee to take the course for credit (the default registration is an audit).

WLS has been granted accreditation with ATS; therefore, the email domain has been changed from firstname.lastname@wisluthsem.org to firstname.lastname@wls.edu. Please use the new email domain to log in to Microsoft 365 and access WLS-related websites (e.g., Library Resources, SIS, SemNet).

Step-by-step instructions are provided here for all parts of the account setup and registration process.

Financial assistance is also available for those taking courses for credit. If your congregation is paying for your tuition, please submit a financial aid request form with that information so you may receive the tuition discount.

Area of Study: Pastoral Leadership
Tuition: $400
Course Number: PL5077
Course Credits 1.0