Speakers
Rev. Dr. Michael W. Foss
Michael W. Foss is the Senior Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, Minnesota. A congregation of over 10,000 active disciples, the average weekly attendance is over 5,500 baptized persons. In 2003 the receipts for ministry were over $3.8 million. After a successful capital stewardship campaign, Journey of Faith, generated pledges over $1 million above the stated goal, actual receipts were in excess of $1 million in 2003.
Born and raised in Richland, Washington, Reverend Foss graduated from Richland High School in 1966. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1970 with a B. A. in Religion. In 1974 he graduated with an M. Div. from Wartburg Theological Seminary. Previous to coming to Prince of Peace in 1993, Rev. Foss served four congregations: Christ Lutheran Church in the Spokane Valley, Washington State. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in downtown Spokane, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon and St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon.
In 1986, Rev. Foss received a Master’s Degree in Theology and Spirituality from Mount Angel Benedictine Seminary, Mount Angel, Oregon. In 1999 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree by Wartburg Theological Seminary.
He is the author of both Power Surge and A Servant’s Manual, published by Augsburg Fortress Press, co-author of What Really Matters, published by Group Publishing, and Real Faith for Real Life, published by Augsburg Fortress. He is a contributor to many professional publications and books.
Pastor Foss is a visionary leader who is called to identify, equip and commission effective Christian leaders for twenty first century ministry. In this capacity he regularly consults and speaks to leaders across denominational lines about effective congregational ministry, renewing judicatory vitality and the power of discipleship to energize the church for mission. His ministry at Prince of Peace has been typified by a systematic approach to ministry that empowers the laity while affirming the leadership of key staff members and the Church Board. The staff of Prince of Peace includes over 40 full time ordained and non-ordained staff as well as many part-time and contract workers. His commitment is to building a structure of empowered teams. As a result, over $600,000 was given in mission through financial and direct services by the congregation. And recently, Changing Church, an outreach ministry to congregations and ministry leaders, received a Thrivent grant of $190,000 as an initial investment for a three party leadership initiative in the ELCA.
Pastor Foss and his wife, Christine, have two daughters and two grandchildren.
Rev. David Stark
David Stark currently divides his time in three ways; as Director of Power Surge Mission and Initiatives at Prince of Peace Church in Burnsville, MN; as a business consultant and Vice President of BusinessKeys Int.; and as a trainer and co-author of LifeKeys.
He has co-authored four books, including LifeKeys and Life Directions, Growing People through Small Groups, and, most recently, Christ-Based Discipleship. He is also the principle author on a series of small group training manuals entitled: People Together: the Next Generation of Small Group Ministry.
He holds a B.A. in Biology and Chemistry from Claremont Mens College and a Masters of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.
He and his family reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
