email: david@humanagenda.com
website:http://www.humanagenda.com

David E Nelson, DMin, has been serving as Associate Minister at CRES since 1995, assisting in its educational, ceremonial, and networking services to the community.
David and his wife, Ann, and children, Lars and Lucia, came to Kansas City in 1981, and have become well-acquainted with the community in many ways, and is a key figure in interfaith work here. David's appreciation of all religious traditions is well known.
 
David served on the Kansas City Interfaith Council as its Protestant member before becoming its chair. When the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council was formed, David served for three years as the Convener.  He currently facilitates the Vital Conversations Program of the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council.  For two years he was the coordinator of the Christian Jewish Muslim Dialogue Group.  He provides spiritual direction for men of all religious and spiritual traditions in the Life Connections Program with USP Leavenworth. In addition, his distinguished work as a teacher, appreciative inquiry coach, and spiritual director bring the breadth and excellence to CRES for the benefit of the wider community.

David is a sought-after conference key-note speaker. He has been a consultant to Head Start programs in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, and regularly teaches in a national Emergency Medical Services training program as Senior Consultant with Fitch & Associates.

David received his bachelor degree in history and political science from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.  His master's degree in divinity, and his doctorate degree in ministry are both from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He has served as an adjunct faculty member of that school, conveying a Doctor of Ministry program in Kansas and Missouri. He also is a graduate of the two-year program in spiritual direction with the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Direction in Washington, DC.

David served as Senior Pastor at Saint James Lutheran Church in Kansas City for 13 years.  He also served Peace Lutheran Church in Manhattan, Kansas, and at Andover Lutheran in Windom, Kansas five years each.

David enjoys writing and telling stories which help him and others live more aware of the sacred in life.  Many people have heard David say "We live all of our lives in the presence of the sacred, but we often need to pause and remind ourselves of that reality.”

Dr. David Nelson has been leading himself and others for most of his life.  He is part of the movement for human liberation.  In his relationship with a great diversity of people he recognizes a mysterious and wonderful human connection.Through THE HUMAN AGENDA, David continues his life-long passion to live fully and invite others to live fully.  His organization provides resources and coaching for people and organizations to claim their full human potential. He is a personal coach, motivational speaker, consultant, and trainer.  His passion for people, energy for getting the task completed, and human leadership skills enable him to support you in being the wonderful human being you really are.

CRES staff members Vern, David, Ed, and Maggie on Maggie's veranda at an October staff meeting.
 

David's website:
http://www.humanagenda.com

David's email:
david@humanagenda.com

February 1
      Creator and Lover of the World and the Universe.  We pause to remind ourselves that we live all of life in your sacred presence.
      Sacred Beacon of Justice, we place ourselves as a council under your overarching model of justice for all as we proceed in our business of providing leadership for this great city.
      Sacred Mountain of Peace, we look to your presence to enable us to promote a safe place for all people.  May we lead this city in creating safety in our streets and in all our neighborhoods.
      Sacred Light House of Hospitality, we long for you to implant in our hearts and minds the ways of welcome.  Assist us to make Kansas City the most welcoming community in the world for all people.  May we set a high standard for the celebration of pluralism and find delight in the rich diversity of our neighbors.
      Fill this time with an awareness of your presence.  Amen

February 8
     O Great One Who Creates, Transforms, and Unites, The citizens of this great city recognize, name and celebrate you in many ways.
     We share, however, a sense of awe in the wonders of creation:  A brilliant sunrise, a mighty wind, a gentle rain, a soothing song of a bird, and the growing and declining of the moon.
     The citizens of this great city recognize, name and celebrate you in many ways.
     We share, however, a common desire for the healing of the human spirit: from the bonds of alcohol and drugs, from the depression of the mind, the fear from the unknown, and from the inner inklings that block our personal enlightenments.
     The citizens of this great city recognize, name and celebrate you in many ways.
     We are united, however, in a passion for justice and a stronger sense of community:  The deep felt desire to live free from crime and senseless violence; The longing for connections between people from different backgrounds, a growing appreciation of the arts and sports that give opportunities for us to party together, an excitement of a downtown that feels like our common home.
     The citizens of this great city recognize, name and celebrate you in many ways.
     We are one in our support of leaders who with integrity and courage lead us into the future, taking the best of our past and building on it, creating a vision of our future that pulls us forward.  Fill this hall with your wisdom and fill each person here with a sense of the sacred and the fully human.
     O Great One Who Creates, Transforms, and Unites; the citizens of this great city recognize, name and celebrate you in many ways.  Be with us here and now and as we scatter from this place of business to live and to learn more of your wonders.  Amen

February 15
      Between now and when you meet next week our Hindu sisters and brothers will celebrate Mahashivaratri, a festival dedicated to Shiva.  The night before the feast, Hindus recite texts, sing and tell stories in honor of this God whose dynamic cosmic dance creates, preserves, destroys, and recreates the world.  There is a wonderful statue of Shiva in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
      The 18th, next Sunday, is the first day after the new (dark) moon and is a religious and cultural festival celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans of Buddhist and other backgrounds as New Year’s Day for the year 4705, the Year of the Pig.
      Next Wednesday, February 21, is Ash Wednesday, the First Day of Lent, on the Western Christian calendar.  This begins a forty-day period (excluding Sundays) of prayer, repentance and self-denial that precedes Easter.
      We have such a wonderfully diverse city.

Let us pray – As leaders of this great city, we rejoice in the gifts of religious and cultural pluralism.  We ask that we might be open to the wisdom of all our sisters and brothers.  We pray for a growing sensitivity to the issues of the environment.  We seek to lead a city into more opportunities for personal growth and wholeness.  We ask that our leadership model the commitment for nurturing a safer, and enlightened community.  Amen
 

February 22
    Thanks on behalf of all people of faith. We have a wonderfully diverse city. That diversity of faith communities is one of the factors that make ours a great city. Your leadership is another of the factors that keep us on the right track. Let us pray:

God of worlds and planets, of peoples and creations, we pause in the business of our lives to recognize and reflect upon the power you have entrusted to us. May we have the wisdom to use that power and our influence to build up the whole human family and especially the citizens and guests of this great city. May Kansas City be recognized by those within and without as a city that:
* Values neighborhoods and neighborly people
* Cherishes education and wisdom
* Promotes justice and compassion
* Encourages business and rewards hard work
* Supports the arts and rewards our artists
* Celebrates together as a wonderfully diverse family
* Models politics that add value to the lives of all.
     Bless us during this time together and keep us on track to live the lives that are worthy of the sacred trust we have been given. Amen.