Welcome to Leadership Academy. During this asynchronous course, you will be learning the DisciplesNEXT Framework. Within this framework, you will gain the knowledge to start new faith communities for today's pandemic-informed world. This framework differs from other programs and curriculums because we are not teaching how to plant churches. We are teaching you how to start a community movement of care and compassion that incorporates the DNA of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In Disciples polity, the CCDOC Church primarily expresses itself through congregations, but within this framework, those communities have freedom of expression.