LEAD - Leadership

This course prepares students to articulate a personal, faithful philosophy of Christian leader. Students will evaluate leadership theories for Christian application in order to embody Christlike presence for greater influence in various 21st century contexts.

This course studies the human person from a theological perspective. Emphasis is placed on the practical implications that a Christian conception of personhood has on leadership and followership. The course examines several topics related to personhood from a Christian perspective, including the image of God, bodies, and relationships. It also explores leadership practices that affirm human dignity and shape Christian character.

This course will examine the communication skills needed for leaders in Christian non-profit and/or local church contexts. Students will explore multiple communication modalities, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of several forms of communication, and formulate a personal plan for effective leadership communication.

This course explores the sociological, anthropological, and historical models of culture change. It also addresses the role and responsibility of the student as a change agent in his/her ministry context.

This course explores key non-profit management principles and skills, particularly those that are unique to churches and faith-based organizations. It will deal with the planning missteps that bring growing non-profit organizations, including churches, to a halt. It will also address strategic issues such as: when and how to introduce new ideas, meeting organizational needs without stifling spiritual needs, how and when to add multiple celebration experiences, prayer strategies to maintain focus, why building too soon or too big will stunt organizational growth, planning realistic budgets for growth without overestimating potential, and how to "cell" a growing organization. (Practical)

During this course students will develop a biblical perspective on financial stewardship and decision making for application in their personal lives and for teaching in their ministry contexts. Students will explore biblical teachings related to stewardship, giving, saving, debt, and spending. Students will assess their existing financial status, learn a process for making decisions, and develop a personal financial plan for spending, giving, and saving.

This course is a strengths-based approach to strategic leadership and management, with parallel assignments for both para-church and church leaders. Students will identify their own leadership strengths, learn how to develop leadership strengths in others, and learn how to meet the needs of followers. The course also develops strategic management expertise through meeting needs, diversifying and uniting, as well as innovating and adapting.

This course addresses effective ministry to all generations present or potentially present in a ministry context. The course employs an intergenerational leadership framework to examine generational needs, values, influencers, strengths, challenges, and expectations within various ministry settings. It explores various approaches to intergenerational ministry that results in transformation across generations and cultures.

This course is a comprehensive and integrative approach to organizational growth and diversification that participates in the missio Dei. Students will research, compare, and synthesize a strategic plan for expansion and diversification of their organization from varying multiplication models including (but not limited to): birthing a new organization (e.g. new church plants, non-profit start-ups), ministering to new or emerging cultures (e.g. multi-ethnic or multi-site approaches), and/or relocation to new geographies (e.g. satellite campuses or partnerships). The course includes biblical and theological foundation/boundaries for multiplication as well the tools required to grow and diversify an organization's missional impact. This course also allows the student to further customize their learning experience by choosing from three different tracks (Non-profit Leadership, Church Leadership, and Church Planting), which allows crosspollination of ideas and strategies from three closely related fields.

This course examines several theories of the nature of change and change management as they interface with church management and administration. The course particularly examines the nature of power structures within the congregation and how to facilitate constructive change while maintaining fidelity to the mission of the group. (Practical)

This course will help the student explore various options in church multiplication including, but not limited to, church planting, adding worship services, developing campuses, creating multi-ethnic churches, and adding venues. This course will assist the student in analyzing his or her particular ministry context and developing a multiplication plan that is tailored to his or her unique ministry. The outcomes will include a plan for ministry multiplication for a specific ministry. Conference costs are additional.

This course analyzes C.S. Lewis' philosophy of leadership from selected Lewis writings, especially his fiction. In accordance with leadership development research, students will develop their own philosophy of leadership, including naming values, identifying personal traits, and reflecting on personal experiences as facilitated by reading, lecture, class discussion, and personal writing.

This course will examine the communication skills needed for leaders in Christian non-profit and/or local church contexts. Students will explore multiple communication modalities, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of several forms of communication, and formulate a personal plan for effective leadership communication.

This course is a strengths-based approach to strategic leadership and management, with parallel assignments for both para-church and church leaders. Students will identify their own leadership strengths, learn how to develop leadership strengths in others, and learn how to meet the needs of followers. The course also develops strategic management expertise through meeting needs, diversifying and uniting, as well as innovating and adapting.

This course will help the student explore various options in church multiplication including, but not limited to, church planting, adding worship services, developing campuses, creating multi-ethnic churches, and adding venues. This course will assist the student in analyzing his or her particular ministry context and developing a multiplication plan that is tailored to his or her unique ministry. The outcomes will include a plan for ministry multiplication for a specific ministry. Conference costs are additional.

This course is a comprehensive, integrative approach to the leadership and management of a congregation, beginning with biblical foundations and ending with the tools needed to lead in the church today. Topics range from the recruitment of staff and volunteers to managing conflict. The course involves problem based case studies from the student's context and so requires that the student currently be in an approved ministry setting. Prerequisite: MDIV-500

This course analyzes culture using an interdisciplinary approach that focuses on sociological and theological perspectives. It examines and contrasts the different cultural dimensions that distinguish societies and social groups from one another, to assess the way in which the "Kingdom of God" relates to culture. The course interprets the concept of 'Shalom' from the biblical and theological perspectives to devise a framework that addresses cultural tensions and dissensions in light of the redemptive purposes of God's kingdom.

This course introduces students to the leadership and biblical justice philosophies of Drs. John and Vera Mae Perkins. In partnership with the Perkins Foundation, students will engage in historical analysis of significant Civil Rights locations. Students will create a biblical justice framework, develop related leadership strategies, and synthesize their leadership philosophy drawing upon the three R's (reconciliation, relocation and redistribution) of Christian Community Development.

This course explores the appropriate content, frameworks, and skills to equip persons for Christian leadership. Students will examine and deploy leadership concepts for the purpose of growing as a leader personally, relationally, and organizationally. Prerequisite: CHST-641

This course is a comprehensive, integrative approach to the leadership and management of a congregation, beginning with biblical foundations and ending with the tools needed to lead in the church today. Topics range from the recruitment of staff and volunteers to managing conflict. The course involves problem based case studies from the student's context and so requires that the student currently be in an approved ministry setting. Prerequisite: MDIV-500

This course analyzes culture using an interdisciplinary approach that focuses on sociological and theological perspectives. It examines and contrasts the different cultural dimensions that distinguish societies and social groups from one another, to assess the way in which the "Kingdom of God" relates to culture. The course interprets the concept of 'Shalom' from the biblical and theological perspectives to devise a framework that addresses cultural tensions and dissensions in light of the redemptive purposes of God's kingdom.

This course explores the appropriate content, frameworks, and skills to equip persons for Christian leadership. Students will examine and deploy leadership concepts for the purpose of growing as a leader personally, relationally, and organizationally. Prerequisite: CHST-641

This course is the first in the Doctor of Ministry degree sequence in Leadership. Its purpose is to launch the student into the specific topic of the DMin sequence. Ministry seminars typically include both spiritually formative and integrative elements (Bible, theology, church history, praxis theory). It is usually offered as a one week intensive at a site appropriate to the specialized topic.

This course is the second in the Doctor of Ministry degree sequence in Leadership in the first year of the program. It extends exposure to the specific focus of the DMin sequence with a special view to identifying a focus topic. Ministry seminars typically include both spiritually formative and integrative elements (Bible, theology, church history, praxis theory). It is usually offered as a one week intensive at a site appropriate to the specialized topic.

This course is the third in the Doctor of Ministry degree sequence in Leadership, taken in the second year of the program. It continues the specific focus of the DMin sequence. Ministry seminars typically include both spiritually formative and integrative elements (Bible, theology, church history, praxis theory). It is usually offered as a one week intensive at a site appropriate to the specialized topic.

This course is the fourth in the Doctor of Ministry degree sequence in Leadership, taken in the second year of the program. It continues the specific focus of the DMin sequence with a special view to identifying literature appropriate to the student's focus topic. Ministry seminars typically include both spiritually formative and integrative elements (Bible, theology, church history, praxis theory). It is usually offered as a one week intensive at a site appropriate to the specialized topic.

This course is the fifth in the Doctor of Ministry degree sequence in Leadership, taken in the third year of the program. It continues the specific focus of the DMin sequence. Ministry seminars typically include both spiritually formative and integrative elements (Bible, theology, church history, praxis theory). It is usually offered as a one week intensive at a site appropriate to the specialized topic.

This course is the sixth and final content course in the Doctor of Ministry degree sequence in Leadership, taken in the third year of the program. It brings the specific focus of the DMin sequence to completion with a special view to future research on the topic. Ministry seminars typically include both spiritually formative and integrative elements (Bible, theology, church history, praxis theory). It is usually offered as a one week intensive at a site appropriate to the specialized topic.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of personhood, including the self, from the perspective of leadership. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to personhood, with special reference to the field of theology. Students will engage various biblical texts, philosophical works, and contemporary leadership voices to develop diverse views of leadership of persons.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the practices of personal leadership. Students will examine and deploy practices related to self- and dyadic-leadership. In addition to engaging various biblical texts, philosophical works, and contemporary leadership voices, students will also perform site visits and conduct case studies for the sake of diversity in practices to be relevant across contexts.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of communities from a leadership perspective. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to community, with special reference to the field of theology. Students will engage various biblical texts, philosophical works, and contemporary leadership voices to develop diverse views of leadership of communities.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the practices of community leadership. Students will examine and deploy practices related to community leadership. In addition to engaging various biblical texts, philosophical works, and contemporary leadership voices, students will also perform site visits and conduct case studies for the sake of diversity in practices to be relevant across contexts.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of societies from a leadership perspective. Students will examine and deploy concepts related to societies, with special reference to the field of theology. Students will engage various biblical texts, philosophical works, and contemporary leadership voices to develop diverse views of leadership of societies.

This seminar is a doctoral-level exploration of the practices of societal leadership. Students will examine and deploy practices related to societal leadership. In addition to engaging various biblical texts, philosophical works, and contemporary leadership voices, students will also perform site visits and conduct case studies for the sake of diversity in practices to be relevant across contexts.