Summer 2013/Fuller Online

ML536

Hankins

ML536: VALUE BASED LEADERSHIP IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Frank D. Hankins.

DESCRIPTION: While the Bible is not a leadership text, it does contain rich insights that can inform and transform our leadership practice. This course explores the New Testament as a vital resource for insights and values that shape a leader’s life, ministry, context, and practice. Students will gain skills for accessing these transformational resources of Scripture and learn to use hermeneutical tools aimed at personal replenishment, a growing ministry, and a more sustainable vocation or calling. In this course particular attention will be given to leadership development or formation, character, styles, patterns, gender issues, and dynamics embedded in Paul’s Letters. Based on exegetical work in one Pauline Letter (shorter letter or section of a longer letter), students will work to integrate discoveries into their leadership practice. Students will also do some contemplative and leadership reflective work in selected portions of the Gospel of John. The course draws from J. Robert Clinton’s insights in Bible Centered Leadership. This includes an informative paradigm with four lenses for engaging Scripture: contemplative/reflective, study of significantly value-shaping portions of Scripture, contextually-driven research, and familiarity reading across the Bible.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have: (1) recognized the importance of Scripture as a source for leadership insights, values and practice; (2) acquired several skills for getting at leadership information in the New Testament; (3) discovered some major leadership lessons, values, and insights from the New Testament for personal transformation as a leader and for the context in which they serve; (4) practiced a paradigm for engaging Scripture as a transformational resource for life, ministry, and leadership; (5) considered an ongoing plan for engaging Scripture for personal replenishment and shaping of leadership practice.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will be conducted online using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Weekly classes include group interaction (forums or threaded discussions), reflection on readings, contemplative/reflective exercises, and a exegetical-integrative study of one New Testament book for personal leadership.

REQUIRED READING:

Ashcough, Richard S. and Charles A. Cotton. Passionate Visionary: Leadership Lessons from the Apostle Paul. Hendrickson Publishers, 2005. ISBN: 978-1598560176, Pub. Price $16.95 [140 pp. assigned].

Clinton, J. Robert. Having a Ministry That Lasts: Becoming a Bible Centered Leader. Barnabas Publishers, 1998. ISBN: 978-1932814132, Pub. Price $25.00. [237 pp. assigned].

_________. The Bible and Leadership Values—A Book By Book Analysis. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers. ISBN: 9780971045453. Pub. Price: $20.00.

Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003. ISBN: 9780310246046, Pub.Price $16.99. [110 pp. assigned].

Peterson, Eugene. Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802864901, Pub Price $17.00 [175 pp. assigned].

Tidball, Derek. Ministry by the Book: New Testament Patterns for Pastoral Leadership. IVP Academic, 2009. ISBN: 978-0830838592, Pub. Price $25.00 [233 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Agosto, Efrain. Servant Leadership: Jesus & Paul. Chalice Press, 2005.ISBN: 978-0827234635, Pub. Price $29.99.

Capes, David B. et al. Rediscovering Paul: An Introduction to His World, Letters and Theology. Intervarsity Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0830839414, Pub. Price $25.00. [296 pp. assigned].

Bennett, David. Metaphors of Ministry: Biblical Images of Leaders and Followers. Wipf & Stock, 2004. ISBN: 978-1592445042, Pub. Price $23.00.

Clinton, J. Robert. Leadership Perspectives: How to Study the Bible for Leadership. Barnabas Publishers, 1993. ISBN: 978-1932814354, Pub. Price $20.00.

Doohan, Helen. Leadership in Paul. Michael Glazier, 1984. ISBN: 978-0894534355. Pub. Price $11.95. Out of print.

Fee, Gordon D. and Douglas Stuart. How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour. Zondervan, 2002. ISBN: 978-0310211181, Pub. Price $18.99.

Peace, Richard. Contemplative Bible Reading: Experiencing God through Scripture. Navpress, 1998. ISBN: 978-1576831083, Pub. Price $12.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Weekly posts in forums (250 words), reflecting on lectures and weekly responses to classmates’ posts (150-200 words) - 20% [1-1.5 online activity/week; 2 hours posting/week].

  2. Four contemplative/reflective exercises (500 words for each) in selected passages of the Gospel of John - 20% [8 hours writing].

  3. Weekly readings and responses (800-1,000 words per response) to course texts - 15% [4-5 hours reading/week; 12 hours writing].

  4. A 10-12-page (2,500-3,000 words) leadership study of a Pauline Letter or section of Pauline letter. Students will choose from one of the following: 1 Corinthians 1-4; 2 Corinthians 1-4 or 10-13; 1 Timothy 1-4; 2 Timothy; Philemon or Titus - 35% [15-20 hours preparing & writing].

  5. A 4-5-page (1,000-1,200 words) growth plan - 10% [4 hours writing].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.


NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change.