Summer 2018/Fuller Online

LD515

Working

LD515: PRESBYTERIAN POLITY, HISTORY, AND LEADERSHIP (4 Units: 160 hours). Randal Working, PhD.

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to assist in preparing students for pastoral leadership within the Presbyterian Church USA context. This course will help equip students to pass the Presbyterian Polity ordination exam, educate them on Presbyterian History, and train them in pastoral leadership for Presbyterian churches.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will (1) demonstrate the ability to use the Book of Order to determine proper ways to govern the church using Presbyterian Polity; (2) will be prepared to pass the Presbyterian Polity ordination exam of the Presbyterian Church (USA); (3) shall demonstrate an understanding of the significant events in Presbyterian history; and (4) shall demonstrate an ability to reflect spiritually and theologically about pastoral leadership.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 997 pages of required reading

Bolman, L. and Deal, T., Reframing Organizations. 4th Ed. Jossey-Bass, 2008. ISBN: 978-0787987992, Pub. Price $36.00 [200 pp.]

Branson, M.L. and Martinez, J., Churches, Cultures & Leadership. IVP, 2011. ISBN: 978-0830839261, Pub. Price $27.00 [100 pp.]

Gray, Joan S., and Joyce C. Tucker. Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers. 4th ed. Geneva Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0664503154, Pub. Price $20.00 [150 pp. assigned].

Heifetz, R. and Linsky, M. Leadership on the Line. HBSP, 2002. ISBN: 978-1578514373, Pub. Price $35.00 [120pp]

Longfield, Bradley. Presbyterian and American Culture: A History. Westminster John Knox Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0664231569, Pub. Price $30.00 [100 pp. assigned].

The Book of Order, 2013-2015. The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Part II. The Office of the General Assembly. Item number: 534771, Pub. Price $10.00 [200 pp. assigned].

Selected Articles:

Argyris, C., “Teaching Smart People How to Learn” Harvard Business Review [16pp]

Cormode, S., “Multi-Layered Leadership,” Journal of Religious Leadership [35pp]

Ely, R. and Meyerson, D., “Theories of Gender in Organizations,” Working Paper #8, Center for Gender in Organizations, Simmons College (www.simmons.edu/som/docs/cgo_wp8_DNC.pdf) [46pp]

Heifetz, R., “The Work of Leadership” HBR [16pp]

Peterson, E., “Throw me into the sea!” in Under the Unpredictable Plant (Eerdmans, 1992) [4pp]

Wuthnow, R., “The Crisis in the Churches,” in Financing American Religion [10pp]

REQUIRED READING:

Working, R. From Rebellion to Redemption. NavPress, 2001. ISBN: 978-1576832851, Out of print but available used on Amazon [319 pp.]

Working, R. The Visual Theology of the Huguenots. Pickwick, 2016. ISBN: 978-1498228497, Pub. Price $26.00 [214 pp.]

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 997 pages of required reading in books and articles; 250-word weekly forum posts reflecting on Branson and Martinez’s Churches, Cultures & Leadership; and 250-word weekly forum responses (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4] [80 hours].
  2. 2 Instruction hours a week with class activities such as video lectures, PowerPoint presentations,etc. [20 hours].
  3. One team collaboration designed to apply the Constitution to congregational and relevant church settings. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1 & 3] (15%) [10 hours].
  4. Exam on Presbyterian Polity taken at the end of the first week. [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 2] (15%) [10 hours].
  5. History Paper (1,500 words) on the significant events of Presbyterian history in the 18th, 19th, or 20th century to present. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] (20%) [15 hours].
  6. Leadership Paper (1,500 words) demonstrating the ability to think reflectively on pastoral leadership. [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 4] (15%) [15 hours].
  7. Signature assignment: Final Exam: essay responding to contextualized case study (1,000 words). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] (10%) [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None. Auditors will be required to complete all assignments.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets LDR requirement for the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.

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.