DESCRIPTION:

Today's Christian leaders are increasingly called upon to understand and to negotiate with sensitivity the complexities of ministering in a diverse global context and within multicultural teams and organizations. Whether we are leaders in multi-ethnic congregations, mission organizations, NGO's, or on college campuses, our ability to successfully navigate cross-cultural partnerships in ministry has become an essential part of the job description for the well-prepared leader. This course will offer (1) a deeper understanding of how our cultural frameworks impact organizational dynamics, leadership development, decision making, and conflict management; (2) an opportunity to diagnose and explore possibilities for improving the "climate" for cultural diversity in our own organizational contexts; and (3) practical suggestions about how Christian leaders might learn to leverage diversity to achieve positive change within their ministry contexts so that the Gospel of the Kingdom can spread more effectively from all peoples to all peoples.

• Understood and articulated how complex global changes impact their own ministries and organizations.

• Recognized and analyzed how culture shapes interactions, structures, decision making and leadership processes within an organizational or church environment.

• Explored the spiritual and theological aspects of pursuing cultural diversity in church and mission leadership.

• Applied various models in diagnosing an organizational or church culture and producing a strategic plan to achieve greater effectiveness in encouraging, managing, and leveraging cultural diversity.

This course will be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week lesson program based on readings, lectures, online interactions, and assignments related to developing cross-cultural understanding for more effective global leadership--especially in the context of Christian organizations, NGO's and multi-cultural churches.

Bolman, Lee, and Terrence Deal. Reframing Organizations. 4th ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008

Cox, Taylor, Jr. Creating the Multicultural Organization. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001.

Elmer, Duane. Cross-cultural Conflict. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1995.

Lingenfelter, Sherwood. Transforming Culture: A Challenge for Christian Mission. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.

Plueddemann, James. Leading Across Cultures. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009.

Various readings as assigned in the course shell.

Anderson, Dave. Multicultural Ministry: Finding your Church's Unique Rhythm. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.

DeYmaz, Mark. Building a Healthy, Multi-ethnic Church. San Francisco: John Wiley, 2007.

Gibbons, Dave. The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third-Culture Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

Marti, Gerardo. A Mosaic of Believers: Diversity and Innovation in a Multiethnic Church. Indiana University Press, 2004.

Ortiz, Manuel. One New People: Models for Developing a Multiethnic Church. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

Rah, Soong-Chan. The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2009.

Woo, Rodney M. The Color of a Church. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2009.

Yancey, George. One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multi-racial Churches. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2003.

1. Personal Culture Study: 5- to 6-page paper using cultural-assessment frameworks provided in class (15%)

2. Weekly postings and interactions on readings and lectures about leadership in a global context (20%)

3. Case study work: practical application of theory (15%)

4. Three reading reports: on Elmer, on Bolman & Deal, and on the student's choice of a church-oriented book (15%)

5. Final Paper: Organizational or Church Diversity Assessment and Strategic Plan for Change: 10-15 pages (35%)