Winter 2010

FTX

PM514

Singleton

PM514 MISSIONAL CHURCHES AND LEADERSHIP Jim Singleton

DESCRIPTION: Christendom is over – but somehow your congregation has not gotten the news. When one looks at the demographic trends of mainline denominations, the bad news is clear. Further, looking at the stories of individual congregations, like Old First Church, confirms the dilemma. Yet the new church down the street is thriving and growing. How do you accurately paint the problem of the typical mainline congregation – and at the same time give a vision of hope for a different tomorrow for the congregation? The development of the “missional church” is challenging the prevailing understanding of what a local congregation is all about. Some would say that the change is profound enough to be like a new Reformation. Major attention in this course will be to understand the mission and assumptions of the current typical mainline congregation. This course explores the distinguishing contours of the missional church change, as well as the leadership required by it. Major course attention will center on three primary shifts underway: the shift from an internal to an external focus, the shift from program-driven to spiritual development as the core activity of the missional community, and the shift in how leadership is empowered and guided.

RELEVANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The agenda for leaders in a missional era is fundamentally different than leadership in the Christendom era. This course explores these differences and helps leaders construct a way forward.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students successfully completing this course will have demonstrated:

· Understanding of the culture of the congregation and ability to analyze the DNA of a local church.

· Ability to chart the cultural trends and their implications for leadership in a congregation.

· Knowledge of the major biblical and theological issues that impact a missional ecclesiology.

· Recognition of cultural and historical trends that have led churches to embrace or miss their missional calling.

· Understanding of the requirements for leadership in the face of congregational change into a missional church.

· Plans to develop avenues of influence upon peers in leadership in congregational change.

COURSE FORMAT: This course is a one-week intensive that will meet daily, Monday – Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.; and Friday 8:00 a.m. – Noon.

REQUIRED READING: The four required volumes approximate 1200 pages of pre-course reading. If you have read any of the required books for another course, please select an alternative text from the recommended list.

1. Gibbs, Eddie. Leadership Next. Intervarsity Press, 2005.

2. Guder, Darrell ed. The Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998.

3. Roxburgh, Alan J. and Fred Romanuk, The Missional Leader: Equipping your Church to Reach a Changing World. Jossey-Bass, 2006.

4. Van Gelder, Craig. The Ministry of the Missional Church. Baker, 2007.

RECOMMENDED READING: (see syllabus for additional recommendations):

Ford, Kevin G. Transforming Church. Tyndale, 2007.

Frost, Michael and Alan Hirsch. The Shaping of Things to Come. Hendrikson, 2003.

MacDonald, Gordon. Who Stole My Church? Thomas Nelson, 2007.

McNeal, Reggie. Missional Renaissance. Jossey Bass, 2009.

Rouse, Rick and Craig Van Gelder. A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation. Augsburg/Fortress, 2008.

Van Gelder, Craig, ed. The Missional Church in Context. Eerdmans, 2007.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Complete a one page reading report for each book you’ve selected to meet the 1200 page requirement. Reports are due on the first day of the course. Book reports should provide the title of the text, and the number of pages read. Identify the three best, most challenging, or most insightful ideas in the book and why: What will be different because these ideas have come to you? What actions will you take? What attitudes will you change? How will your ministry be different?

2. Leadership Challenge: Prepare a “Leadership Challenge” for use during the seminar. A “Leadership Challenge” includes the following components: a)Describe your challenge. What situation/opportunity/problem faces you that you need to address? Why is this important? What do you intend to accomplish? What difference will it make? b)Describe the results you seek. What do you want to see happen? How will you measure your success? What benchmarks will signal your progress? c)Identify your critical questions. What are the issues you are struggling with? Where do you need advice?

3. A 20-30 page theological reflection paper that: a)Summarizes key insights of the course material; b)Presents a theological foundation for missional leadership; c)Synthesizes the learners’ response to the leadership challenges of the missional church; and d)Projects a 12-month personal and ministry development path to move more missional in leadership.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv: MIN6; MAT/BS/PM: MINF; MACL: Leadership

FINAL EXAM: No.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design, but is subject to modification. (10/09)