DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this course is to teach students the calling,
roles, and responsibility of Christian leadership in any context, but
especially youth ministry. Issues discussed are the meaning of being a
Christian leader; how to develop a volunteer leadership program; how to
recruit, initiate, train, nurture, and care for volunteer leadership; the
necessity for encouraging people in their giftedness, even if that may mean
helping them to move on from youth ministry; and how to lead, equip, and best
utilize interns and paid staff.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students completing this course will have (1) assessed and
further developed their personal theology of Christian leadership; (2)
interacted with the leadership principles of diverse authors; (3) integrated
various leadership principles into the practice of youth ministry; (4)
developed a complete volunteer leadership program for a large church; (5)
considered the issues surrounding student leadership; and (6) gained an
understanding of how to structure a ministry organization.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The New Testament makes clear that leadership is the
recognition that God works through every individual as their gifts are
encouraged and exercised. Leading a ministry team, however, is not for many a
natural talent, and even the most experienced of leaders need training in
encouraging the free expression of the giftedness of others. The student will
learn how to care for people in a way that allows the Spirit to move in and
through a community of Christian men and women.
COURSE FORMAT: Lectures, class discussion, and presentations by various guest
experts will make up the class time. Each student will complete a final
project. Class will meet for a three-hour session every Monday of the quarter,
including week 11 (March 17), but not including the Martin Luther King holiday
(January 21).
REQUIRED READING: