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 include 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.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.

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.

COURSE FORMAT: Lectures, class discussion, and presentations by various guest experts will make up the class time. Class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions.

REQUIRED READING:

Banks, Robert & Bernice M. Ledbetter. Reviewing Leadership: A Christian Evaluation of Current Approaches. Baker Academic, 2004.

DePree, Max. Leadership is an Art. Dell Books, 1989.

Nouwen, H. J. M. In the Name of Jesus. Crossroads, 1990.

Reed, Bobbie, John F. Westfall & John Maxwell. Building Strong People: How to Lead Effectively. Baker Book House, 1997.

Sample, Steven. The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership. Jossey-Bass, 2002.

Hersey, Paul. The Situational Leader. Warner Books, 1984.

June, Lee N. Evangelism and Discipleship in African-American Churches. Zondervan, 1999.

McLuen, & . Student Leadership Training Manual for Youth Workers. Youth Specialties/Zondervan, 2000.

Olson, G., D. Elliot & M. Work. Youth Ministry Management Tools. Youth Specialties/Zondervan, 2001.

Powell, Kara, Heather Flies & . Help! I'm a Woman in Youth Ministry. Youth Specialties/Zondervan, 2004.