SA805B Community of Faith and Ministry Development Group IV: Ministry Leadership 1 hour credit Instructor: Robb Blackaby rblackaby@ptseminary.edu 423-584-3839 Course Description: This course is a weekly meeting of students with a facilitator for the purpose of continuing spiritual formation and development in ministry practice. Students will participate in a guided process of sharing testimonies and prayers, share resources with one another for ministry development, and practice mutual accountability for spiritual, moral, family, community and ministry life. This reflection seminar is designed to assist students in developing their vocation as ministry leaders in communities of faith. Learning Outcomes: As a result of participating in the Community of Faith and Ministry Development Group students should be able to: 1. Narrate a personal experience (story) of spiritual formation with respect to personal ministry life and leadership commitments. 2. Develop morally accountable relationships with ministry peers that include emotional support, prayer, and care. 3. Share resources that support the formation of ministry life and leadership practices from a Wesleyan-Pentecostal biblical and theological perspective. 4. Evaluate identified ministry life and leadership goals. 5. Engage in a continuing process of spiritual discernment, personal study, and dialogue within a local church/community of faith setting, being open and yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit, for development of appropriate leadership and ministry life practices. 6. Identify the temptations facing leaders and the biblical counters to those temptations. 7. Articulate a personal theology of Christian leadership that is grounded in Scripture and engaged with contemporary material. Course Methodology: The Community of Faith and Ministry Development Group will spend its time in guided dialogue. The primary function of the facilitator is not to offer lectures or instructions but
to guide the process and encourage student participation in the subject area of ministry life and ethics. The course is designed to engage all members in the community by providing opportunities to question (and be questioned) and challenge (as well as be challenged by) one another. Weekly time with the class will consist of sharing needs and testimonies, support and accountability group time, and a component for sharing resources. Students will discuss readings as facilitated by the group leader. Texts: Henri J.M. Nouwen. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (New York: Crossroads). Henri J.M. Nouwen. Beloved: Henri Nouwen in Conversation, with Philip Roderick (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans), 2007 Course Requirements: Participation: Student-teacher and student-student interaction are vital to success of the course; in fact, it is probably not an exaggeration to say that the quality of our interaction determines the effectiveness of the learning experience for everyone involved. This interaction is accomplished primarily through online discussion forums and Skype/chat conferences. You are expected to participate in online discussion each week, sharing personal thoughts and feelings about the week s readings, and engaging your fellow students and course instructor (me) in constructive dialog. Readings: Because of the dynamics of online learning, online courses are necessarily readingintensive. Keep in mind that I have selected the course textbooks to provide you with material that delivers needed information in such a way that generates critical reflection and thoughtful dialog between you and others involved in the course. As with studentteacher/student-student interaction, the course readings are given not only with the aim of passing on knowledge and honing your skills for theological reflection and scholarly research, but most importantly for the sake of our shared intellectual, moral, and spiritual formation. Note that in addition to the required texts (weekly reading assignments), some handouts from other source materials will be assigned for reading. Manifesto on Christian Leadership: The Manifesto on Christian Leadership should be the student s own reflection on the dynamics of being a leader within the context of ministry. This manifesto should include dialogue with the Nouwen texts and other relevant sources. The student will also be required to show how the manifesto relates to their current ministry setting, that is, where they currently attend church and their ministry involvement in that setting. The Manifesto should include at least four summation statements concerning leadership. Each statement should begin with a heading that reads: I Believe that Christian Leadership. For instance a heading may read I believe that Christian Leadership should be grounded in the Disciplines of Prayer, Confession and Forgiveness. The length of each statement should be one page, double-spaced. 2
Each student will create a presentation based on his or her manifesto during week 11. Evaluation: Attendance and Informed Participation 60% Manifesto on Christian Leadership 40% Attendance Policy: Regular attendance and participation are critical to the effectiveness of this course as a communal activity. Attendance in this class is measured by participation on the discussion threads each week. Full credit is given for a minimum of two posts per discussion: one that provides an original thought or reflection on the topic, and another that engages the reflection/s of a fellow student. Failure to post in the discussion thread three weeks will result in the student being dropped from the course or receiving a failing grade. Course Schedule: Week One Week Two Week Three Week Four Week Five Week Six Week Seven Introduction From Relevance to Prayer The Temptation: To be Relevant Solitude Silence From Relevance to Prayer The Question: Do You Love Me? Knowing Ourselves Beloved Hope From Relevance to Prayer The Discipline: Contemplative Prayer Prayer The Heart From Popularity to Ministry The Temptation: To Be Spectacular Too Little Time or Too Much From Popularity to Ministry The Task: Feed My Sheep Light in the Darkness From Popularity to Ministry The Discipline: Confession and Forgiveness Choosing Life 3
Week Eight Week Nine Week Ten Week Eleven Week Twelve From Leading to Being Led The Temptation: To Be Powerful Vocation From Leading to Being Led The Challenge: Somebody Else Will Take You Desiring God, Resisting God From Leading to Being Led The Discipline: Theological Reflection Worship Student Presentations Student Presentations 4
PTS ONLINE COURSES GUIDING PHILOSOPHY AND PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES The guiding philosophy and participation guidelines for PTS online courses are listed below. The philosophy and guidelines are general in nature and apply to all online courses taught at the Theological Seminary. Each professor is at liberty to include additional specific requirements that are consistent with PTS mission and academic standards as stated in the current Seminary Catalog. Students should acquaint themselves with these general policies as well as the specific policies of each individual course. Guiding Philosophy: 1. Online courses follow the PTS Academic calendar in the same manner as on-campus courses. 2. You must attend online courses each week according to the schedule posted by each online course Professor. You will be counted as Present or Absent in online courses based on your participation (attendance). The Seminary s absence policy applies in this regard. Students absence from weekly discussion participation that exceeds more than 2 units will be considered as the legitimate ground for the course instructor to dismiss the said student from the course. In case of unforeseen, exceptional emergencies, as soon as possible, students are responsible to notify the course instructor and make an alternate plan as needed and/or possible. 3. Online courses are not work at your own pace. You must participate each week as with any other class. Assignments, activities, etc, are required and have due dates attached. 4. Online courses are collaborative in nature. This means that every student is expected to participate and contribute to the ongoing dynamic of the course every week. Participation Guidelines: To accomplish the course goals in keeping with the Seminary s pedagogical commitments, students are expected to participate according to the following guidelines: 1. Login to each of your online courses every week to access newly posted information, assignments, etc. 2. Check the course page several times per week for announcements, updates, or new instructions from the course Professor. 3. Contribute to the online class discussion by posting a reply, according to instructions given by the course instructor. This is a requirement for all courses: the online version of class discussion. It is also the only method used to check attendance. 4. Online courses are web based and are available to you 24/7 anywhere in the world. All that is required is internet access. Since courses are always available to you (anywhere, anytime), all classes must be attended and all units completed. In this 5
sense, students are not allowed to miss class. Penalties do apply for late submission of course work(s). Depending on how late the course work(s) is/are submitted, it/they might at all be accepted. The course instructor reserves the right not to accept the late work(s). Additionally, network or ISP malfunctions are not excuses for missing assignments or course work. If local network settings (i.e., firewall or other protocols) interfere with access to the course, it is the student s responsibility to locate internet access that is compatible with the course delivery system. In case of internet technology emergencies, it is the students responsibility to notify the course instructor of the situation via email, fax, or phone. 5. Make sure that your computer hardware and software are up to date and compatible with the online course delivery system. Sufficient hardware and software is the responsibility of each student. Skills and Competencies To adequately navigate online courses basic computer skills are absolutely necessary. These basic skills must be somewhat more advanced than novice level. The following list of skills identifies those that are minimal for an effective online course experience. As one reaches for more proficiency, these basic skills must be accentuated with additional competencies. Computer Skills Minimal computer skills required are: Understand computer terminology and how the terms are applied. Effectively use a word processor, in particular Microsoft Word, and its basic operational functions. Ability to use the copy, cut and paste commands. Ability to save document files to your hard drive or other storage media. File management is essential. File sorting, creation of new files, directory trees, etc. are necessary for effective management of course and student records. Use of spreadsheets is important to effective course management. All courses may not require use of spreadsheets, but ability to navigate in this environment is certainly a plus. The skill to change basic computer settings (e.g., display settings, firewall settings). Trouble-shoot basic problems. 6
Online/Internet Skills Minimal skills required are: Access the Internet from any remote computer. Search for, find and view web sites by use of a browser. Maintain general knowledge and use of e-mail including receiving, sending, opening and viewing messages. Save, open and view e-mail attachments. Send an E-mail with an attachment. Participate in online discussion groups. Download and install programs or documents from the web. 6. Microsoft Word is required for submitting assignments. If you do not have Microsoft Word, it should be purchased if you desire to enroll in online courses (there are Word compatible freeware programs available online). 7. PLEASE NOTE that grades of I (Incomplete) and E (Extension of Time) do not apply to online courses (see the attached policy statement). Once an online course is started, the only options that are available are: Complete the course and receive a grade; Withdraw from the course before posted deadlines. PLEASE NOTE that withdrawal must be processed according to the procedures described in the current edition of the Seminary Catalog. You must process by submitting proper forms and pay any fees due. 7