LM 560 – Resources for Mission: Stewardship as Vision and Practice
This course will provide a basic Biblical, theological, and practical introduction into the spiritual discipline of stewardship and provide best practice principles for guiding the financial and fiduciary responsibilities of the pastor as church leader.
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1.0
Instructor: Prof. Bruce BarkhauerLM 561 – Governance & Management Governance and Management (LM 561), along with Stewardship (LM 560) and Conflict (LM 562), forms the trio of required courses for the Leading the Church into Mission curriculum. Taken together, these courses help prepare you to provide management and leadership for congregations, especially congregations confronting change. Most U.S. congregations today are going through some kind of significant change. These courses build upon Pastoral Leadership Concepts (LM 520) which introduced basic concepts of leading a congregation through adaptive change. In LM 561, we begin by reviewing the differences between technical and adaptive change and the differences between management and leadership. Then we study some of the most effective ways that clergy and lay leaders can organize themselves to move the mission and life of their congregation into the future. In particular, we study congregational governance structure. We assess our own congregational maps in order to learn the best way to equip a congregation for a future wherein most members are engaged in doing ministry (direct hands-on work) and a smaller set are engaged in governance (the policy work of committees and boards). We study the role of boards and what makes for good governance and good board members. Then we turn our attention to the role of volunteer teams and study the best ways to recruit, manage, and equip those who carry out the ministries of congregations. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 (Offered during On-Campus Intensives) Instructor: Faculty
LM 562 – Managing Congregational Conflict Conflict (LM 562), along with Administration and Property (LM 561) and Stewardship (LM 560), forms the trio of required courses for the Leading the Church into Mission curriculum. Taken together, these courses help prepare you to provide management and leadership for congregations, especially congregations confronting change. Most U.S. congregations today are going through some kind of significant change. These courses build upon Pastoral Leadership Concepts (LM 520) which introduced basic concepts of leading a congregation through cultural change. In LM 562, we learn how to lead a congregation through the conflicts that are generated when congregations confront change. By studying the relationships among conflict, loss, and grief, we learn how leaders can identify the sources of tension, develop habits and strategies for working with people caught in conflict, and use the past to shape and reshape the congregation’s future. We learn that conflicts are not all the same, and that there are different styles for managing different conflicts. Finally, we reflect on conflict theologically and liturgically. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 (Offered during On-Campus Intensives) Instructor: Faculty
LM 563- Evangelism and Outreach
This course begins with a bias, openly disclosed by the professor. Two areas where the Mainline church is struggling are Stewardship and Evangelism. I believe they are related and they have a common thread which is “tied” to our lack of commitment to teaching discipleship within our various Traditions. More often than not we have wanted a “programmatic solution” – the idea that we can open a box and in six to eight weeks make it all better. Give us the right tools and we can grow the church or grow the budget! The reality is that stewardship and evangelism are outcomes from a spiritual condition and therefore are not subject to a solely technical fix. They must be engaged with critical theological reflection, not simply “how to get more members in thirty days or less.”
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 1.0
Instructor: Prof. Bruce BarkhauerLM 564 – Developing a Mission-Focused Congregation This course examines the place of mission as an expression of congregational purpose. Processes for preparing for, engaging in and following up on particular expressions of mission, including the short-term mission trip, ecumenical and interfaith partnerships and congregation-based community organizing will be explored. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 565 – Transformational Leadership This course will explore the dynamics of transformational leadership and their application in congregations. Using historical, theological, biblical and social scientific resources, students will learn the responsibilities, potential and cautions of this form of leadership that offers resources for replenishing congregational culture and life. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 566 – Pastor as Administrator/Chief Operating Officer While one often thinks of pastors as “spiritual leaders,” this course aims to provide congregational and theological perspectives on the role of the pastor as administrator and chief operating officer of the corporation, and its implications. Prerequisite: None Credit: 0.5 Instructor: Dr. Donald Gillett
LM 567 – Themes in Global Mission Despite our rapidly changing context, both locally and globally, many Christians continue to use inherited and antiquated understandings and practices when engaging in cross-cultural mission. This course explores important themes regarding the perceptions, nature and practice of the church’s mission. Through exposure to a variety of voices and perspectives, including those from the Global South, students will better understand their own theological/ethical presuppositions around mission as well as gain knowledge and skills to assist local churches in approaching both domestic and international mission through a lens of partnership, mutuality and justice centered relationships. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Barnes
LM 568 – Mission and Migration in an Uneven World Due to the myriad effects of globalization, students engage in mission and ministry in an uneven and fragmented world. Furthermore, many local churches where students currently (or will) serve view mission in this uneven world, whether local or global, in terms of what the North American church does “to” or “for” others. This course will assist in unmasking our own ethical/theological presuppositions concerning globalization and migration, as well as giving students basic analytic and interpretive skills in assisting local churches to move from a charity model of mission to one centered on solidarity and mutuality; a model of ministry “with” others. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Dr. Jonathan Barnes
LM 569 – Toxic Masculinity in the Church Is all masculinity toxic? Of course not. However, toxic masculinity is on the rise in the United States and has been a disruptive, damaging, and abusive factor in congregational leadership and life for centuries. This class will first define modern toxic masculinity, especially white toxic masculinity, as it appears in current national, congregational, and interpersonal contexts and will then offer resources and alternatives in helping congregational leaders deal with issues of toxicity both in their congregations and in their own personal lives. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Dr. Richard Coble
LM 570 – Sustaining the Call of Ecclesia: Administration in Times of Crisis What is the difference between sustaining a church and sustaining the call to BE church? Alongside strategic planning around finances, administration and mission, in this course students will learn the basics around church models to help discern what kind of church their congregation is called to be. Prosperity ideations of progress and capitalism distort our priorities around money, resources and administration. In this course students will learn to discern the reprioritization of resources in times of social, spiritual and fiscal crises as the call to justice and equity becomes prevalent in the replication of God’s kin-dom on Earth. Students will be challenged to understand what is going on in their contexts using interpretive frameworks introduced in this course, to develop specific practical skills and bases of introductory-level knowledge. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Dr. Yara Gonzalez
LM 571 – Beyond Activism: Becoming a Leader in Public Ministry This is a course about how ministers along with their congregations can become involved in public ministry. In general, “public ministry” refers to any ministry where clergy and laity become engaged in social issues and problems that are larger than their own community of faith, engagement that all but the most isolationist leaders recognize as a need and a calling. In this course, public ministry refers to working for social justice through political activity in the public square. Some ministers do justice work by becoming activists. This course invites students to think beyond that model toward another one, that of congregation-based community organizing. While organizing is the model highlighted in this course, it will be used as a lens through which to study questions that ministers and congregations face whenever they pursue justice. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 573 – Funding Special Ministries This course aims to provide practical resources for clergy in securing external grant funds to support their ministries. Prerequisite: None Credit: 0.5 Instructor: Dr. Donald Gillett
LM 575 – Discerning Gifts for the Church and the World This course is designed to offer students multiple resources and strategies for developing a gifts-based ministry in a congregation or other ministry context. Students will learn how to employ such resources and strategies to help members understand themselves as gifted by God for service in their families, the congregation, the larger community, and, indeed, in each arena of their lives. Various learning styles and other differences among people will be taken into account as students experience these resources and develop a two-year plan for a specific ministry context. Illustrations from congregations who have emphasized gifts-based ministry will be shared. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 579 – Women in Ministry This course will offer students resources for understanding the congregational leadership of women in ministry. Students will learn the distinctive history of and challenges to women in ministry as well as exemplary processes for women in congregational ministry. Prerequisite: None Credit: 0.5 Instructor: Faculty
LM 580 – Leadership in the Black Church Tradition This course will offer students resources for understanding leadership in Black churches. Students will learn the distinctive role and authority of clergy, the added vision required of clergy and exemplary processes of empowerment of members. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Dr. Donald Gillett
LM 582 – Leadership in Small Churches This course is designed to offer students resources for understanding leadership in small and rural churches. Students will learn the distinctive features of small/rural churches, the importance of relationally, and possibilities for leading such churches into the future. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 583 – The Church’s Challenge to Become Anti-Racist: From Theory to Action In 1999, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) articulated four inter-connected mission imperatives including the call for it to become an anti-racist and pro-reconciling church. This challenge, made over two decades ago, continues, as the commitment to embody an anti-racist identity continues to evolve. Currently, our faith communities and congregations find themselves ministering in the midst of multiple crises – social, economic, and religious as the USA faces a medical emergency and increasing demand for racial justice. These multiplicative crises are impacting non-white communities with disproportionate devastation. The pressing question for faith leaders is how to be equipped and prepared to respond in collaboration with their communities, so that together they can effect structural and systemic change that promotes healing and anti-racist values? This course will invite students to engage in the critical thinking process about the nature of ecclesia and faith, the spiritual roots of anti-racism, the church’s call for prophetic embodiment, and practical approaches to implement transformation and reconciliation. Through readings, discussion, and online presentations from the instructor, students will be invited to develop an action plan to advance the ministry of anti-racism and inclusion in their congregations and faith bodies. Prerequisite: IB 582 or permission from the instructor Credit: 0.5 Instructor: Rev. April Johnson
LM 585 – Hosting a New Kind of Conversation This course teaches you how to do strategic planning in your congregation, with the following emphases:
- recovering the stories of your congregation and interpreting them for the future;
- convening the right kinds of conversations for discernment and planning;
- drawing upon the positive to create what is new rather than fix what is old;
- identifying already existing assets for planning purposes
LM 586 – Mission as Dialogue: Faith in a Pluralistic World While mission is intrinsic to the Christian faith, mission engagement must be practiced in contextually relevant ways. A key aspect of the current global context is one of pluralism, requiring people to relate to one another across lines of religious difference. While pluralism itself is not a new phenomenon, the issues of migration and the growth of Christianity in the global South have qualitatively changed how it is experienced by many, especially in Christian majority communities. This course will explore the nature and scope of mission in a pluralistic world, including theologies of pluralism and practices related to mission as dialogue. Through exposure to theologians and mission practitioners with experience in multi-faith relationships, students will gain knowledge and skills to assist local churches to engage in mission in ways that center on dialogue, focusing on deep listening, learning and transformation by all involved. Prerequisite: None Credit: 1.0 Instructor: Dr. Jon Barnes
LM 590 – LM Competency Exercise *Please refer to section 7.1.6-7.1.8 of the Student Handbook* Prerequisite: Completion of all other LM 500 level work Credit: 0.5 Instructor: Faculty
LM 628 – Issues in Church Administration This course aims to encourage and enable students in their continuing cultivation of wisdom and agility in the provision of ministerial leadership for congregations through increased proficiency in the practices of church administration. While all congregations are administered there is considerable variance in the approach. Through the readings, peer conversations and projects, students will learn how to better identify and address issues in church administration through improved governance and enhanced conflict management skills. Students will learn to assess their current and alternative patterns of administration, through the use of the congregational mapping in order to learn how power currently flows in their congregations to effectively restructure governance and administrative processes. There are countless issues that may emerge in your ministry. Prerequisite: None Credit: 0.5 Instructor: Dr. Donald K. Gillett
LM 670 – The Ethics of Pastoral Leadership This is a course in the ethics of pastoral leadership. Effective leadership and management of a congregation require many skills, including strategic planning, discernment, persuasion, conflict resolution, and so on, but they also require a well-developed moral sensibility. Often the problems that plague congregations and their leaders, and undermine their mission, can be traced to poorly made choices with respect to balancing virtues like honesty, justice, fidelity, and solidarity against sincere attempts to do good. Moreover, sometimes pastoral leadership presents difficult problems where choices must be made. We will study the ethics of governance, stewardship, fund raising, management and oversight of personnel, team leadership, evangelism, and ministry in the public square. This course looks not only at the actions pastoral leaders choose but also at the policies and practices that congregations develop. It uses case studies in ministry ethics to generate discussion. Prerequisite: Successfully completed one competency exercise and a minimum of 60% of LM 500 level work Credit: 2.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 671 – Character and Leadership Many courses in pastoral leadership are about the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of leadership. This one is about the ‘who’ of leadership. Who is a leader? What shapes their character and style as leaders? Factors include class, gender, race and ethnicity, personality type, emotional intelligence, and spiritual type. What kind of leader are you becoming? In this course you will be invited to be self-reflective about how the above-named factors shape your own leadership style. You will also practice the skill of conducting relational meetings with other potential leaders, in order to identify and cultivate their leadership. Finally, you will receive feedback on your leadership style from members of your congregation. Prerequisite: Successfully completed one competency exercise and a minimum of 60% of LM 500 level work Credit: 2.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 672 – Church Administration & Property Many pastors say that they weren’t called into ministry in order to read balance sheets, run meetings, and conduct background checks. At the same time, many pastors say they wish they’d learned how to do these things in seminary. Here is your chance. This course will prepare you to lead congregations as effective managers of people, programs, and property. Prerequisite: Successfully completed one competency exercise and a minimum of 60% of LM 500 level work Credit: 2.0 Instructor: Faculty
LM 673 – Culturally Attentive Conflict Ministry
As part of the Leading the Church into Mission curriculum, the purpose of this course is to encourage and enable students in their continuing cultivation of wisdom and agility in the provision of ministerial leadership for congregations through increased proficiency in the practices of conflict management in that ministry.
Building upon your previous LM coursework, we will utilize a dialogical pedagogical approach of problematization, in which you will be asked to serve as a community of practice in a shared learning examination of your understandings of, predispositions toward, current approaches to, and alternative resources for:
Prerequisite: Successfully completed one competency exercise and a minimum of 60% of LM 500 level work
Credit: 2.0
Instructor: Faculty- detection of conflict
- diagnosis of a conflict situation
- discernment of ways to address that conflict
- developing attentiveness to the ethnic and organizational culture of your ministry contexts while
- being alert to dangers of iatrogenesis* in your practice of that ministry
- “environmental” (leadership as management of environment)
- “ecological” (leadership as maintenance of relationships in a cultural system)
- “evocational” (leadership as mobilizing members for new/deepened discernment of congregational call).
LM 678 – Congregational Systems A congregation is much more than the sum of its individual parts. It is an emotional system with a multi-faceted history (subsystems) that: drives its decisions; defines its culture and its relationship to its community; and, determines its relationship with its pastoral leadership. In this course the student will be given tools to better understand the systemic dynamics of congregations and how to define themselves and their leadership styles within any congregational system for effective ministry. Prerequisite: Successfully completed one competency exercise and a minimum of 60% of LM 500 level work Credit: 2.0 Instructor: Dr. Greg Alexander
♦ Updated 03/29/21