Course Syllabus
Instructor: Amy Rowland, PhD, MDiv, MSW
Course Synopsis
This course will both prepare leaders planning to do ministry and/or serve as a skills enhancement tool for those already doing ministry in the church and other religious agencies. Leadership will be explored both as a matter of individual gifts and skills and as a community practice influenced by shared or contested needs and expectations. Issues of vision, administration, management, and ethical practice shape the course. Particular attention will be give to religious and spiritual dimensions of leadership.
Required texts:
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and Practice. 7th edition: Sage, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-1483317533
Weems, Lovett. Church Leadership: Vision, Team, Culture and Integrity. Abington Press, 2010. ISBN 9781426703027
Recommended texts for additional reading, but not required:
Bordas, Juana. Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age. Berrett-Koehler Publishers; 2nd Edition, 2012.
Doughty, Steve. To Walk in Integrity: Spiritual Leadership in Times of Crisis. Upper Room Books. 2004.
Hotchkiss, Dan. Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership. The Alban Institute; 2009.
Tribble, Jeffery L., Transformative Pastoral Leadership in the Black Church. Palgrave Macmillan: August 2013. ISBN 1403966807
Wheatley, Margaret. Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World. San Francisco, CA: Barrett-Koehler. 2006.
Other readings may be assigned.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Note: Northouse editions vary. Chapters here are from the 7th edition. Refer to chapter title to confirm.
Week 1 : Leadership and Context
- Overview of Syllabus & Class Requirements
- Defining Leadership/Church Leadership
Readings & Homework:
Northouse, ch. 1: Introduction
Weems, Preface and Introduction
Review of self assessments
Online resources & postings
Week 2: Vision and Leadership
- Traditional Approaches to Leadership
Readings & Homework:
Weems, ch 1: Vision
Northouse, ch 2: Trait
Northouse, ch 3: Skills
Northouse, ch 4: Style
Northouse, ch 5: Situational
Online resources & postings
(Select a leader to interview – Assignment 2)
Week 3: Teams
(Group Formulation)
Readings & Homework:
Weems, ch 2: Team
Northouse, ch. 14: Team Leadership
Duhigg article: “What Google Learned From its Quest to Build the Perfect Team”
Online resources & postings
*Book recommendations due, April 4th
Week 4: Culture and Leadership
Readings & Homework:
Weems, ch 3: Culture
Northouse, ch 15: Gender and Leadership
Northouse, ch 16: Culture and Leadership
Online resources & postings
Week 5: Leadership Integrity
Readings & Homework:
Weems, ch 4: Integrity
Northouse, ch13: Leadership Ethics
Online resources & postings
Week 6: Transformational & Psychodynamic Leadership
Readings & Homework:
Northouse, ch 8: Transformational Leadership
Northouse, ch 12: Pyschodynamic Leadership
(Tribble, chapters 1, 2 and 4)
*Book reviews due
Week 7: Authentic, Servant, & Adaptive Leadership
Readings & Homework:
Northouse, ch 9: Authentic Leadership
Northouse, ch 10: Servant Leadership
Northouse, ch 11: Adaptive Leadership
*Autobiographical essays due
Week 8: Governance and Ministry; The Emerging Church; Church Plants
Readings & Homework:
Gil Rendle article: “Waiting for God’s New Thing”
Pew Charitable Trust Research
(Hotchkiss, ch 4: A Map for Thinking About Congregations & ch 5: The Job of the Board)
Videos, Online resources & postings
Week 9: Church Conflict and Clergy Burnout
Readings & Homework:
Fuller article: “Anxiety, emotions, and encounters with difference: exploring the roots of conflict in congregations” [In "Files" folder in Canvas]
Pries article: “Reflections on journeying with congregations through conflict and change” [In "Files" folder in Canvas]
Video
(Doughty)
Mediation Resources
Videos, Online resources & postings
*Leadership interview papers due
Week 10: Presentations
Readings & Homework: Presentations due, no readings.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|