P223 MINISTRY TRAINING IN THE LOCAL CHURCH Course Syllabus R. Kadyschuk, Ph.D.
3 credit hours Fall 2011
Module: September 12 to 16 _________________________ Introduction The missions mandate of the body of Christ to the world is evident in Jesus’ “Go ye. . .” declaration in Matthew 28. The equipping mandate of church leadership to the body of Christ is evident in the declaration by Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4: 11 It was he (Christ) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (4.11-16).
Pastors and other ministry leaders are called to “prepare God’s people for works of service” (v12). It makes sense to heed this call for two very practical reasons: It leads to functioning and fulfilled saints of God who are growing and serving through their Spirit-empowered giftings. It leads to happier pastors who don’t have to ‘do everything’ to keep the local church going. There will be greater joy in seeing God’s people find their place of service in the Church. This course challenges you to explore and adopt new dimensions of attitude, awareness and action towards being a better steward of the ‘equipping mandate’ given by Apostle Paul.
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Course Objectives Cognitive In terms of knowledge -to help you to gain a better understanding of: Your own personhood and how that may affect your approaches to exercising leadership with others. The nature of people in the local church and how such dynamics may affect their responses to your attempts to lead and empower them. The presence and role of structures in the local church that may help and/or hinder you in developing leadership in your people. The ‘team’ approach to ministry in the body of Christ. The content and process of various models for the praxis of training ministry leadership in the local church. Affective In terms of values and attitudes -to help you to gain a better appreciation for: The uniqueness of how God has created you as a leader and has called you to be effective in doing His work in the lives of the body of Christ. The awesome potential there is in a local church to actually fulfil God’s purposes through the empowerment of the people. The value and necessity of your own continuous personal growth in awareness of leadership theory, group dynamics, team ministry, etc. Conative In terms of actual behavior: That you expand your ability to lead others into a growing awareness and personal development as ministry workers and leaders in the Church. That you demonstrate this growth through the creation of a plan for ministry training development in your local church. That you participate in an actual training ministry seminar in a Saskatoon local church for two evenings during the module week. Paul said to the young pastor Timothy, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who also will be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2.2). Your experience in this course should be a building block in your ability to fulfill that Scripture. Textbooks Cordeiro, Wayne. Doing Church As a Team. Ventura: Regal, 2001. Forman, Rowland et.al. The Leadership Baton: An Intentional Strategy for Developing Leaders in Your Church. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004. Omit chapters 2, 4, 8, 11, and Epilogue. Malphurs, Aubrey and Mancini, Will. Building Leaders: Blueprints for Developing Leadership at Every Level of Your Church. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004. Selected chapters.
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Readings for Ministry Training in the Local Church. Selections from this collection of articles and other materials. Content of Course The textbooks and other readings expose you to background theory and practical suggestions for the challenges of developing individuals and teams of leaders in the local church. 1. Cordeiro text Describes the fascinating story of one pastor's journey into team ministry. 2. Malphurs and Mancini text Provides a detailed ‘blueprint’ or model for the actual steps involved in growing leaders in the local church. 3. Forman et.al. text Describes a model for church-based training that the three authors developed over years of research and practice in local church settings. We will be using this text as core material for a two-evening training seminar at Louise Avenue Congregational Church: Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:45 to 9:15 p.m. 4. Collection of Readings Introduces you to a variety of resource material around topics related to the theme of the course. 5. Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team A graduate student who is sitting the module week will present Lencioni’s model for team dysfunctions You are not required to purchase this book Course Requirements Following is a list of the assignments to complete this course: 1. One or two presentations to the class and in the church training seminar On the first day of class I will assign specific reading content for each class member to prepare for presentation to the class later in the week. Length of classroom presentation: 20 minutes maximum (including discussion) Content: Briefly summarize the article/chapter (8-10 minutes maximum). Review the key issues, principles, action points, etc., that are present in the material.
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Raise several specific questions that are useful for a class discussion of the material. Handout: Prepare a two-page (one sheet two-sided) handout that adds value to the quality of your presentation. Marks Value: 20% (in total for all presentations) As part of the above marks value, I will also assign specific parts of the Forman book or other material to each class member for brief presentations at Louise Avenue Congregational Church. 2. A personal reflection on Cordeiro’s book Topic: “What I have learned about ‘doing church as a team’ from Cordeiro” Length: 2-3 pages (600-900 words) Content: Share your personal learning from Cordeiro’s book. Include specific details to show that you have comprehended Cordeiro’s philosophy and practice of ‘team’ ministry. Marks Value: 15% Due Date: Friday September 30, 2011 3. A descriptive review of the church-based training seminar and a reflective critique of Forman’s book Content: (two parts) Share your experience, observations and personal learning from the training seminar that we held at the Louise Avenue Congregational Church this week. Summarize the model which Forman offers, review its strengths and positive features, and reflect on potential challenges or difficulties with the model. Length: 3-4 pages (900-1200 words) Marks Value: 20% Due Date: Friday September 16, 2011 Note: On Wednesday and Thursday evenings you should be jotting personal notes for this report. I will give you an hour in class on Friday afternoon to finish writing the report. 4. An exam based on the Malphurs and Mancini book Setting: In your local church Marks Value: 20% Date of Writing: Between October 15 and 30, 2011 You and I will communicate after the module week to set a date for your supervised writing of the exam based on the Malphurs and Mancini book. 5. A written report on ministry training in your local church The end goal of this assignment is to produce a report that:
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Documents the process and practice of ministry training in your local church in the past and present Applies material from the Forman and Malphurs/Mancini models to create a philosophy and strategy for future ministry training in your local church.
The report will include three main parts: Description -a description of what has happened in the past and is presently happening (formally and informally) in the area of leadership training for ministry Analysis and Evaluation -an analysis and evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of what has happened and is presently happening Philosophy and Strategy -a forward-looking philosophy and proposed strategy for an enhanced approach to the challenge of training ministry leadership in your local church Length: 6-8 pages (typed, double spaced, 12 point font, 1” margins) Marks Value: 25% Due Date: Friday November 25, 2011 Assignments not completed by the due dates will receive a failing grade unless acceptable extenuating circumstances have been approved in advance. Evaluation -summary of marks value for assignments: 20% Classroom and church training seminar participation/presentations 15% Writing assignment on Cordeiro’s book 20% Review of church seminar and reflective critique of Forman’s book 20% Exam on Malphurs and Mancini material 25% Report on ministry training in your local church Resources BuildingChurchLeaders.com has extensive resources available on many topics related to ministry development in the local church. Twelve sets of what they call “Training Packs” are available on Populi for your viewing. Leadership Styles Assessment Pack Building the Team Assessment Pack Taking the Pulse of Your Church Assessment Pack Developing Leadership Gifts Volunteer Applications Attracting First-Time Volunteers (for Children’s Ministry) Working in Team Ministry: Case Study Pack Practical Ministry Skills: Volunteer Motivation Secrets of Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers Recruiting and Staffing Volunteer Development Ministry Training in the Local Church – Course Syllabus Outline – Page 5 of 10
Building a Team Each pack is a collection of practical information and activities for use by a leader who is training people for ministry in the local church.
Outline of Malphurs and Mancini text The following outline should be useful for you in your preparation for the exam based on Malphurs and Mancini’s material. Malphurs and Mancini provide a detailed ‘blueprint’ for the actual steps involved in growing leaders in the local church. They organize the book in four sections: 1. Preparation -chapters 1-3 2. Practices -chapters 4-6 3. Processes -chapters 7-13 4. Product -chapters 14-15 Introduction A leadership challenge Moses in crisis PART 1 – PREPARATION for Developing Leaders Chapter 1 – The Importance of Leadership Development A definition of ‘Christian leadership’ (p.20) Servant, Credible (in character, in competence, in clarity of direction), Capabilities, Influence, Context, Impact on followers A definition of ‘leadership development’ (p.23) Five reasons for developing leaders Jesus modeled it – there is no ‘Plan B’ Quality of leadership affects quality of ministry Ministry growth curve is the leadership curve All processes are discipleship processes Gospel is always one generation from extinction Chapter 2 – Why Leadership Development Doesn’t Happen Six common hindrances to leadership development: Unable: Inability of existing leaders Unwilling: Need for control of ministry Misperceptions: Not see difference between discipleship and leadership training o ‘All’ are to be disciples o ‘Some’ are to be leaders Inactivity: Inadequate church context Overactivity: Task-oriented church culture o Working ‘on’ the ministry versus working ‘in’ the ministry
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Misalignment: No clear vision for ministry
Chapter 3 – The Challenge of Empowerment The ‘juggling’ metaphor A definition of ‘empowerment’ (p.40) An ‘intentional’ transfer Of authority To emerging from established leader Within specified boundaries But maintains responsibility for the ministry Three alternatives to empowerment Directing, Abdicating, Disabling A helpful image: The window and the mirror Four specific challenges in the application of empowerment An increase in unknown ministry outcomes o Giving up control o Embracing uncertainty through increased faith A sacrifice of short-term ministry efficiency o Slowing down to speed up, through increased patience Giving away authority that enhanced personal ministry success o Starving your ego through enhanced humility o The ‘expandable-power’ pie concept A commitment to close support and authentic community o Connecting with others through increased love Moses manages the crisis, succeeds in the four challenges PART 2 – PRACTICES for Developing Leaders Chapter 4 – Jesus’ Model for Leadership Development ‘Principles’ versus ‘practices’ Three phases From seekers to believers, From believers to followers, From followers to leaders Four steps Recruitment, Selection, Training (The ‘core’ versus the ‘crowd’), Deployment Chapter 5 – Jesus’ Use of Metaphors to Develop Leaders Metaphor as a method Community-oriented metaphors (i.e., intimate relationships) Brother (sister), Son/child, The Twelve, Wedding guest, Sheep Cause-oriented metaphors (i.e., purposeful activity) People metaphors
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o Servant, Shepherd, Harvester, Apostle, Fisherman Images of ‘things’ o Soil, Branch (of a vine), Wheat, Salt, Light A dynamic balance between community and cause Healthy relationships and productive tasks The issue of authority and servant leadership Maintaining a missional, outward focus
Chapter 6 – The Early Church’s Model for Developing Leaders A four-step process: Recruitment, Selection, Training, Deployment PART 3 – PROCESS for Developing Leaders Chapter 7 – Personnel (‘Who’ is involved)
Secure support from authorized church leaders Appoint a key person to initiate and lead the process Establish a lay leadership team to work with the key leader Articulate a consensus definition of leadership Identify the various levels of leadership in your church ministries
Chapters 8-11 – Procedures (‘How’ it is done) Discover new leaders through: Recruitment o aggressive listening and bold, consistent asking o personal address and organizational address o four types of appeal: need-based, relationship-based, significance-based, vision-based Exploration o questions, qualifications, and benefits Assessment Launch new leaders into areas of ministry The critical nature of ‘context’ Develop new and current leaders Four core leadership competencies o Being (character) - ‘soul’ work o Knowing (knowledge) - ‘head’ work o Doing (skills) - ‘hand’ work o Feeling (emotions) - ‘heart’ work Four means for training o Learner-driven o Content-driven o Mentor-driven through: instruction, modeling, observation, evaluation o Experience-driven Sixteen training venues
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o o o
Process-oriented (8) Event-oriented (8) Getting started: selecting three venues
Evaluate the leadership development process Five questions o What do you evaluate? o How? (formal and informal) o How often? o Who evaluates? o What do with the results? Reward the leaders Three questions o Who does the rewarding?, How?, How often? Chapter 12 – Guidelines for Improving the Process Make disciples The shoe factory metaphor Avoid appointing non-leaders The ‘M-myth’ The Peter principle Provide centralized and decentralized training Do both ‘cardio’ and ‘muscular’ workouts Decentralized only = ‘effective parts do not make a whole’ Centralized only = ‘a whole without effective parts’ Finding the balance = ‘the whole is greater than the sum of the (effective) parts Benefits of centralized training o All leaders at all levels o Clarifies the church’s big picture o Mission driven o Fosters church unity o Increases interdependence o Provides uniformity o Answers the ‘why’ questions Benefits of decentralized training o Ministry-specific leaders only o Focuses on a single ministry o Passion driven o Enhances ministry distinctives o Increases effectiveness o Provides flexibility o Answers the ‘how’ questions The result of balance = ‘synergy’ Another look at training venues
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Build the leadership community at all levels Expand the pool at both ends o Build the ‘shallow’ end for emerging leaders o Build the ‘deep’ end for experienced leaders Avoid extreme task-oriented ministry The problem of the ‘task treadmill’ A balance between task and training A diagnostic tool: the DISC personal profile system Chapter 13 – Creating a Leadership Culture Turning a ‘house’ into a ‘home’ A definition of ‘leadership culture’ Note: Omit pages 213-236 PART 4 – PRODUCT of Developing Leaders Chapter 14 – Developing Leaders in Small Churches
- a story
Chapter 15 – Developing Leaders in Large Churches - a story Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F
– Samples of Four Leadership Categories – A Task Skills Inventory – A Relational Skills Inventory – Training Venues Comparison Chart
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