Content

This unit provides opportunity for students to: reflect on basic theological presuppositions and materials that offer learning experiences in the area of parish administration; and identify and distinguish those understandings, attitudes and skills needed to administer a congregation in the Lutheran Church of Australia. Topics considered include the Theology of Administration; Leadership; the specific tasks of Parish Administration; and, special concerns for the graduate pastor: beginning ministry; team ministry; volunteers, meetings, conflict; stress and burnout, support systems.

Unit code: DP2205L

Unit status: Archived (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Australian Lutheran College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate the scriptural and confessional principles that apply to the ordering of the Church and the congregation

2.

Evaluate a range of different leadership styles and basic principles of organisation that enhance the pastor’s role in congregational administration

3.

Identify issues and design approaches that demonstrate effective pastoral leadership in planning, organising, and coordinating the congregation’s worship, education, fellowship, service, and mission

4.

Develop collaborative and deliberative practices that will promote the orderly life of the congregation and the equipping of people for mission and service

Pedagogy

Lectures, workshops, class presentations

Indicative Bibliography

  • Lutheran Church of Australia. 2015. Resources Portal. http://www.lca.org.au/resources-3.html (set texts)
  • Lutheran Church of Australia South Australia & Northern Territory District, Inc. 2015. Congregation Resources. (LCA SA_NT Congregational Resources can be downloaded from www.sa.lca.org.au under Administration) (set texts)

  • Allendar, Dan B. 2006. Leading with a limp: take full advantage of your most powerful weakness. Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press.

  • Amos, Julie-Ann. 2001. 80/20 management: work smarter, not harder, and quadruple your results. Oxford, UK: Essentials.

  • Bacher, Robert N., and Michael L. Cooper-White. 2007. Church administration: programs, process, purpose. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress.

  • Berntsen, John A. 2008. Cross-shaped leadership: on the rough and tumble of parish practice. Herndon, VA: The Alban Institute.

  • Carroll, Jackson W. 2006. God’s potters: pastoral leadership and the shaping of congregations. Cambridge: Wm B Eerdmans.

  • Cladis, George. 1999. Leading the team-based church. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

  • Foster, Charles R. 1997.* Embracing diversity: leadership in multicultural congregations*. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute.

  • Fryar, Jane L. 2001. Servant leadership: setting leaders free. Christian leadership series. St Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

  • Pappas, Anthony G. 2000. Entering the world of the small church. Rev. ed. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute.

  • Steinke, Peter L. 2006. Healthy congregations: a systems approach. 2nd ed. Herndon, VA: Alban Institute.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Project Report or Project Journal

A major project that addresses a chosen topic of interest in one key area of parish administration; providing evidence of scriptural and confessional understanding as well as effective analytical, organisational, and pastoral skills 2250 words

2250 50.0
Journal

Maintain an online Journal that reflects on issues arising in lectures, workshops, and/or reading. Reflections provide analysis and application of the principles and practice of pastoral leadership and administration 1350 words equivalent

1350 30.0
Case Study

A written report that demonstrates ability to apply a case study approach to parish administration 900 words

900 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 31 Aug, 2017

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:51 +1000