Content

This unit is designed to help participants develop and explore their theological and practical frameworks for local church leadership. Students will use biblical metaphors to explore how these can guide and inform one’s ministry and mission in modern Australia. Students will be introduced to the dynamics and possibilities of mission shaped transformation processes in the various social and cultural contexts. These will be examined in the light of the diverse nature of Australian churches. Topics will include models of ministry leadership and church community life, strategies for congregational missional renewal, change and conflict management, motivation and empowerment of leaders, spiritual and ethical practices for church and ministry life.

Unit code: DP3708S

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Online

Proposing College: Stirling College

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate their theology of ministry and local church life, including the metaphors that shape the student’s theology and practice

2.

Articulate a process for introducing and managing sustained transformation within a local church community.

3.

Demonstrate a basic awareness of roles, accountabilities and relationships that exist between ministers and congregations.

4.

Reflect on the experience of others and draw insights that relate to their own situation and practice of ministry.

5.

Identify potential mission engagement opportunities that exist in their own contexts.

Unit sequence

At least 54 points in Fields B or C and 18 points in Field D. This unit explores the strategies for and the theology behind the development of mission shaped local church communities and the leadership skills needed by ministers and leaders

Pedagogy

Variegated on-line input and engagement through a range of facilities offered within ARK.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Anderson, R. An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches, Downers Grove, Ill: IVP, 2006.
  • Bellamy, J; Black, A; Castle, K.; Hughes, P; Kaldor, P Why Don’t People Go to Church Adelaide: Open Book, 2002.
  • Becker, Carole Leading Women. Nashville: Abingdon, 1996.
  • Bouma, Garry Australian Soul; Religion and Spirituality in the Twenty First Century, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 2006.
  • Branson, M.L. Memories, Hopes and Conversations, Herndon: Alban, 2004
  • Brueggemann, W. Ichabod Towards Home: The Journey of God’s Glory. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.
  • Cray, G. Mission-shaped Church: Church planting and fresh expressions of church in a changing context. London: Church House Publishing, 2004.
  • Drane, John The McDonaldisation of the Church: Spirituality, Creativity and the Future of the Church, London: DLT, 2003.
  • Gibbs, E. Leadership Next, Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2005.
  • Guder, D.L. (ed.), Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998.
  • Guder D.L. The Continuing Conversation of the Church, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
  • Hartwig, R.T. & Bird, W. Teams That Thrive: Five Disciplines of Collaborative Church Leadership. Downers Grove: IVP, 2015.
  • Curtis Heffelfinger, C. The Peacemaking Church: 8 Biblical Keys to Resolve Conflict and Preserve Unity. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2018.
  • Herrington, Jim; Bonem , Mike; Furr, James Leading Congregational Change A Practical Guide for the Transformational Journey, San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2000.
  • Hirsch, A. & Frost, M. The Shaping of Things to Come, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003.
  • Jagelman, I. Re-engineering the Church; New Models of Governance, Leadership Teams and Succession Planning, Lane Cove: The Jagelman Institute, 2007.
  • Jamieson, A. A Churchless Faith: Faith Journeys beyond Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches, Wellington, NZ: Phillip Garside Publishing, 2000.
  • Lott, D.B. (ed) Conflict Management in Congregations, Alban: Albany Institute, 1998.
  • Mead, L.B. Five Challenges for the Once and Future Church, Washington: Alban, 1996.
  • Menzies, A. & Phelan, D. Kingdom Communities: Shining the Light of Christ through Faith, Hope and Love. Reservoir Vic: Morning Star Publishing, 2018.
  • Moynagh, M. Emerging Church. Intro. Oxford: Monarch, 2004.
  • Murray, S. Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World. Carlisle: Paternoster, 2004.
  • Nelson, Alan and Appel, Gene How to Change your Church: (without killing it) Nashville: Word, 2000.
  • Newbigin, L. An Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.
  • Paver, J. Theological Reflection and Education for Ministry, London: Ashgate, 2006.
  • Phillips, D.T. Martin Luther King on Leadership, New York: Warner Books, 1999.
  • Rendle, G. Quietly Courageous: Leading the Church in a Changing World, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, 2018.
  • Roxburgh, A.J. The Sky is falling, Eagle: ACI Publishing, 2005.
  • Roxburgh, A.J. & Romanuk F. The Missional Leader, San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2006
  • Swinton, J. & Mowat, H. Practical Theology and Qualitative Research, London: SCM, 2006.
  • Taylor, Steve The Out-of-Bounds Church: Learning to Create a Community of Faith in a Culture of Change Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

1,000 word reflection paper

1000 25.0
Report

2,500 word project report

2500 50.0
Journal

1,000 word reading journal

1000 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 30 Oct, 2018

Unit record last updated: 2019-06-18 14:43:27 +1000