The successful student will…

  • Acquire the skill of situational analysis.
  • Develop an internally consistent set of Biblical leadership principles.
  • Successfully apply those principles to current situations through the implementation of specific precepts.
  • Improve ministry potential through identifying personal strengths and weaknesses in leadership, with a goal of polishing leadership strengths and correcting leadership weaknesses.  The student’s DISC profile will be examined to this end.
  • Understand how personal wiring for ministry based on results from the “Ministry Styles” assessment.

Class format will consist of the following components:

  • Chat Attendance and Active Participation (10%)

The eProf will evaluate classroom involvement based on the quality and quantity of responses, including questions asked. Though chat attendance and participation will not earn any points, it is mandatory to attend chats. Missing more than two chats will result in an Incomplete.

  • Weekly Reading & Learning Report (20%)

Reading should be completed before each weekly class, and Weekly Reading & Learning Reports (form available at course site) should be emailed to the eProf before chat on the following week (e.g., Learning Report for week #1 is due before Chat #2).  Reading assignments are listed below on the Assignment Chart.

  • Alternate Weekly Reading Learning Assignment

There are many excellent articles and books on Christian leadership principles. You may choose one of them as a substitute for any of the reading assignments on the assignment chart below, read it, and report on it for the rest of the class. (This alternate reading assignment may be used in place of a maximum of 5 class readings.)

  • Book Report (15%)

Read Barton’s “Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership”.  In a 2-3 page written report (submitted to the eProf by email) describe what the book is about, its scriptural basis, and how your life and leadership will be different going forward.

  • Leaders Reports (10%)

Choose two persons listed in the Index of Persons in Spiritual Leadership (pp 187-189) and/or the Index of Names in Transforming Leadership (pp 319-320). Write a report on each person chosen telling why they are considered to be leaders and discussing the major leadership qualities of each.

  • Interpretative Assignment (15%)

Choose one of the ten major categories of leadership we will be discussing each week (e.g., “Living in a Glass House” from week 4) and make a scriptural case for the issue based on at least 7-8 scripture references.  Using one of these references, conduct an exegetical study as to its original meaning and then show its theological meaning as to how it would apply and impact you and your ministry.

  • Leadership Project Paper (20%)

Write a 3- to 5-page paper (submitted to the eProf by email) examining your own leadership style in light of leadership principles learned in this course and how your style relates to the way you do ministry.  Address any issues discovered with a personal plan of action to hone your leadership skills and improve your future ministry.

  • Ministry Styles Assessment (10%)

Complete the Ministry Styles assessment (available online, instructions provided at course site).

* below C- is Incomplete

Papers (report, chart, etc.) must be emailed as an attachment to the eProf; no USPS papers will be accepted. Transfer the chat dates from the Course Detail Sheet (available at the course site) to the assignment chart below for assignment due dates.  Comments to the paper will be added by the eProf in a different font color. Papers must be written in the following format:

 

  • Papers must be submitted in Microsoft Word format (feel free to use any software that can save in MS Word format — .doc or .docx).
  • MLA style standards must be utilized for citations, headers, and other page formatting issues (for reference, note: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html).
  • Font must be black, Times New Roman, 12pt.
  • Spacing must be double space for both regular and quotation text.
  • Margins must be exactly one inch on all four sides.
  • Pages must be numbered.
  • Quotations from other sources are restricted to eight double-spaced lines. Quotations should not dominate from a single source, but must demonstrate a breadth of resources.
  • Title page must include: 1) Student Name, 2) “PL271: Fundamentals of Christian Leadership,” 3) Date, and 4) eProf Name.
  • Brevity with concise, condensed thinking scores highest. You must edit and re-edit and re-edit to fit all your thoughts into the required number of pages.
  • Writing must be in a style publishable for a popular book or magazine. Academic writing styles and standards are not required.
  • Papers must be proofread by both the student and another person before submitting.
  • Share your assignment schedule with your coach at the beginning of this course.
  • Your coach will not have a hand in the grading of your work, but will assist you in understanding and applying leadership principles.
  • If an assignment is unclear, consult your eProf for assistance. Your coach is free to contact your eProf if that would help you.
  • Use your coach to hold you accountable in your balance of time. Do not become overwhelmed at the workload, but allow your coach to assist you in finding balance.

SL = Spiritual Leadership;

TL = Transforming Leadership;

UL = Understanding Leadership