Pastoral Leadership and Congregational Transformation (DP9008S)

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.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Pre-requisites: at least 48 points in Fields B or C and 24 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

A combination of lectures, workshops on themes led by students, and conversations with guests who are engaged in congregational transformation projects.

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