ML536/636: Value-Based Leadership: New Testament (4 units)
J. Robert Clinton, Professor of Leadership
Winter 2006 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

Leadership theory over the past 150 years has evolved through five major paradigmatic eras. The present era, The Complexity Era, has a strong focus toward value-based leadership. Early eras concentrated on the “what” of leadership and the “how” of leadership. The Complexity Era continues these, but adds the “why” of leadership. This course utilizes many of these leadership perspectives, most of which are cross-cultural, to test and explore these findings in the New Testament. What does the New Testament say about these various leadership perspectives (such as leadership elements, leadership styles, philosophical models, leadership emergence theory, mentoring, change dynamics, etc.) as the framework for studying leadership? Two of the six leadership eras in the Bible, the two New Testament eras, are scanned: V. The Pre-Church Leadership Era and VI. The Church Leadership Era. Seven types of studies are introduced: (1) biographical, (2) historical leadership acts, (3) actual leadership contexts, (4) parabolic leadership literature, (5) indirect passages dealing with Christian character or behavior, (6) Bible books studied as a whole placing them in their context hermeneutically and in terms of leadership eras, (7) studies across books for common themes and lessons on leadership (called macro-lessons). Two N.T. books—1 & 2 Corinthians—will be studied in-depth for leadership insights. From 1,2 Corinthians, students will study 16 leadership topics, several macro lessons and many leadership insights needed by both pastoral workers and missionary workers. The New Testament is one of the best leadership resources and least used for that purpose.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Analyze any of the 13 leadership topics found in 1,2 Corinthians. for leadership findings.
• Recognize the importance of the Bible as a source of leadership information.
• Learn skills for studying leadership in the Bible and major leadership lessons from the Bible.
• Evaluation of student’s present Bible knowledge.
• Have been introduced to Bible Centered Leadership concepts including: definition of a Bible Centered leader, notion of Core, notion of Base + Advance, notion of resonance, and the notion of a slot/filler matrix for communication.
• Personal commitment to an on-going program of personal Bible study so as to improve the student’s Bible knowledge in general and Biblical leadership knowledge in particular with a view toward becoming a Bible-centered leader.

COURSE FORMAT:

The class meets twice a week for two hours. See syllabus for details of scheduling. The 1^st session on Tuesday will be a SF time. The 2^nd session on Tuesday will be input on some leadership concept from Bible Centered leadership material or leadership concepts from 1,2 Corinthians. The first session on Thursday will be input on some leadership concept from the 1,2 Corinthians. The 2^nd session on Thursday will be small groups doing exercises on leadership concepts previously introduced.

REQUIRED READING:

ML536 syllabus and ML536 reader.
Clinton, J. Robert. Leadership Perspectives—How To Study the Bible for Leadership. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1993.
_______. The Bible and Leadership Values—A Book By Book Analysis. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1993.
_______. 1,2 Corinthians—Problematic, Apostolic Leadership. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 2003.
_______. Having A Ministry That Lasts. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1998.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Clinton, J. Robert. A Short History of Leadership Theory. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1986.
_______. Conclusions on Leadership Styles. Altadena, CA: Barnabas Publishers, 1986.
See syllabus for actual listing of other recommended technical works available on the reserve shelf in the library.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Satisfactory completion of test on leadership perspectives from Leadership Perspectives.
2. Evaluation of Bible background using the BMPI given in Having A Ministry That Lasts.
3. 1000 pages of reading of required materials (some written response exercises done on this).
4. Exercise using the Equipping Formula—devotional component (1,2 Corinthians).
5. 1000 word paper on a leadership issue found in 1,2 Corinthians.
6. One communication event done in class in small groups.

PLEASE NOTE, Computer/Email Ability Needed:  In this class, students will be expected to handle emails to and from the Professor and graders. Such emails will have attachments as word or PDF documents. All grading will be electronically done by Professor and graders and sent back to the student. You will be expected to be familiar with reading and using PDF documents. You will be expected to be able to use MEMORY sticks with USB ports as information will often be passed around in class. We welcome lap-tops in class. We will have optional sessions or assign mentors to help students get up to speed on these skills. If use of the computer in this way is a problem for you, then you should not sign up for this course. On day 1, CDs will be passed out to the class with all the basic inputs and PowerPoints for the quarter on it. Frequent emails are sent to the class updating them on various items.

PREREQUISITES: None. Courses such as ML530 or ML501, ML520, ML521, and ML523 are helpful.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Auditors need written permission of instructor prior to first week of quarter/orientation lecture. Auditors must do all exercises and projects of the class.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Date Edited: December 19, 2005